The Nissan LEAF silently cruised past a milestone as global sales reached 100,000. The electric hatchback, which is now available in 35 countries, remains the best-selling EV in history, with a 45% market share.

“I have chosen my Nissan LEAF because I am very interested in its running costs,” said UK dentist Dr. Brett Garner, who bought the 100,000th LEAF. “The cost of ownership such as maintenance, insurance and charging also convinced my wife. The LEAF is perfect for everyday commuting, and there is no problem with charging it. It is ideal for the family as it is quiet and not tiring even on longer journeys, because there is no vibration.”

One of the first LEAF buyers was a Buddhist priest named Wasei Hirai, and he is still a satisfied customer. “Natural beauty and history are very important for me, but I often drive a car because it is necessary for life,” he said at his temple in Tokyo.  “Surprisingly, the innovative aspect of the Nissan LEAF matches this old temple quite naturally, so I believe that such a temple should take the initiative to propose messages about the environment and a way of living.”

Practical and green aren’t the only adjectives in Nissan’s electric vocabulary, however. In June, Nissan aims to set a record for the fastest all-electric lap in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with its ZEOD RC. It also has plans to produce a flashy electric sports car in the near future.

Such a car would use the in-wheel motor technology that the company showcased in the Bladeglider at the recent Tokyo Motor Show, global design chief Shiro Nakamura told Motor Authority.

“We are making serious progress with in-wheel motors – cost is becoming less of an issue,” said Nakamura. “We want to express the sportier, exciting part of EVs, and in doing that, there are two new design directions for Nissan electric vehicles – one, for a cheap city commuter type EV, the other for a sportier, more exciting EV with unique technology…and of course we’ll have the LEAF in the middle.”

Source: Nissan, Motor Authority
Image: NissanEV/Flickr