Electric car first: Nissan LEAF wins European Car of the Year

For the first time in its 47-year history, the title of European car of the Year has gone to an electric vehicle – the Nissan LEAF.

The jury, which included 57 leading motoring journalists from 23 European countries, compared the Leaf with forty conventionally-powered cars from manufacturers including Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Ford, Vauxhall and Volvo.

A spokesperson at the Environmental Transport Association said: “It is highly significant that experienced motorists now judge an electric vehicle is able to match, and better, conventional cars in many ways.”

The leaf will cost £28,350 (or £5,000 less if the government’s plug-in vehicle grant is taken into account), but the standard equipment list includes air conditioning, sat nav, a rear parking camera and reduced fuel and servicing costs.

A practical electric car

The Leaf can reach 62mph in less than 10 seconds and its top speed is 90mph.

Its battery pack offers a 100-mile operating range in town. A full charge takes eight hours, but the batteries can be charged to 80% capacity in 30 minutes with a fast charger.

Deliveries in America begin next month and the first British customers will get their LEAFs in March 2011. European production of the car and its batteries will start in Sunderland in 2013.