Nissan Reveals Mass-Market Electric Car

Nissan yesterday unveiled its entry into the electric-vehicle market, the Los Angeles Times reports. The LEAF is a five-seat compact that gets a top speed of 90 mph out of its lithium-ion batteries. The vehicle can go about 100 miles on a full charge, an attribute Nissan hopes will convince Americans to embrace EVs.

The LEAF will also feature connectivity with mobile phones or online computers to allow remote control of charging and other functions. Nissan is reportedly in talks with cities around the US to develop infrastructure for charging the vehicle—though it can be charged at home, the availability of public charging spots will probably be a key deciding factor for motorists considering the LEAF. (More Nissan stories.)