Nissan's all-electric Leaf road car has taken the world's leading auto awards by storm this year.
The Nissan Leaf is awarded Japanese Car of the Year Image: Nissan |
The Leaf has now recorded a hat-trick of Car of the Year awards after lifting the Japanese COTY 2011-2012 title as well as the Japanese Researchers' and Journalists COTY Award. The 100% electric car has already clinched this year's European and World Car of the Year titles.
The latest title provides the car with a number of milestones: the first electric vehicle to win the Japanes COTY in its 32-year history and one of only two vehicles to have won both the European and Japanese Awards in the same year. The other car? The Nissan Micra in 1993.
Despite the awards, there is still some way to go before the Leaf - and the whole electric car market - becomes a mass market. Although sales since the car was launched last year have reached 20,000 globally, it is not a cheap option, retailing at around £26,000 ($41,000) in the UK - including a hefty government subsidy - and starting at $35,200 in the US. Ironically, in the UK prices are set to come down slightly in 2012, while a price rise is in sight in the US.
Despite the price tag, the fact that the world's top car judges have agreed that an electric vehicle is worthy of being named Car Of The Year indicates an acceptance that non-hydrocarbon-powered vehicles provide credible competition to the traditionally powered car market.