Nissan is gearing up to close a record 2019 for EV demand that has seen the UK market share for all-electric cars more than double year-on-year. The company says that to cement the Leaf’s position as “one of the most accessible, and readily available, electric vehicles on the market”, it is reducing the ‘On The Road’ price of its Leaf 40kWh range by £1,650 on all grades.

The starting price of a Leaf 40kWh is now £26,345 for an Acenta version (including the £3,500 Plug-in Car Grant), whilst range-topping Tekna models are from £29,345.

For company car drivers, this places the entire 40kWh Leaf range in the sub-£30k P11D price point. As an extra incentive for choosing zero-emission transport, from April 2020 there will be zero per-cent benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax on electric vehicles, rising to just one per-cent from April 2021 and two per-cent from April 2022.

Combined with zero VED, off-peak electricity for charging, substantially lower maintenance costs, free ULEZ and London Congestion Charge entry, and free parking in some towns and cities, Nissan says drivers could save thousands of pounds a year in running costs compared to a petrol or diesel vehicle.

Nic Verneuil, marketing director of Nissan Motors (GB) Ltd., commented; “Nissan is always improving the competitiveness of its vehicles, ensuring customers enjoy a better buying and ownership experience. We’ve not only secured additional factory production to make Leaf more accessible, but as a result we’ve also been able to significantly lower the price tag of the car in market, making it more affordable. If customers are ready to make the switch, they shouldn’t have to wait to get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle.”

The Leaf range has also received two specification enhancements to benefit both driver and passengers.

Two rear USB connections have been added to all versions. The ports are fitted to the reverse panel of the centre console and are easily accessible to rear passengers.

Standard on Tekna (and optional on N-Connecta versions), the LED fog lights have also been upgraded to include a cornering function. This feature illuminates the fog lights during tight cornering to give greater visibility to the road ahead.