First Nissan LEAF delivered to Canadian owner

Nissan Canada president Allen Childs presents keys to Ricardo Borba, Canada's first Nissan LEAF owner.

Nissan Canada has delivered the first all-electric Nissan LEAF to a Canadian consumer in Ottawa. Ricardo Borba, the first person in Canada to place a Nissan LEAF order, received the keys to his black Nissan LEAF SL from Allen Childs, President of Nissan Canada. Calling it a "milestone" in the movement toward sustainable mobility, Childs said that Nissan is leading the way by bringing the world's first all-electric car to the mass market. The Nissan LEAF was named 2011 World Car of the Year earlier this year.

Canada's first LEAF owner said that it was the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year that got him thinking about alternatives to gas-powered vehicles. The LEAF turned out to be the one that best suited his needs.  

"It's all-electric and looks and drives just like a regular car with five seats, ample cargo space and loaded with high-tech features. It's smooth, quiet and has incredible acceleration. In other words, it's fun to drive!"

Powered by a lithium-ion battery, Nissan LEAF generates 107 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. Because there's no traditional engine, Nissan LEAF is ultra-quiet and for safety reasons a sound had to be added so pedestrians could hear the car coming. In April, Nissan LEAF was awarded a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

In late October, Nissan Canada will open its online reservation process for its allocation of Model Year 12 Nissan LEAFs. Reservations are eligible to those registered on the Nissan LEAF microsite (www.nissan.ca/LEAF) and living within the vicinity of the 27 EV-certified dealers across Canada. By the end of MY12 Nissan anticipates 600 Nissan LEAFs on Canadian roads.