http://dailysunknoxville.com/2017-nissan-leaf-bigger-battery-doesnt-help/92005539 2017 Nissan Leaf: Bigger Battery Doesn’t Help April 24, 2016
[image http://dailysunknoxville.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/nissan-leaf-architecture-660x400.jpg (leaf x-ray view) ] The end of last year and the start of this year has not been good period for the 2016 Nissan Leaf, which has not struck the right chord in the market. It has sold less than 1,000 units in the US for January and February for the first time since 2013. However, March 2013 saw sales of the all-electric hatch jump up to over 2,200 units whereas March this year has seen sales reach only 1,246 units, down 30 percent against the same month last year. So what went wrong? Wasn’t the 107-mile 30kWh battery pack highly anticipated by most EV fans when it was announced last year? There’s probably nothing wrong with Nissan, besides maybe frustrating a number of customers by not allowing their older Leaf models to be upgraded for the new battery. Its recent lethargic sales may largely have to do with how well-upgraded its competitors have become, apart from consumers’ growing anticipation for the Tesla Model 3 as it drew closer and closer to its first unveiling that caused interest to wane for the Leaf. More Than Going The Distance So while range may still be the top consideration for EV buyers, having more range alone isn’t going to cut it anymore. Going the furthest among its peers on all-electric power certainly hasn’t helped the Leaf. If the second-gen Leaf worth 200 miles of range didn’t figure into plans for semi-autonomous driving, then it would be doomed even before its release. As such, the 60kWh battery expected for the new Leaf is more of a minimum requirement than a point of advantage. There are a good number of EVs heading into 2017 without the ability to touch 200 miles, but none of them have a ‘global top-seller’ reputation to defend. Expectations vary for each different nameplate. That’s not to say Nissan shouldn’t still aggressively highlight its range capabilities. It’s one of the few EVs headed for 2017 with 200 miles of range – not many would be able to boast that kind of figure for their EVs, save for the Chevy Bolt and any model from the Tesla lineup. [© dailysunknoxville.com] For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-60kWh-battery-is-more-of-a-minimum-requirement-than-a-point-of-advantage-tp4681785.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
