Nissan Leaf to become 'more affordable'

Nissan Leaf to become 'more affordable'

Eco-conscious drivers looking to get being the wheel of the headline-grabbing Nissan Leaf could be among those encouraged by the recent comments of one of the Japanese firm's spokesmen.

While an updated version has been pencilled in for 2014, the firm has announced plans to reduce the price of the popular electric vehicle.

A company source told Auto Express: "We are hoping to bring the cost of the batteries and electric components down to make the LEAF more affordable."

This could mean a significant boost in popularity for the Nissan Leaf, which is currently priced at £26,000 once a £5,000 government grant is taken into account.

While the source would not provide the magazine with exact details, Auto Express noted that even a five per cent reduction would mean a saving of almost £1,500.

The news tops an eventful week for the Nissan Leaf, which became the first electric vehicle to pick up the coveted car of the Year Award earlier this week.

Nissan also demonstrated the capabilities of the model in Tokyo, by showing how its battery can be used to power a house for two days.

Posted by Sebastian Turkenburg