Nissan targets 250,000 units of the LEAF by 2013

February 16, 2011May 4, 2011 Omar Rana 2011, Compact Cars, electric-cars, electric-vehicles, LEAF, Nissan LEAF, Nissan LEAF EV, plug-in hybrids

Nissan has been under a lot of pressure to meet demand for the new all-electric Nissan LEAF. According to top executives, the Renault/Nissan alliance is now on track to produce 250,000 units of the LEAF by early 2013 – a volume the company says is enough to satisfy demand in Asia, North America and Europe.

Nissan’s Europe vice president, Pierre Loing, said that early production obstructions will fade as plants in North America and Europe launch production of the LEAF and its parts. As of right now, all Nissan LEAF units are produced in Japan. U.S. production at Smyrna, Tennessee is expected to launch in late 2012 followed by Sunderland, England in early 2013.

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According to the Renault/Nissan’s production plans:

Sunderland will produce 60,000 batteries and 50,000 Leafs
The Cacia plant will produce 50,000 batteries a year
A factory in Flins, France, will produce 100,000 batteries annually
Smyrna will produce up to 200,000 batteries and 150,000 Leafs a year
Nissan’s Oppama plant in Japan will produce 50,000 battery packs and 50,000 Leafs annually
The Zama plant in Japan will produce 50,000 battery packs annually.

Refresher: Power for the Nissan LEAF comes from a 107-hp electric-motor that runs on power supplied by lithium-ion cells. On a full-charge, the Nissan LEAF allows for a driving range of 100 miles with a top speed of 87 mph. A full charge takes up to 8 hours on a standard 200V outlet. Buyers can opt for the DC 50kW quick-charger, which recharges the battery up to 80 percent in under 30 minutes. Prices for the 2011 Nissan LEAF will start at $32,780 but with a federal tax-credit prices will come in as low as $25,280, or for a lease payment of $349 a month.