What range anxiety? New Nissan Leaf 30kWh goes the extra mile

Nissan has boosted the range of its fully-electric Leaf with new battery technology, aimed at making the car an even more practical proposition.

Previously the Japanese manufacturer promised up to 124 miles on a full battery, providing you drove in an efficient way and refrained from using charge-draining gadgets.

Now though, thanks to new 30kWh technology, the Leaf is able to offer up to 155 miles of motoring, which could make it all the more realistic for company car drivers.

Longer range and new infotainment system available

This means the new car can travel 25 percent further on a single charge, which will benefit those with long commutes and a charge point at work, and could even suit drivers who can only access to a charger at home.

Pick the Acenta or Tekna trim and you’ll also benefit from the new NissanConnect EV infotainment system, which comes with improved connectivity and a new remote defrost feature.

Gareth Dunsmore, Nissan Europe’s director of electric vehicles, said: “The new Nissan Leaf 30kWh is a great example of Nissan’s pioneering and innovative spirit.

“We constantly strive to push the boundaries of what is possible with zero emission technology – going further so our customers can go further.”

No change to Nissan Leaf performance

Power stays the same at 107bhp, and there is 254Nm of instant torque available as soon as you press the accelerator. This enables a 0-60mph time of 11.1 seconds

You get a practical 370-litre boot and plenty of space inside for passengers, plus the lack of engine noise and single gear means a smooth and quiet ride.

There’s no way to pop in to a fuel station and fill up in a matter of minutes like with a conventional engine, though, and a full charge can take up to eight hours. If you can find a fast charger 80 percent of the battery can be filled in just 30 minutes.

The uprated Nissan Leaf is on sale now, with prices for the 30kWh version starting at £29,490.