- Nissan lastly ditches the old-school passively cooled battery pack for the brand new Leaf.
- A brand new liquid-based system can harvest warmth from the onboard charger.
- The third-generation Leaf EV additionally comes with a brand new suspension setup on the rear.
The Nissan Leaf was the world’s first mass-produced electrical automotive. It was–and nonetheless is–some of the inexpensive EVs within the sport, which resulted in over half one million gross sales since its debut in 2010, however its low entry worth additionally means some corners needed to be minimize.
For 15 years, the first- and second-generation Leaf got here with a passively cooled high-voltage battery. This implies there isn’t any coolant shifting across the cells to warmth or cool them, the automotive as a substitute counting on the pure air stream to maintain issues in examine. This can lastly change as soon as the third-generation mannequin comes alongside later this yr.
Not having a liquid-cooled battery isn’t the tip of the world when you reside in a light local weather. Nonetheless, when it’s freezing chilly or scorching sizzling outdoors, issues begin deteriorating. Vary, charging speeds, and battery well being take successful as a result of the electrical energy contained in the cells can’t journey as quick as when the battery is at a snug temperature.
With the all-new Leafthis received’t be an issue anymore as a result of Nissan determined to suit it with a liquid cooling system that may preserve the battery pack’s temperature at a really perfect degree. Furthermore, the system can harvest warmth from the onboard battery charger to heat the battery and probably improve the driving vary in chilly climate.
Nissan Leaf (2025) multi-link rear suspension
Picture by: Nissan
Talking of vary, Nissan says the brand new Leaf will have the ability to ship between 186 and 311 miles (300 to 500 kilometers) on a full cost, which suggests multiple battery possibility can be obtainable. We don’t know on which of the driving cycles these figures had been obtained, although.
For what it’s price, a 14-minute DC quick charging session ought to lead to 155 miles (250 km) of vary, which isn’t unhealthy in any respect. That mentioned, we don’t know what the utmost charging velocity of the Leaf is.
Within the powertrain division, the brand new electrical crossover (sure, it’s now not a basic hatchback) will proceed to be a front-motor, front-wheel drive automotive. In its strongest model, the redesigned entrance drive unit, which is 10% smaller than its predecessor, affords the identical 214 horsepower as earlier than, whereas the torque determine has gone up from 250 pound-feet to 261 lb-ft. That may make little to no distinction in the actual world, but it surely’s okay, as a result of the Leaf was by no means a efficiency EV.
That mentioned, the brand new mannequin lastly ditches the torsion beam rear suspension for a multi-link setup, which ought to make for a nicer driving expertise.
We must always know extra concerning the all-new Nissan Leaf after its debut later this yr.
