Nissan LEAF EV to Make North American Debut at LA Show in November

North American consumers will get a chance to see Nissan's series production LEAF for the first time up close at the Los Angeles Auto Show on December 4th. Nissan said that it will begin taking U.S. orders for the fully-electric compact hatchback in Spring 2010 with the first examples expected to be delivered to customers later in the year.

The LEAF, which is also set to go on sale in Japan and Europe in late 2010, features an all-electric drivetrain that comprises of a electric motor delivering 107 horsepower and 280Nm of torque, and a lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged up to 80% of its full capacity in just under 30 minutes with a quick charger while charging at home through a 200V outlet is estimated to take approximately eight hours. The LEAF is said to have a driving range of more than 100 miles (160 kilometers).