Depends if the colonials will accept 150ish miles of range at a lower price point. I've got a 30kWh Leaf on lease until June 2019, then I'll likely buy the 60kWh version to be announced next year. I WANT 200 miles of range to cope with the three longer journies I regularly make. I tend to get bladder anxiety after about 120 - 140 miles at 70mph so one charge for our 280 mile trip would be fine for me. With the current Leaf at 60-65 mph I had to stop three times on the return leg due to Electric Highway locations.
OTOH, many people will still insist on getting over that 200 miles per charge barrier before buying. I suspect (hope) that Nissan did some market before making the decision to go with the 40kWh battery.
I fully understand that, but, which will gain the largest market share?
I would have thought the 40kWh Leaf would go better in Europe because most people don't drive as far on individual journies. My understanding is that some people in as for instance, Alabama, will only buy an EV if they can easily drive to California in it, and at present that's a rather expensive Tesla.
I just don't think they "get it." Over here Nissan ploughed money into Ecotricity and the Electric Highway which means I can drive my Leaf all over the country on motorways as there are regular charge points to use. Tesla understood the need for charging infrastructure to be in place where other manufacturers, in the USA at least, still do not.
