Nissan says new charger can top off Leaf EV in 30 minutes
Nissan announced today that it will soon roll out a higher voltage “quick charger” for home use capable of charging its Leaf electric vehicle in less than 30 minutes.
The 480-volt charging station will reduce the time it takes to charge a Leaf from the four to six hours it takes with a standard 240-volt charger. Nissan will partner with Sumitomo to deliver the first quick charger in early 2010, the companies said in a news release today. The companies planned a news conference later today at the Sheraton Waikiki timed to coincide with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.
The new DC quick charger can support all plug-in vehicles capable of quick charging on the “CHAdeMO standard,” including the Leaf, according to Nissan.
The starting price for the charger will be $9,900, which is about a third of the cost of other quick charge models available in market today, according to Nissan. AeroVironment will help manage installation and distribution of the chargers.