Nissan Leaf electric car platform to spawn more models, SUV included

Teaser for 2018 Nissan Leaf debuting on September 6, 2017

The 2018 Nissan Leaf apparently won't be the brand's lone electric car for much longer, if a new report with details on plans to expand the electric car's underpinnings to additional models proves accurate. Following the introduction of the second-generation 2018 Nissan Leaf, the electric car's platform will spawn multiple models, and an electric SUV is said to be one of Nissan's priorities. Future expansions could see the next-generation Nissan Leaf's architecture also underpin electric Mitsubishi vehicles as well.

A report from Autocar details Nissan's goal to expand its electric-car portfolio with help from the Leaf, which remains the world's highest-selling electric car seven years after its introduction. Specifically, the Japanese brand has filed to protect the "Terra" name, which graced a 2012 concept vehicle. That concept car was all-electric and used the then-current Leaf's electric driveline, plus a hydrogen fuel cell system to power two rear motors that created the Terra concept's all-wheel drive system.

2018 Nissan Leaf spotted during photo shoot - Image via Broom

A production version of the Terra electric crossover would, of course, benefit from the 2018 Leaf's new battery pack and electric driveline. The 2018 Nissan Leaf will likely offer two battery options: one will boast at least 200 miles of range to rival the Chevrolet Bolt EV and the Tesla Model 3. The Bolt EV returns an EPA-estimated 238 miles of range, while the base Model 3 returns an EPA-estimated 220 miles.

Aside from the Terra SUV, Nissan could use the Leaf's electric driveline in additional crossover models later on. Previously, reports indicated Nissan has been planning electric versions of the hot-selling Rogue crossover and the smaller Nissan Juke. A Nissan spokesperson previously said the company will combine its crossover and electric-car technology "in the future," which will clearly be after the 2018 Leaf goes on sale late this year or early in 2018.

Mitsubishi eX Concept, 2015 Tokyo Motor Show

Mitsubishi is the third element of the Renault Nissan Alliance's overarching electric-vehicle strategy. Nissan acquired a 34-percent stake in the Japanese automaker last year, and plans to integrate Mitsubishi into its own electric car plans. If a Nissan Terra electric crossover is in the cards, the automaker's plan could also bring the long-awaited Mitsubishi eX electric crossover concept into production.

The Mitsubishi eX debuted in 2015 as an all-electric compact crossover with a 45-kilowatt-hour battery pack said to produce an estimated 200 miles of range. Since its debut, Mitsubishi hasn't revealed any further plans for the eX, though it did reveal the Eclipse Cross, which shares some design cues from the concept. One thing is certain: Renault-Nissan plans to spread the wealth with its latest electric car into many more vehicles.

Maven Says Uber and Lyft Drivers Love Chevy Bolt

General Motor’s Maven car sharing unit finds that Uber and Lyft drivers love the Chevy Bolt and are putting a lot of miles behind the wheel.

Rachel Bhattacharya, who heads GM’s commercial mobility unit, spoke about it yesterday at a CAR Management Briefing Seminar in Traverse City, Mich.

The Maven fleet brought in 150 Bolts during May, and has 250 more on order.

Bolt rentals have done very well through the Maven Gig program, where ride-hailing and delivery service drivers rent a Maven vehicle for a week at a time. Maven Gig launched in May in San Diego and has expanded to San Francisco.

Drivers pay more for the Chevy Bolt under the program than they would under other Maven rentals; but they end up saving money on fuel costs.

Drivers pay $229 for the weekly rental, which covers insurance, maintenance, and charging. It’s about $40 more than other rentals, but drivers end up saving about $70 a week on fuelcosts, the GM executive said.

“Early interest has been phenomenal,” Bhattacharya said. “For most of them, it’s not about environmentalism. It’s about fuel savings.”

It’s taken off in the past three months. The GM mobility executive said that drivers are putting an average of 30 percent more miles in the Bolt than while driving cars with internal combustion engines.

Maven customers have put in more than 1 million miles during their Bolt rentals since the offer was launched in May.

The car sharing service is doing business now in 17 North America since its startup 18 months ago. Besides Maven Gig, the Maven Home service has done well with customers living in apartment and condo complexes and needing short trips in a shared rental car.

Bhattacharya said established brands like Zipcar helped open the door for Maven.

GM has the advantage of getting young consumers to try out car sharing services and its own vehicle products, which could the first car they end up buying.

It’a also setting the stage for testing self-driving Bolts through its partnership with Lyft and through its Maven subsidiary,

“The whole goal of Maven is we’re the learning laboratory for General Motors as we’re preparing for an autonomous future,” she said. “We’re still very much in startup mode, but we’ve had some positive results to date.”

Chevy Bolt EV user interface: reviewer calls it best of any electric car

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, road test, California coastline, Sep 2016

Chevrolet Bolt EV drives 300 miles [Screenshot from video by owner Glenn Williams]

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, road test, California coastline, Aug 2016

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, road test, California coastline, Sep 2016

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, road test, California coastline, Sep 2016

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, road test, California coastline, Sep 2016

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First Drive: Chevy Bolt EV 200-Mile Electric Car Development Vehicle

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The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is an amazing, long-range electric vehicle that won multiple awards for good reason.

Driving the EV for an extended test for the first time, it’s obvious this is the future of driving. (Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently predicted that 50 percent of new cars will be electric in 10 years.)

Beyond the surprising acceleration, the spirited feel around corners (possibly because the car feels so light), and the ability to drive 238 miles on one charge, the features that amazed me were all related to the touchscreen interface

I drove the Bolt EV at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas a few months ago, and I wasn’t quite as impressed. Back then, Chevy had not fine-tuned the electric motor, and it wasn’t as sporty.

I remember thinking the interface was unique, but I kept wondering if the sluggish speed (compared to a few other electrics) would be an issue.

Driving on the curvy roads north of San Francisco, however, it became obvious the car was ready for production.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV

You have to hold on tight when you punch it, which seems counterintuitive in a small hatchback like this.

Then you start using the display and it feels more like an iPad. What’s going on?

The touchscreen feels responsive and doesn’t distract you from the road like a few other touchscreens in cars that have a lag.

Along the top, there’s an obvious home button, one for apps, and one for music. You can customize the layout, colors, and look and feel to one that matches your tastes and driving style.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, road test, California coastline, Sep 2016

For example, the “eco” layout, shown below, includes information about the energy used.

You can further edit the screen by locating the boxes — similar to the tile interface in Windows 10 — in a different pattern or making a “tile” full-screen.

The color scheme Chevy uses made it easy to spot different sections of the UI. I never had to hunt around for the bright blue track control icons.

When I wanted to change how the EV was drawing power, I found that section easily without having to click on smaller icons (as is the case with many other cars).

Chevrolet Bolt EV drives 300 miles [Screenshot from video by owner Glenn Williams]

Someone at Chevy deserves credit because they obviously tested the interface with actual drivers—who have actual fingers.

Instead of having to fine-press on an icon, you can click anywhere in the tile.

That meant, even on rocky terrain as the car was moving around a bit on the road, I was still able to make selections.

Having a clear interface helps with distracted driving problems. You can easily make selections without having to tap-tap-tap on the buttons as you look at the screen for too long.

The UI is one of the best I’ve seen in any recent car, and I’m including a test drive in a Tesla in that comment.