Nissan hits 1 million EV sales 12 years after launching the LEAF
After launching the iconic LEAF compact electric car in December 2010, Nissan announced Tuesday that it finally surpassed 1 million in global EV sales.
Nissan surpasses 1 million global EV sales
More than 650,000 Nissan LEAF models have been sold since its launch over 12 years ago. For many years, the LEAF was the best-selling electric vehicle, and Nissan was viewed as a forerunner in the EV market.
Fast-forward over a decade and some change, and the industry has completely flipped. Nearly every major automaker has or is planning to release its own fully electric car. Many are already working on their second or third generations EVs.
The LEAF remained the best-selling EV (cumulatively) with a decent range and a comfortable interior until Tesla’s Model 3 topped it in early 2020.
Model 3 deliveries began in late 2017, becoming the best-selling EV in 2018 and 2019 before finally surpassing the LEAF in early 2022.
Meanwhile, Nissan has failed to update the compact EV in recent years as sales continue falling. Nissan again announced the 2024 LEAF would feature the outdated CHAdeMO charging, which should have been replaced years ago.
With more advanced, longer-range vehicles on the market, the LEAF has lost its touch as buyers move on.
Nissan announced it reached the 1 million global EV sales milestone Tuesday after launching its first mass-market EV over 12 years ago.
In comparison, Tesla has already delivered 888,000 vehicles through the first half of 2023 as it works to hit its guidance of 1.8 million EV deliveries this year alone.
The next chapter
After over a decade (and a few delays), Nissan finally released its second all-electric global EV and first electric SUV, the Nissan Ariya.
Although it was supposed to hit showrooms all the way back in 2021, Ariya sales finally began in the US in late 2022.
Through the first half of the year, Nisan’s electric SUV is already outselling the LEAF in the US. Ariya sales have totaled 5,195, while 4,234 LEAF models have been sold.
Starting at $43,190, the 2023 Ariya (63 kWh) offers up to 216 miles range. You can also opt for the bigger 87 kWh battery for up to 304 miles range for a starting MSRP of $47,190.
To boost sales and drive adoption in the US, Nissan was the first Japanese automaker to adopt Tesla’s NACS connector, giving EV buyers access to Tesla’s Supercharger network.
According to Nissan’s production schedule (via Automotive News), the automaker will begin building a pair of electric sedans at its Canton, MS, plant starting in 2026. A couple of electric crossovers will follow these over the following two years.
Nissan also launched its first mini EV in Japan, the Sakura. The automaker believes the Sakura “will be a game changer for the Japanese market and will make EVs much more accessible to customers in Japan.”
The Sakura starts at 2,333,100 yen (roughly $16.5K), offering up to 180 km (111 mi) WLTC Japan cycle range. Nissan says the mini EV has already gathered over 50,000 orders in Japan.
As part of its Nissan Ambition 2030 strategy, Nissan plans to launch 19 EV models by 2030. The automaker also aims to launch EVs with solid-state batteries developed in-house by 2028 capable of holding twice the energy of current lithium-ion batteries.
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JackRabbit, the maker of pint-sized electric microbikes, is back with a new product designed to quickly recharge their batteries from pure, uncut photons mainlined into an e-bike directly from the sun. In true independent charging form, the Solar Charging Kit from JackRabbit keeps riders rolling even when there’s not a convenient AC outlet in sight.
Unveiled this week, the Solar Charging Kit consists of a single folding solar panel and a tiny voltage converter that is configured to output 42.0V, which is the exact voltage required by JackRabbit’s little e-bike batteries. There’s also an added USB-A and a USB-C charging port for powering other devices in addition to charging JackRabbit batteries.
“This Solar Charging Kit plugs directly into your bike,” explained the company, “letting you recharge without needing an outlet, but with a speed comparable to the charger that comes with the OG/OG2 (42V, 2A).”
That would mean the panel outputs around 80W of solar power, which the company says can recharge its batteries in just three hours. That fairly quick recharging speed is helped by the fact that JackRabbit’s batteries are a mere 151 Wh, or around a third of the size of most e-bike batteries.
If that sounds small, then you’re right – it is. But JackRabbit is all about going micro, offering barely 25 lb rideables that are easy to store and bring on adventures, even when they aren’t actually being ridden.
With small batteries that fit under the 160Wh limit for many airlines in the US, the batteries can be quickly charged and taken to the widest number of locations. And for riders that want to go further than a single 10-mile (16-km) battery will allow, extra batteries are small enough to fit a pants pocket. The company also offers much larger Rangebuster batteries, though they won’t pass by TSA and make it onto an airplane in your personal item.
It sounds like the Solar Chargking Kit should be able to charge up JackRabbit’s large RangeBuster batteries, though likely in more than three hours.
The $349 Solar Charging Kit is a bit pricier than building something similar yourself, but it’s also safer and more convenient than hacking together your own battery charger since it’s designed to work with JackRabbit’s batteries right out of the box.
Technically it’s only inteded for JackRabbit’s micro e-bikes (themselves technically seated scooters, even if they look and feel more like a typical bike), but it’d probably work for just about any 36V e-bike that requires 42.0V to charge.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen solar charging kits for electric bikes, and it’s a trend that is certainly appreciated by outdoors and camping enthusiasts, festival goers, or anyone who finds themself and their bike spending extended periods in the great, sunny outdoors.
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Solar generated 11% of EU electricity in 2024, overtaking coal which fell below 10% for the first time, according to the European Electricity Review published today by think tank Ember.
EU gas generation declined for the fifth year in a row, and total fossil generation fell to a historic low.
“Fossil fuels are losing their grip on EU energy,” said Dr Chris Rosslowe, senior analyst and lead author of the report. “At the start of the European Green Deal in 2019, few thought the EU’s energy transition could be where it is today; wind and solar are pushing coal to the margins and forcing gas into structural decline.”
The European Electricity Review published today by global energy think tank Ember provides the first comprehensive overview of the EU power system in 2024. It analyzes full-year electricity generation and demand data for 2024 in all EU-27 countries to understand the region’s progress in transitioning from fossil fuels to clean electricity.
Wind and solar continue their meteoric rise in the EU
The EU power sector is undergoing a deep transformation spurred on by the European Green Deal. Solar generation (11%) overtook coal (10%) for the first time in 2024, as wind (17%) generated more electricity than gas (16%) for the second year in a row.
Strong solar growth, combined with a recovery of hydropower, pushed the share of renewables to nearly half of EU power generation (47%). Fossil fuels generated 29% of the EU’s electricity in 2024. In 2019, before the Green Deal, fossil fuels provided 39% of EU electricity, while renewables provided 34%.
Solar is growing in every EU country and more than half now have either no coal power or a share below 5% in their power mix. Coal has fallen from being the EU’s third-largest power source in 2019 to the sixth-largest in 2024, bringing the end into sight for the dirtiest fossil fuel. EU gas generation also declined for the fifth year in a row (-6%) despite a very small rebound in power demand (+1%).
The EU is reaping the benefits of reduced fossil fuel dependency
The surge in wind and solar generation has reduced the EU’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and its exposure to volatile prices since the energy crisis. Ember’s analysis found that without new wind and solar capacity added over the last five years, the EU would have imported an additional 92 billion cubic meters of fossil gas and 55 million tonnes of coal, costing €59 billion.
“While the EU’s electricity transition has moved faster than anyone expected in the last five years, further progress cannot be taken for granted,” continued Rosslowe. “Delivery needs to be accelerated particularly in the wind sector, which has faced unique challenges and a widening delivery gap. Between now and 2030, annual wind additions need to more than double compared to 2024 levels. However, the achievements of the past five years should instil confidence that, with continued drive and commitment, challenges can be overcome and a more secure energy future be achieved.”
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe said: “This milestone is about more than just climate action; it is a cornerstone of European energy security and industrial competitiveness. Renewables are steadily pushing fossil fuels to the margins, with solar leading the way. We now need more flexibility to kick-in, making sure the energy system is adapting to new realities: more storage and more smart electrification in heating, transport and industries.”
Read more: China installed a record capacity of solar and wind in 2024 – in numbers
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