piston power
turn over a green ‘leaf’
Driving towards a greener planet just got simpler; with the recently launched Nissan LEAF you can reduce your carbon footprints by just being behind
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www.nissan-zeroemission.com
n a bid to transform the planet into an eco-friendly destination each one of us is doing our bit be it by way of consuming organic veggies or using green gadgets. Well, if your heart beats for a green Earth then you can spoil and explore your passion with umpteen “eco-friendly” options. Be it the runway or the driveway, the green bug has bit the experts and the good news is that their innovations are tempting enough to fall for! Catch a glimpse of the 100 per cent electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF and you’ll know what we are talking about. Stressing over the emission of greenhouse gases is a global phenomenon, something that caught Nissan’s attention recently, and resulted in a swanky to-die-for vehicle, Nissan LEAF! Now, who said green cars can’t be gorgeous? And we aren’t talking about the ones that have a hybrid engine, but the one that has zero emission. Nissan LEAF has a range of over 100 miles on a full charge, takes around eight hours to recharge using 220-240V power supply and produces zero tailpipe emissions. Its low centre of gravity produces sharp turn-in with almost no body roll and no
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under steer. And the best bit, it feels just like a normal car, only quieter. Talking about the distinctive traits of riding an EV (Electronic Vehicle) like LEAF, Hidetoshi Kadota, Chief Vehicle Engineer, Nissan, says, “A motor-driven EV provides a smooth and powerful ride that’s completely different from the gasoline cars. What makes this possible is a bit difficult to express, but one key is that the motor has the ability to produce the maximum torque from zero RPM on up. You get the impression of LEAF’s extreme power right from the moment you put it in gear.” The attributes of a motor makes for a great ride, but in LEAF’s case that’s not all. Kadota elaborates, “LEAF is the payoff of the long years Nissan has devoted to creating cars with electronic motors, including EVs, hybrid cars and fuel-cell cars. And after so many years we have come to understand how to control the motor to enhance driving pleasure, and put all of this knowhow into LEAF.” At the New York International Auto Show, Nissan LEAF was named as the 2011 World Car of the Year, edging out the likes of BMW 5-Series and the Audi A8 for the top nissanmagazine.in
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