Nissan Leaf electric car on scenic coastal, rural drives in Europe: videoNissan Leaf electric car on scenic coastal, rural drives in Europe: video

Summer may be coming to an end, but it might still be possible to squeeze in a road trip.
At least, that’s the message Nissan seems to be sending its European customers.
The Japanese carmaker recently released a video of its Leaf electric car driving to picturesque coastal locations throughout Europe.
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Dubbed the “all-electric Grand Tour” it covered what Nissan claims are Europe’s “most breathtaking rural and coastal driving routes.”
That included roads in Italy, Spain, Germany, Norway, Scotland, and France.
All told, the Leaf covered 650 kilometers (403 miles) over the course of its tour, according to Nissan.
Nissan Leaf on scenic drives in EuropeOf course, the carmaker was quick to note that such a trip was achievable thanks to the network of DC fast-charging sites it helped install.
Nissan claims there are now 2,800 such sites across Europe.
In the video and accompanying press materials, Nissan quotes the 250-kilometer (155-mile) range for the Leaf achieved on the highly-optimistic European NEDC testing cycle.
ALSO SEE: Nissan Suggests ‘Five Most Breathtaking Electric Drives’ In Europe (Video) (Aug 2015)
On the U.S. EPA testing cycle, the corresponding figure for models with the larger 30-kilowatt-hour battery pack is 107 miles.
Nissan added the larger battery pack to higher-level trims for the 2016 model year.
The base Leaf S continues with the smaller 24-kWh pack, and an EPA-rated 84-mile range.
Nissan Leaf on scenic drives in EuropeA second-generation model is expected to arrive relatively soon with a significantly larger battery pack, perhaps allowing a range closer to 200 miles.
Nissan showed a prototype 60-kWh battery pack last year, and back in June electric-car development boss Kazuo Yajima said a pack of this size would be used in the next-generation Leaf.
MORE: Next Nissan Leaf confirmed for 60-kwh battery, 200 miles of range
There is still no clear indication of when the next Leaf will arrive, but it may be previewed by a concept car at the upcoming 2016 Paris Motor Show.
A 200-mile range would help the Leaf better compete with the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Tesla Model 3—anticipation of which may already be hurting sales of the current Leaf.
It would also open up a lot more possibilities for road trips.
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