Nissan to compete in 200-mile range with next-gen LEAF
Nissan has confirmed that its next-generation LEAF EV will have a range of at least 200-miles, due to a 60kWh lithium-ion battery pack, increasing competition for Tesla's Model 3 and Chevrolet's Bolt. The automaker is expected to offer multiple battery configurations, including the 24kWh configuration that it offers with the existing LEAF, which offers 84 miles per charge, and a 30kWh configuration, with a range of 107 miles. As yet, no details have been given as to the look or features of the new LEAF (such as semi-autonomous driving capabilities) or when it will be launched.

The second-generation Nissan Leaf will have a range of at least 200 miles, provided by a new battery pack with a capacity of 60 kilowatt-hours.

This will help the next version of the Leaf compete effectively with the upcoming 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV and the future Tesla Model 3.

Nissan global electric-car and hybrid development boss Kazuo Yajima confirmed the larger pack yesterday at the Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exhibition 29—known as EVS29—in Montreal, Canada.

CHECK OUT: Nissan's 60-kWh, 200-Mile Battery Pack: What We Know So Far (Nov 2015)

"It's coming," Yajima told Autoblog Green, referring to the 60-kWh battery pack, without disclosing when the next-generation Leaf would arrive in the market.

When it does go on sale, though, Yajima said the new Leaf should have about twice the range of the current model, owing to the larger battery pack.

The current Leaf has a maximum range of 107 miles with the optional 30-kWh pack, and 84 miles with the standard 24-kWh pack.

Nissan IDS concept, 2015 Tokyo Motor Show

That means the next-generation Leaf should have a range of at least 200 miles, perhaps a bit more.

This would put the Leaf in the same ballpark as the Chevy Bolt EV and Model 3—anticipation of which may already be hurting sales of the current Leaf.

Set to begin production before the end of the year, the Bolt EV has a claimed 200-mile range and $37,500 base price before incentives.

DON'T MISS: What hurts Nissan Leaf sales: Tesla Model 3 or Chevy Bolt EV electric cars?

Tesla expects to start Model 3 production next year, and advertises a 215-mile range and $35,000 base price for its first mass-market model.

The Bolt EV has a 60-kWh battery pack, while Tesla has not disclosed the capacity of the Model 3's pack.

Nissan has been hinting at a 60-kWh pack for the next-generation Leaf since at least last November.

Nissan prototype 60-kWh battery pack - Nissan Technical Center, October 2015

That's when it unveiled the IDS electric-car concept at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, complete with a prototype battery pack of that capacity.

Besides capacity, that pack differed from the ones used in the current Leaf in many ways, including cell chemistry and pack structure.

READ THIS: Nissan IDS Concept: Autonomous Electric Car At Tokyo Motor Show (Oct 2015)

It's possible that at least some of these design changes will carry over to the pack used in the production second-generation Leaf.

That car is expected to be unveiled sometime this year or in 2017, and go into production as a 2018 model.

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