Nissan Leaf E+ Debuts With 214 HP And 226 Miles Of Range

The Nissan Leaf has a relatively short range of 150 miles (241 km), but the company is fixing that problem by unveiling the new Leaf e+ at CES.

Featuring a larger capacity 62 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the Leaf e+ has an EPA-estimated range of up to 226 miles (363 km). This is 76 miles (122 km) more than the standard model and it should help to alleviate any lingering range anxiety.

Besides the improved battery, the Leaf e+ features an upgraded electric motor that produces 214 hp (160 kW / 217 PS) and 250 lb-ft (340 Nm) of torque. This is a significant improvement over the standard model which is rated at 147 hp (110 kW / 149 PS) and 236 lb-ft (319 Nm) of torque.

The extra power more than compensates for the upgraded battery as Nissan says the top speed has increased by approximately 10 percent. Accelerating from 50 mph (80 km/h) to 75 mph (120 km/h) is also nearly 13 percent quicker.

Sticking with the performance theme, Nissan confirmed the Leaf e+ will be available with a new 70 kW Quick Charging system which offers a peak output of 100 kW. The company didn’t reveal detailed charging times, but said early testing revealed the quick charger can replenish the Leaf e+ nearly as fast as a 50 kW charger recharging the standard Leaf. This is a notable achievement as the Leaf e+ has a much larger battery capacity.

On the styling front, there isn’t much to report as the Leaf e+ closely resembles the standard model. However, the long range cruiser is distinguished by 16-inch wheels and a revised front fascia with blue accents.

Inside, there’s a larger 8-inch infotainment system which can be linked to compatible smartphones and receive over-the-air updates. The system also comes with an updated navigation system that can be synced to your phone to provide “door-to-door navigation” including walking directions.

In terms of safety, there’s the ProPILOT Assist semi-autonomous driving system which can keep the car centered in its lane and automatically adjust its speed to match traffic. The Leaf e+ will also come standard with an assortment of driver assistance systems including Intelligent Lane Intervention, Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and an Intelligent Around View Monitor with moving object detection.

The Leaf e+ will go on sale in Japan later this month and European sales will begin in the middle of the year. US sales will start in the spring and there will be three different versions called the S PLUS, SV PLUS and SL PLUS.