Nissan has presented a very adventurous concept car based on the Leaf. The study model, christened RE-Leaf, serves on paper as an emergency vehicle during natural disasters, with particular emphasis on mobile power supply. According to Nissan, EVs can soon play an important role in this.
The name of the RE-Leaf is clearly a play on words on ‘relief’, which translated into Dutch means ‘help’. The RE-Leaf can certainly help, according to Nissan. Compared to a standard Leaf e + Tekna, the ride height has been increased by 70 mm, bringing the ground clearance to 225 mm. The underbody is equipped with extra protection and the track width has been increased by 90 mm at the front and by 130 mm at the rear. Furthermore, the wheel arches are fitted with mud flaps and the RE-Leaf is mounted on 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires from BF Goodrich. The powertrain has remained unchanged from the Leaf e +, so the 217 hp electric motor only drives the front wheels.
With these adjustments, the RE-Leaf looks pretty cool. A light bar is also mounted on the roof for extra visibility. However, it doesn’t just stop there show. The rear seat has been removed and the floor leveled to create space for rescue equipment. In the trunk, a 32-inch screen folds out that can be used as a coordination center during a disaster. The RE-Leaf can also supply power in three different ways with a power of 230 volts: on the outside there are two C-Form connectors, while in the trunk there is a normal socket.
There are currently no concrete plans to supply the RE-Leaf to governments or rescue services, but according to Nissan, these parties have shown interest in the study model.