Making a mass-market EV A REALITY

Nissan's Director of Product Planning and Advanced Technology Strategy details the Leaf's journey from concept to production.

The road to the first delivery of a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle (EV) on Dec. 11, 2010, in Petaluma, CA, was a long one. As can be expected when attempting to buck a century's worth of petroleum-based transportation infrastructure, there were many hurdles to clear before an all-electric vehicle could be deemed feasible in today's mass market.

In addition to being able to economically produce a safe, reliable, and fun-to-drive EV from a technology standpoint, Nissan also had to form partnerships with local, regional, and state governments along with utilities in each of the Leaf's primary launch markets to foster the development of EV-friendly policies and an EV-charging infrastructure.