No gas, no oil changes, no problem.
The first 100 per cent electric Nissan Leaf arrived in Burnaby on Wednesday afternoon.
Kelly Carmichael, a BCIT researcher, took possession of his new Nissan Leaf at Morrey Nissan, and he couldn't be happier.
"I'm so excited," he said. "Becoming the owner of a Nissan Leaf is of significant importance to me . (because) for the past four years, BCIT and B.C. Hydro have worked together to establish Canada's very first Smart Microgrid on the main campus of BCIT.
"The aim of this project is to establish an embryo of Canada's next generation electricity grid here in Burnaby and understand how Smart Grid can help Canada make the transition to a green economy.
"I am looking forward to furnishing my fellow researchers at BCIT with my driving and charging experiences with my new Nissan Leaf."
Peter Burrell, senior fleet manager for the Morrey Auto Group, was pleased to hand the keys of the new Nissan Leaf to Carmichael and Shona Shuter.
"This is such an efficient car," said Burrell. "You'll have significant savings on fuel and upkeep because you won't have to do any oil changes. . The regular maintenance schedule on this is almost nothing."
The Nissan Leaf is an all-electric car that was recognized as the 2011 World Car of the Year. The car is emblematic of the "no gas, no tailpipe" zero-emission era.
"This is a significant milestone as we deliver the first all-electric Nissan Leaf," said Allen Childs, president of Nissan Canada Inc. "Sustainable mobility is within our grasp, and at Nissan, we're excited to be leading the way."
In late October, Nissan Canada will open its online reservation process for its first allocation of 2012 Nissan Leafs.
Reservations are available at www.nissan.ca/ LEAF. By the end of the 2012 model year, Nissan anticipates 600 Nissan Leafs on Canadian roads.
"We've had a lot of consumers come into the dealership asking questions about the Nissan Leaf, really curious about an all-electric car and how it would fit into their lifestyle," said Jason Morrey, president of Morrey Nissan. "It's very exciting to be at the forefront of the sustainable mobility movement."
The Nissan Leaf is a medium-size hatchback with cargo space and seating for five adults. It has a range of 160 kilometres on one full charge.
With a 240-volt home charging dock, full charge is achieved in seven hours, and with a Level 3 Quick Charger, 80 per cent charge can be achieved in just 26 minutes.
Powered by a lithiumion battery, the Nissan Leaf generates 107 horsepower, 207 lb.-ft. of torque. The lithium-ion battery pack carries
an industry-competitive warranty of eight years or 160,000 kilometres.
Five exterior colours are available: Glacier Pearl, Blue Ocean, Airstream, Ebony and Ignition Red.
The instrument panel provides the driver with regular updates on range and driving efficiency, and using a telematics system called CARWINGS (no charge for 36 months), the driver can communicate with the car via a smart phone with the ability to turn on the air conditioning or heat remotely, and manage and monitor charging. The system is connected to a global data centre, allowing for a 24-hour/seven-day support connection.
The Nissan Leaf also includes six air bags, fourwheel anti-lock braking system, vehicle dynamic control and a traction control system.
Because there's no traditional engine, the Nissan Leaf is ultra-quiet, and for safety reasons, a sound had to be added so pedestrians could hear the car coming.
Morrey Nissan in Burnaby will be hosting a Ride To Drive event on Saturday, Oct. 22 between noon and 7 p.m. where customers can book an appointment to test drive the Nissan Leaf. Call 1-877-864-7118 for more information.
