2019 Nissan LEAF Plus
Overview
The Nissan Leaf is the best-selling electric car in history, and the all-new 2019 Nissan Leaf Plus makes its debut, further establishing itself in a competitive electric vehicle market that includes the Honda Clarity, the Tesla Model 3, Chevy’s Bolt EV, and Hyundai’s Kona Electric. The Leaf Plus, a separate model from the standard Leaf, has its own trim lineup: the S Plus, SV Plus, and SL Plus.
Five passengers can fit comfortably while the cargo space is designed to provide ample storage space with enough storage for the charging cable, offering 23.6 cubic feet of space. The S Plus comes with enough standard technology equipment providing sufficient convenience and smartphone connectivity. The top-of-the-line Leaf SL plus adds LED headlights, heated front seats, heated outside mirrors, and an upgraded Bose Premium audio system.
The novel Nissan Energy program is included to enable storage of renewable energy, such as harvested solar power, in the Leaf Plus’s battery and to transfer energy between the vehicle and larger electric systems: vehicle-to-home, vehicle-to-building, and vehicle-to-grid. This innovative setup even allows Leaf owners to use their car’s stored energy to power home systems during an electricity outage.
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Battery and Performance
The Plus comes with a new version of the Leaf’s electric powertrain, designed to deliver more torque and efficiency. The new 62-kWh battery achieves a range of an EPA-rated 226 miles, an improvement of 151 miles over the standard Leaf. The battery power translates to 215 horsepower and 250 pounds-feet of torque. Top speed also has increased by 10 percent, increasing the maximum speed to roughly 100 mph. The Plus’s battery pack is built almost the same size as the standard Leaf’s battery pack, but with considerably more storage: it boasts a 25 percent increase in energy density and energy storage capacity. The battery comes with a new 100 kW capacity quick-charging system, allowing the Plus to charge more efficiently.
Safety and Technology
The Leaf Plus comes with Nissan’s ProPilot Assist active safety bundle and e-Pedal standard. ProPilot Assist uses a pre-designated speed by the driver to automatically adjust the distance to the vehicle ahead, and it can help keep the car centered in its lane. The e-Pedal is programmed to assist the driver in accelerating, decelerating, and stopping, only using the accelerator pedal; this technology makes decelerating quicker and smoother. Smartphones can utilize the NissanConnect app to schedule charging, find the nearest charging station, and control the cabin temperature before getting in. The SL Plus adds more driver-assist technologies, such as intelligent lane intervention, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, and an Intelligent Around View Monitor. HomeLink Universal Transceiver also comes on the top trim, allowing drivers to connect to three home devices, such as lighting, garage or gate openers, and security systems.
Nissan’s initiative to integrate shared energy between various systems can be achieved with Nissan Energy via the Leaf Plus. The innovative technology allows the Leaf Plus to cut electricity costs and avoid charging during peak grid times by sharing energy with homes, buildings, and the grid. Electricity generated from renewable sources can be stored on the Leaf and then be used to power homes, with enough power to provide emergency backup energy for three days.