Nissan may be getting ready to debut a 30-kwh battery this fall before revealing its all-new second generation Leaf a year from now. The current 24-kwh, 84-mile EPA rated Leaf that was officially launched in December 2010, and refreshed for 2013, is the best cumulative seller globally and the best selling plug-in car in the United States. However, Nissan sales have slumped a bit as other electric vehicles in its class have been taking a share. The rumors that have been circulating this past week on MyNissanLeaf forum and reported by InsideEVs concerning the 2016’s Nissan Leaf range having not yet been officially confirmed by the Japanese automaker.
According to the Editor of InsideEVs, Jay Cole, the report came out two weeks ago and during this time he has been in communication with Nissan. He said however, that the automaker has not commented on the report. The only on-the-record comment said by Brain Brockman, Nissan’s Senior Manager of Communications, was that the company had not yet made any public announcement about the 2016 Nissan Leaf. Cole himself has shown immense support for the Leaf and has also raised his concerns on further hurting Leaf sales once a Superior Leaf is launched. The term that is usually used is sales cannibalization, something that is now being experienced by Chevrolet following the launch of the 2016 Chevrolet Volt. The release of the new Chevy Volt has led to the lowering of the 2015 Chevy Volt sales. Some of the would-be Leaf buyers have taken a pause, because of the prospect of the new 50-mile extended-range Volt. The simple psychological basis is that the sales of the present car may not increase when buyers hear that the newest product around the corner substantially outdoes the present one. Considering the fact that Nissan finished an 18-month record streak early this year, the question of sales and reports on the new Leaf becomes a dilemma.
As of now, the InsiderEVs claims that two Nissan dealers have confessed to seeing information concerning the 2016 Nissan leaf with the S Model base. They said that the model will retain the 24 kwh, while a 30kwh will be given to the SL and SV trims. Although the EPA range is not yet out, it has reasonably been estimated to be between 105 and 110 miles range. The car itself may be out by 2017’s second quarter. It may have a toned down mainstream appearance and even new colors. It thus seems that there is quite solid information concerning the 2016 Nissan Leaf.