Nissan LEAF Undergoes Freezing-Temperature Test Drives in Japan

SHIBETSU, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN -- Auto journalists put the all-electric Nissan LEAF through its paces on three snow-covered test courses in Shibetsu, Hokkaido, last week, in the freezing temperatures of northern Japan.

The event saw journalists assess the LEAF’s driving performance and handling in extreme weather conditions.

Chief Vehicle Engineer Hidetoshi Kadota said that despite a reading of minus 9 degrees Celsius (15.8 degrees Fahrenheit) outside, the LEAF battery stayed between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius (41 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit).

In the more extreme cold of Canada and Norway, a battery-warming system can keep the LEAF primed to charge at normal capacity, the same as outside temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).

To view a video of the media event, click here.