Going Green with the Nissan Leaf
When it comes to the electric car, many consumers are still under the impression that style and comfort forgo their place in everyday driving to make room for economy, efficiency and an army of 'green' credentials.
But what if an electric car can not only deliver zero emissions, be more cost effective than any of its gas guzzling rivals and still retain a high level of performance and usability?
With electric cars set to become mainstream in the UK, with almost every major manufacturer on schedule to release an electric vehicle (EV) by the end of 2013 we thought it was time to test drive an electric car for ourselves with the assistance of Robert Speed, Sales Executive at Motorline Nissan Crawley. 
We were expecting something a little reminiscent of a golf buggy so when we discovered that the new Nissan Leaf Tekna was a sporty little number we can honestly say we were a little surprised.
As 'electric sceptic' we couldn't see how anything could compare to the joy of driving a 'real' car but at Nissan they are just about to introduce to the market the new improved Nissan Leaf Tekna - complete with 17" alloy wheels, leather trim, LED auto levelling headlamps, heated exterior mirrors, front seats and steering wheel, 360-degree Around View montior, BOSE sound system (with 7 speakers and subwoofer), as well as optional extras that include a 5kW charger and solar spoiler.
If you are used to a manual gearbox then the adjustment to an automatic can take a few miles but once you are in the driving seat it is simple to see why there is so much excitement buzzing around this nifty little car.
Aside from the lack of noise, there isn't a difference in the drive compared to any other type of car. This zippy little number had no trouble pulling out into and keeping pace with the flow of traffic, easily accelerating up to speed on the open roads and settling with ease back into the stop-start of city motoring.
Clear all-round visibility means the driver view is uncluttered and the 360 Around View monitor makes parking a breeze. The interior easily affords leg room to both front and rear passengers and the back seats can accommodate three people in comfort. The roomy boot allows for a family shop or a few suitcases for when you are going away.
Of course the Tekna does come at a price and, even with the £5k government grant reducing the initial outlay, for the top of the range you won't be seeing much change from £27k, but if you opt for the entry level Visia Flex then you could be saving on the initial outlay by over £10k.
For the size of the car you are getting it still seems a little pricey but with many manufacturers joining the 'electric race' we would hope to see some more competitive pricing in the near future.
On the plus side, once you start adding up the savings on fuel and charging (Nissan estimates £2 on a cheap tariff), huge savings on servicing and 'regular' car maintenance, and with nothing to pay in road tax, it is easier to see how the Nissan Leaf could become a fair investment.
The beauty of the electric car is that it rolls out new and requires no running-in. The only moving parts that need to bed-in are the brakes. With a simple forward or reverse on the engine there are no gears to strain, no clutch to replace and constant servicing will become a thing of the past with longer periods between visits to the garage.
The new lithium-ion battery, which is more than 95% recoverable, can either be purchased with the vehicle or taken as a lease option to reduce the initial outlay but with a five-year guarantee and single cell replacement technology the worry over battery life is now less of an obstacle in going 'electric'.
The electric charge point network is currently undergoing a rapid expansion so the 'nowhere to charge' argument is also becoming a little dated. And with rapid charge options powering the battery back up to an 80% capacity in under 30 minutes it is as convenient as taking a coffee break on long journeys to ensure your battery stays topped up and ready to go.
Our only concern would be the need to plan a little more carefully when we wanted to go on an extended jaunt but that would simply become habit to work into any journey plans.
We went from sceptic to converts in the space of a few hours and as much as we would like to take away the top end Tekna, complete with bells and whistles, we would be equally as comfortable pottering around town in the entry level Visia and spending the extra money we saved on a few weeks away - touring the UK in our new eco-friendly car...
For more information on the three models available, including the full specifications and price guide visit Nissan UK.
Property owners and motorists can apply for a free, fully installed electric vehicle charge point, using a government subsidy for an intelligent wall-mounted charge point and its installation, which would normally cost upwards of £1,000.