Nissan LEAF Priced at $51.500 AUD in Australia

The all-electric Nissan LEAF has been launched in Australia with a starting price of $51,500 AUD -- that’s about $52,000 US at today’s exchange rate.

The Nissan LEAF will initially go on sale across 13 qualified dealerships in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Perth but will be offered in other prominent Nissan dealerships over the coming years.

The LEAF is powered by an electric motor that produces 80kW and 280Nm of torque. Maximum speed is around 140km/h. The Nissan LEAF will offer a driving range of up to 170 kilometers, which is significantly more than the daily average Australian commute.

A full battery charge will take around eight hours. The LEAF, however, can regain up to 80 percent charge in just 30 minutes. A charging station will cost from $2800 extra for those who want to cut the charge time.

Nissan LEAF's 24 kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is comprised of 48 compact modules of four cells each, which allows a high degree of packaging flexibility and greater weight distribution, while offering greater storage space for buyers.

Standard features include a seven-inch multi-information display, satellite navigation, rear-view camera, aux/USB/iPod connectivity and steering-mounted controls. There is also push-button start, climate control, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, LED headlights, chrome door handles, aerodynamic external mirrors and five-spoke 16-inch aluminium-alloy wheels.

Standard safety features include electronic stability control (Vehicle Dynamic Control), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). Airbags include dual front airbags, driver and front-passenger seat-mounted airbags and roof-mounted curtain airbags for the front and rear seats.

Nissan LEAF is the second major electric vehicle to go on sale in Australia, behind the Mitsubishi i-MiEV.  Shortly, Chevrolet’s Volt (rebadged a Holden) and Renault’s Fluence will also go on sale. All of these vehicles carry a price premium of between 20 and 40% over their home markets.