The Nissan Leaf, launched in 2010, became one of the first mass-market modern battery-electric cars.
Nissan developed the Leaf as a dedicated electric hatchback rather than as a petrol model converted to electric power. Its launch made a fully electric family car available in multiple global markets at relatively large scale.
The first-generation Leaf used a lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor driving the front wheels. Its original driving range was modest by modern standards, but its five-door layout and practical cabin helped make it a recognizable everyday EV.
The Leaf is sometimes described as the first mass-produced modern electric car, although earlier vehicles such as the General Motors EV1 and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV also played important roles. The Leaf's significance was its broad international availability and sustained production.