Belgiumis one step closer to an emission-free future: with the price of the award-winning Nissan LEAF now finalised, the order books for the world's first affordable 100% electric family vehicle will soon be opened.
The list price in Belgium for the European and World Car of the Year will be €36,990 including VAT, but with government subsidies and incentives the price to customers can be as low as €27,800. Unlike some European countries where the government-backed environmental incentive is a price reduction, in Belgium, the federal incentive of up to €9,190 € is linked to benefits in personal taxation. The actual reduction available to a private buyer, therefore, depends on his or her existing tax position. Owners will also benefit from the lowest possible registration fees and taxes. The Wallonia government, moreover, will pay an eco-bonus of €4,500 for 2011, provided the car is registered before December 31.
This means that the Nissan LEAF will cost about the same as a comparably-equipped diesel or hybrid vehicle, but with considerably lower running costs. Running costs in Belgium are estimated at less than €1.5 per 100 km.
The price includes the battery (which carries a five-year/100,000 km warranty), VAT, a five-year subscription to the unique telematic service, and EV specific roadside assistance.
"With 70 % of Belgian car owners having their own private parking space, and with all cities within a relatively short geographical distance, Belgium is the ideal country for electric mobility. The combination of zero emissions, ultra low driving costs and the practicality of the family sized car will appeal to many Belgian customers" says Leon Dorssers, Managing Director Nissan Belgium.
As an alternative to purchasing the car outright, private customers can sign up for a Nissan Purchase Contract Plan (PCP) which gives them three options at the end of a four-year contract: to trade in the car against a new EV, to hand it back based on a guaranteed future value (a key factor in the purchase decision for a new technology) or to pay the guaranteed future value and keep the car.
Under the PCP, with 15% down payment, customers can run the car for less than €550 per month and less than €440 in Wallonia (based on current interest rates and without the federal incentive).
The next step for potential customers is to head for the Nissan website - //www.nissan.be/ - where they can find more details about the ground-breaking car, which recently received a top safety rating from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), making it one of the safest cars on the road. The reservation book is due to open before the summer holidays, and the first cars will be delivered in Autumn 2011. Once the order book is opened, they can configure their vehicle and place a reservation. Apart from colour choice, there will be two other options: a solar panel built into the rear spoiler to boost the battery powering the car's accessories and a comfort pack which includes heated seats.
The quick and easy order process will require a fully-refundable deposit of €300. Customers making reservations through the website will be first in line to take ownership of the 100% electric Nissan LEAF.
There's also good news for Belgian companies planning to run a Nissan LEAF as part of a fleet: Nissan LEAF will benefit from 120% deductibility. Companies can already reserve their car by contacting the fleet department of Nissan Belgium.
Deliveries of Nissan LEAF - which has a range between charges of up to 175 km as tested over the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) - have begun in the UK, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and Portugal. Order books have also opened in Switzerland, France and Spain with customers in those markets expected to start receiving their cars shortly.
The family hatchback is powered by a Nissan-developed compact electric motor with inverter in the front of the car which drives the front wheels. The AC motor develops 80 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque, enough for a maximum speed of 145 km/h.
Nissan LEAF is fully equipped with features such as air conditioning, satellite navigation and a parking camera. Innovative smart phone connectivity will allow users to heat or cool the interior of the car remotely via a mobile phone. The Nissan LEAF comes standard with a quick charge socket allowing the battery to be recharged up to 80 per cent of its full capacity in just under 30 minutes with a public quick charger. Belgium already counts a dozen of quick charge stations and Nissan EV dealers will soon be equipped with this infrastructure.