With the continued improvements and advancements of autonomous driving technologies and electric vehicles (EVs), the road is rapidly becoming a smarter and safer place to drive. One highly anticipated EV release is that of Nissan‘s 2017 Leaf. Not much is known about the updated version, but rumors have been swirling about what changes customers can expect to see. Here are four of the most talked about updates coming to the new and improved 2017 Nissan Leaf.
Extended Battery Range
The most exciting update comes to the Leaf’s most integral component: the battery. After complaints that the older models couldn’t compete with standard gas-fuel vehicles, Nissan is focused on drastically improving the battery that powers the EV. The 2017 Leaf battery is rumored to be able to run anywhere from 220 to 260 miles on one charge, which would be a game changer as far as the EV field goes.
Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has said that the company is hard at work on creating a battery pack with a much longer range to provide what he calls a “peace of mind” range that could be comparable to the most popular gas-fueled cars on the road today.
Potential Battery Options
Another popular rumor about the 2017 Leaf is the introduction of various battery pack options to choose from. This would give consumers more of a say in choosing the right battery pack for their lifestyles. If they only need a car to run errands a few times a week, then a more moderate battery would be an ideal option for them, which could also make the car more affordable to a wider range of consumers. Only time will tell if this rumor is founded in facts, but let’s hope so since more customizable options are always a good thing.
More Conventional Appearance
The older model of the Leaf has been critiqued by many consumers as being too centered around identifying the car as an EV. Some loved the focus on the electric ability of the car in the design, while others weren’t as fond.
Nissan heard the complaints loud and clear and is rumored to be working on a more conventional appearance and design for the 2017 model. The company is said to be moving away from specific design elements that label the car an EV and, instead, is moving towards more conventional vehicle design aspects that would appeal to a wider audience.
Additional Carbon-Fiber Integration
Carbon-fiber composites are slowly edging their way into the automotive manufacturing industry. The much lighter and stronger material is becoming a buzzword in the car industry and Nissan has definitely taken notice.
Although it’s a more expensive investment cost because it’s not as widely used and manufactured, carbon-fiber composites are becoming more and more favorable since they can reduce the weight of most cars by around 60 percent, while still remaining as durable as their steel or metal counterparts.
These potential updates to the Nissan Leaf are definitely worth getting excited about. But you’ll just have to wait until early or mid-2017 for the latest Leaf to be released to find out which ones made the cut.
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