Nissan Re-Leaf concept is an apocalypse-ready electric car

Nissan on Tuesday unveiled a concept version of the Leaf electric car designed to serve as an emergency-response vehicle for natural disasters.

The Nissan Re-Leaf concept sports weatherproof sockets mounted directly to the exterior, allowing it to serve as an emergency power source. They enable 110-volt to 230-volt devices to be charged directly from the Leaf’s battery pack.

The automaker already offers bi-directional charging on the Leaf in Japan, allowing the car to discharge power from its battery pack to power buildings. That capability isn’t available in the United States, although Wallbox announced an aftermarket alternative earlier this year. So far, only the Lucid Air is confirmed to get bi-directional charging capability straight from the factory in the U.S.

In Japan, Nissan said it has used the Leaf to provide emergency power and transportation in the aftermath of disasters since 2011. The automaker said a fully-charged Leaf battery pack has ample power to run equipment like a medical ventilator or 100-watt LED floodlight for 24 hours or more. Nissan currently offers a 40-kilowatt-hour battery pack in the base Leaf, and a 62-kwh pack in the Leaf Plus model.

Nissan Re-Leaf concept

Nissan Re-Leaf concept

The Re-Leaf concept also features wider front and rear tracks, and a raised ride height that creates 8.8 inches of ground clearance. The concept rides on 17-inch Compomotive MO5 wheels with BF Goodrich Baja All Terrain tires. Fender flares, mud flaps, and an LED light bar round out the visual changes.

Inside, the rear seats were removed and the floor flattened to create more cargo space. Nissan also used some of that space for a pull-out desk, which extends from the rear hatch. Sporting a 32-inch LED screen and a dedicated power supply, it’s meant to function as an operational hub at disaster sites, according to Nissan.

The Re-Leaf concept isn’t destined for production, but the idea of using electric cars as backup power sources is getting attention. So-called “vehicle-to-grid” or “V2G” could allow electric cars to supplement the grid when needed.

Electric emergency vehicles are also slowly entering service. Nissan built an electric ambulance for the Tokyo Fire Department, and the Los Angeles Fire Department is scheduled to take delivery of North America’s first electric fire truck in 2021.

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SCG 004S, 2021 BMW 4-Series, 2022 Genesis GV70: This Week’s Top Photos

America’s Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus was spotted testing the road-going version of its 004 supercar. The new car is coming with carbon-fiber construction, a 650-horsepower supercharged V-8, a central driving position, and a 6-speed gated manual transmission.

Lamborghini Squadra Corse is also readying a new supercar, in this case a successor to 2012’s much-loved Aventador J speedster. The new open-top supercar was recently spotted at Italy’s Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit, and looks to be based on the Aventador SVJ.

2021 BMW 4-Series Convertible

2021 BMW 4-Series Convertible

A bigger and bolder BMW 4-Series is being introduced for 2021, and included in the range once again will be a convertible. This time around the designers have gone with a soft-top instead of the previous generation’s retractable hard-top.

2021 Audi RS 5 Sportback Ascari Launch Edition

2021 Audi RS 5 Sportback Ascari Launch Edition

Audi introduced an updated A5 range for 2020, but the updated RS 5 was delayed until 2021. It continues to offer coupe and Sportback hatch body styles, as well as a 444-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-6 and all-wheel drive.

Teaser for Genesis GV70 debuting in 2021

Teaser for Genesis GV70 debuting in 2021

Genesis released the first photos of its upcoming BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC rival. The new Genesis is called the GV70, and it’s the second of three SUVs coming to Genesis showrooms shortly. The others include the mid-size GV80 and a mystery model likely to be a compact offering.

2021 Hongqi E-HS9 - 2020 Beijing auto show

2021 Hongqi E-HS9 – 2020 Beijing auto show

One SUV we won’t see in showrooms is the Hongqi E-HS9. Historic Chinese brand Hongqi, a favorite of Chairman Mao, is undergoing a revival and part of the plans include the introduction of battery-electric vehicles. The latest of these is this full-size SUV.

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R

Sadly, Ford confirmed the death of the Mustang Shelby GT350 after the 2020 model year. With it will go the flat-plane crank 5.2-liter V-8. The death of the GT350 comes as the Mach 1 comes online for 2021.

2020 Chevrolet Corvette 2LT

2020 Chevrolet Corvette 2LT

And finally, one of the cars we tested this week was the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, this time on a road trip. The mid-engine Corvette is a fantastic performance car but as a grand tourer there are definitely some shortcomings.

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2020 Chevy Corvette, Pontiac Fiero, Ferris Bueller and Liftmaster: The Week In Reverse

We took a spin in the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette; the final Pontiac Fiero ever made has surfaced; and Liftmaster released a fantastic commercial riffing off a classic movie. It’s the Week in Reverse, right here at Motor Authority.

We went on a road trip in the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and everywhere we went onlookers gave us the thumbs up. The mid-engine Corvette is a fantastic sports car and a fine GT, but its interior is cramped and outward vision is compromised.

Acura teased the 2021 MDX and announced a prototype will be unveiled on Oct. 14. The redesigned MDX will take design cues from the new TLX and should feature a Type S model with a turbocharged V-6.

Bueller? Bueller? Liftmaster riffed off the timeless “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” flick in a new commercial featuring Cameron and Ferris’ kids. When the duo try to borrow Cameron’s car, a restored Jaguar E-Type, a new Liftmaster garage-door opener with a built-in video camera spoils the fun.

Ford confirmed the death of the Mustang Shelby GT350. With it will go the flat-plane crank 5.2-liter V-8. The death of the GT350 comes as the Mach 1 comes online for 2021 as the final hurrah for the current-generation Mustang.

The final Pontiac Fiero ever built, car #226402, is headed to auction in November. It has just 582 miles on the odometer and is essentially new with the factory plastic still covering the seats.

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