Nissan predicts that its new 2011 Nissan Leaf will be in short supply within the first three months of sales. The Japanese automaker says that demand will outstrip supply.
Nissan said that sales may be strong due to the company’s claim that the Leaf will be cheaper to buy and operate than its main competitor – the Toyota Prius. Last year the company said they expected to have around 20 000 confirmed orders for their new electric car before it hit showrooms. If recent reports are anything to go by, Nissan was not far off their estimate, considering more than 6 600 people in the U.S. had reserved a Leaf within days after Nissan started taking reservations on April 20.
Refresher: Power for the Nissan Leaf comes from a 80 kW electric-motor that runs on power supplied by lithium-ion cells. On a full-charge, the Nissan Leaf allows for a driving range of 160 kilometers with a top speed of 140 km/h. A full charge takes up to 8 hours on a standard 200-Volt power outlet. Buyers can opt for the DC 50 kW quick-charger, which recharges the battery up to 80 percent in under 30 minutes.
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