The Nissan LEAF on the Examining Table

The Leaf’s engine bay shows hardly any signs that it’s an all-electric car. It has an additional 12V battery to supply power to the electric systems in the passenger compartment.

For laypeople, the Nissan Leaf’s electric motor looks so much like a small traditional 1.0-litre gas-powered engine that it could easily go unnoticed.

Given its small motor and the generous work space in the engine bay, it’s easy to access the various parts, such as the hookup for the headlights.

Electrical wires attached to the charge connectors help direct the current to the recharging system and then to the batteries.

Inside the engine bay, the entire electrical system is easily recognizable due to its orange wiring. Quickly identifying the energy sources is essential for the mechanic, since it has a high voltage current.

To prevent damage to the electrical system, the wires are covered by a protective sheath. Certain pipes are also protected by insulation to prevent humidity and condensation from making the current less efficient.

The electrical power supply system, which recovers energy from the brakes and energy freed during motor compression, is located behind the engine block.

In the front part of the vehicle, at the base of the hood, there’s the compartment that helps recharge the Leaf’s batteries: the orange connector is for a 120V current, and the big black connector is for recharging on the 240V current.

One of the Leaf’s three charging systems. This one completely recharges the Leaf in 21 hours. A second system, the home charging dock, recharges it in 8 hours. The 240V system charges it in 30 minutes.

The solar panel that comes factory standard on the Leaf SL helps recharge the 12V battery using the electric systems present in the passenger compartment. The air conditioning and heating use this energy to function.

The ABS brake module is standard and placed near the main brake cylinder.

Brake fluid reservoir placed under an electronic module. It’s impossible to access, but fortunately, a pipe runs toward the front and leads to a cap above the engine that allows for easy access.

The energy stored in the batteries is transferred toward the engine block using the main connector.

Under the car, everything has been designed to circulate air efficiently. Normally straight on most cars, this front wheel deflector is somewhat curved on the Leaf.

The absence of an exhaust system helps means that the bottom is free of bulky pipes. There’s no emergency tire, gas tank or even a muffler, which helps create the space required for the batteries.

The car’s undercarriage is practically flat. The different mechanical components are very well protected by multiple plastic plates. These plates also serve to efficiently circulate the air under the vehicle.

Under the vehicle, the drivetrain can be accessed easily by removing the plastic panel that protects it. This is the electric mechanism that powers the front wheels and the transmission on the left side.

The plastic panels that cover the mechanical components are attached by several plastic screws. Will this equipment manage to survive our harsh winters in the long run?

Behind the front bumper, there’s an aluminum bar that both helps attach the bumper and serves as a crumple zone in a collision. The use of aluminum ensures that the Leaf’s weight is reduced.

There’s a QR code printed on the front part of the drivetrain. It lets you access information of the Leaf using a smart phone.

In grey, there’s a compartment that encloses the batteries. It’s located under the back seat and under the floor. The compartment is heated in winter and air conditioned in summer to avoid extreme temperatures that are harmful to the charge it can hold ov

Next to the rear suspension, there are connectors and wires that are poorly protected against inclement weather.

On the compartment that contains the batteries, the warning about the risks of electric shock can be easily read. Leaving the maintenance to Nissan’s mechanics would be a wise choice.

The Leaf’s four wheel disc brakes are totally standard. Only the brake energy recover system makes the brake pedal firmer. The parking brake is electric, of course.

Even the tow hook is placed under the level of the plastic panels in order to reduced drag as much as possible.

All of the electric connectors have maximum protection in order to avoid energy losses and premature wear and tear. With their orange colour, they are also very visible.

The main cylinder of the brake energy recovery system that helps recharge the battery while braking. This system is called upon often in town, but not at all on the highway.

The Leaf has a speaker that is used to emit a whistle to warn pedestrians when the car is approaching at less than 30 km/hr. The Leaf also makes a beeping sound when it’s backing up.

It has an independent strut suspension with a stabilizer bar in the front while at the rear there’s a torsion bar suspension with an integrated stabilizer bar.

The Leaf’s rear diffuser looks like those used in auto racing. It helps efficient direct air flow to avoid producing a vacuum effect on the car.

The standard tires are provided by Bridgestone. Ecopia is Bridgestone’s line of environmentally-friendly tires designed to minimize resistance while driving.