Whilst we in Australia wait with bated breath for the 2018 Leaf to be released in Australia – Nissan Japan are forging ahead with their EV plans by revealing a second generation Nissan Leaf NISMO race car (with more than double the maximum power and torque output of its predecessor) in Tokyo last week.
Specifications for the Leaf NISMO include all-wheel-drive, with two electric motors at opposite ends of the chassis that produce 240 kilowatts combined (120 kW each) and 640 Nm of instant torque to the wheels.
(Thereby more than doubling the maximum power and the torque output of the previous Leaf NISMO RC, introduced in 2011!). Drivetrain technology sourced from the 2018 production Nissan Leaf include the high-capacity lithium-ion battery and inverters.
It also features a multitude of lightweight components and a full carbon-fibre racing monocoque structure, resulting in a overall weight of 1,220 kg. With a zero to 100km/h time of just 3.4 seconds, it is 50% quicker than the previous NISMO leaf.
The car, developed by Nissan’s racing arm NISMO, were due to debt at the annual NISMO Festival at Fuji International Speedway, appearing alongside Nissan’s new Formula E electric race car.
In total, Nissan plans to manufacture six of the vehicles to display at Formula E events and major shows around the world to build the excitement around the Nissan formula E racing team in particular, and Formula E in general.
Formula E by the way is an all-electric race car series that began in 2014. Run on street racing circuits, it is now about to start its fifth season.
The first race this season will be on December 15thin Ad Diriyah (Saudi Arabia) followed by another 12 rounds, running in a series of venues around the world. (Including Rome, Paris, Berlin, Monaco, Mexico City and Hong Kong).
The series finishes in New York on July 14th, 2019. This Formula E season also introduces the ‘Generation 2’ cars that can complete a full race without the car changes of the Gen1 vehicles.
With 250kW of power, the new generation cars can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.8-seconds and reach a top speed of 280km/h – which should result in a very spectacular series.
Between the Leaf Nismo and the Formula E race calendar alongside it – 2019 should make for an exciting year for the evolution of motorsport!
Bryce Gaton is an expert on electric vehicles and contributor for The Driven and Renew Economy. He has been working in the EV sector since 2008 and is currently working as EV electrical safety trainer/supervisor for the University of Melbourne. He also provides support for the EV Transition to business, government and the public through his EV Transition consultancy EVchoice.