The Leaf has been a huge success for the Japanese carmaker, being named amongst the best selling electric cars of all time across the world. It also won a number of awards, including European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year in 2011 and the Green Car Vision Award in 2010.

Nissan Leaf (2010 - Present)

Nissan first introduced a battery electric vehicle at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in 1997, which it called the Nissan Altra. This signalled the development of Nissan''s electric car initiatives. The Leaf was then introduced in 2010, with America and Japan the first markets to receive it, followed by European countries and Canada.

Nissan wanted to make the Leaf universally appealing, so decided to go for a familiar-feeling hatchback-like aesthetic. The style of the Leaf followed a sharp V-shape design, with LED headlights that follow an upwards slant and create a blue reflective design internally. The LED low-beam of the headlights use far less electricity than traditional halogen options, and help to redirect airflow away from the door mirrors to improve aerodynamics and reduce wind noise. With its all-electric powertrain the Leaf is designed to produce no greenhouse gas emissions or tailpipe pollution, with Nissan pushing to reduce the car industry''s dependency on petroleum.

Under the bonnet the Leaf uses an 80 kW front-mounted synchronous electric motor to drive the front axle, powered by a 24 kW lithium ion battery pack designed to offer up to 90 kW power output. According to stats the 2011/12 model has a top speed of more than 93 mph, with an unofficial 0 to 60 time of 9.9 seconds. The battery is placed beneath the seats, causing a low centre of gravity and boosting structural rigidity when compared to a conventional hatchback. Under normal use Nissan predicts that the battery will have a lifespan of over 10 years, with the battery gradually losing capacity over time, although they do say the lifespan can be affected by driving patterns and environmental factors.

In 2011 the Leaf was awarded a five-star safety rating during Euro NCAP safety testing, receiving an impressive 89% adult occupant safety score and an 83% child occupant safety score. Across the pond the Leaf was named Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the same year. In some markets electric warning sounds were fitted within the Leaf to notify pedestrians of the vehicle approaching, although these were disabled in the UK to comply with a law stating that any hazard warning sounds must be turned off between 11pm and 6am, something which the Leaf''s system is not capable of doing.

The 2013 UK update version of the Leaf was similar to the Japanese and American models, including improved range and better recyclability with boosted charging performance. There was also more space inside the car with additional standard equipment. This model was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, before production started at Nissan''s plant in Sunderland, UK, in 2013. Three trims were available: Visia, Acenta and Tekna, with Nissan offering a battery leasing program for all UK trim levels made at the Sunderland facility. In September 2014 the Leaf achieved a record number of UK sales, with 851 units sold in a single month. This represented the best monthly sales in both the UK and any European country. By March 2015 the Leaf was named the all-time best selling plug-in electric car in the UK, beating the Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV.

Cheap Nissan Leaf Car Parts

Many Nissan spares will be available to buy now. For other parts, you will hear back from the independent breakers in our network with some quotes to give you a wider choice. It doesn''t matter if you need a Nissan Leaf gearbox or engine, or simply switches or wing mirrors, all spare car parts are thoroughly checked, fully guaranteed for at least a month, and ready for delivery to your home or garage.