2011 European Car of the Year: the Nissan Leaf

Could this mark the beginning of a true electric car evolution in Europe? The Nissan Leaf, an all-electric vehicle, has won the 2011 European Car of the Year Award in what was not, however, a smooth victory.
According to some reports, some journalists had placed the Leaf at the bottom of the list of finalists, while others had put it first.

The Nissan Leaf is now being cited as the first all-electric car that normalises this kind of vehicle, bringing the segment much closer to the readiness of consumers to swap from traditional fuel-powered units to the more environmental Leaf.

Apparently it is the most ‘normal’ electric car on the market which could remove some of the stigma, and ‘weirdness’, surrounding this technology as it struggles to go mainstream.
The Nissan Leaf headed the list of seven finalists, with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta coming second (cited as the best car Alfa has built in years), followed by the Opel Meriva rounding out the top three.
The rest of the models following were the Ford C-Max/Grand C-Max, the Citroen DS3 and C3 and the Volvo S60 and V60.

In an interesting twist of fate, while the Nissan Leaf won for its novelty of being an electric car going mainstrem, the Dacia Duster low-cost SUV came last.
We say interesting because while it’s not exactly a revolutionary vehicle, it works in the same kind of way the Leaf does – it brings a segment, often unattainable due to cost, much closer to the everyday consumer.
See after the jump for the review from the Car of the Year website.
Car of the Year 2010: Close win for Nissan Leaf11 / 29 / 2010Nissan Leaf, the first full electric vehicle finalist in this contest, is the Car of the Year 2011.
As it has been usual in recent years, it was a close victory, with 257 points, against the 248 points of Alfa Romeo Giulietta.
Opel/Vauxhall Meriva took the third place, with 244 points.
Different approaches in voting by Jury members have produced the final result of this contest.
The launch of a mass-production electric car in the market has been more awarded -twenty top points- than the sheer appeal of Alfa Romeo Giulietta or the practical originality of Opel Meriva.
In spite of the lack of a large recharging network and the limited range, the Leaf represents a technical and commercial bet that might otherwise satisfy many potential consumers, especially where public incentives will come to reduce the paying price.
In the history of Car of the Year, the Leaf brings the award to Nissan 18 years after the Micra, the first Japanese model to win.
The Leaf has been conceived atop an specific platform for electric vehicles, with features typical of a conventional compact car: front McPherson suspension, rear torsion beam, front wheel drive and a practical 5-door hatchback body with remarkable aerodynamics.
The pack of lithium-ion batteries sits efficiently for space and weight distribution, under the floor and between the axles.
Room for 4/5 occupants and a boot of reasonable volume put the practical side to the vehicle.
With mechanical noise reduced to the distant buzz of the electric motor, there is a notorious sonic comfort.
Besides the reigning silence, Leaf surprises to first-time driver with the abundant torque and instantaneous response.
The AC motor and a kerb weight under 1.
6 tons determine a good performance level.
The new Nissan is not properly a zero-emission vehicle if the ‘energy path’ is taken in account, but official ratings are very favourable.
Range between recharges –up to 8 hours in a home supply point- varies a lot depending on the style of use.
TECHNICAL DATA Body: 5-door hatchbackSize: 4.
45 X 1.
77 X 1.
55 m.
Wheelbase: 2.
69 m.
Transmission: Front wheel drive.
Automatic clutch.
Single gear.
Tyres/wheels: 205/55-16 (6.
5 X 16)Engine: Electric AC syncronous motor.
Power – torque: 80 kW (109 hp) at 2,730-9,800 rpm – 280 Nm at 0-2,730 rpmMaximum speed – 0-100 km/h acceleration: 145 km/h – 11.
9 s.