The world's first mass-production electric car quietly rolled into town last weekend – but only for a visit.
The world's first mass-production electric car quietly rolled into town last weekend – but only for a visit.
The Nissan Leaf (Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family car) was on view during the Highway Africa conference from 1 to 2 September.
Two Nissan Leaf vehicles were on display outside the conference venue at Rhodes University's Eden Grove building and were available for test drives. The hatchback is the world’s first 100% electric, zero-emission car, designed for the mass market.
The Department of Environmental Affairs, one of the sponsors of Highway Africa, brought the vehicles to the conference.
According to a statement in the Highway Africa brochure, the department's fleet of four are the first such vehicles on the African continent. The statement says the Department of Environmental Affairs engaged with all vehicle manufacturers in the country to source such a vehicle for its pioneering electric vehicle programme.
The Leaf is a compact, five-door hatchback, which seats five passengers. It runs from a laminated-type lithium-ion battery, with a capacity of 24kWh.
Gert Rossouw, deputy director of travel services at Environmental Affairs said the 2013 model has a range of 200km. Rossouw said the Leaf would soon be available commercially in South Africa.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has rated the LEAF’s combined fuel economy, at an equivalent of 2 litres per 100km.
