Nissan Leaf wins award before car hits roads

The Nissan Leaf has already been given a sought-after industry award, even though it is yet to hit the UK's roads.

TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk has given the Leaf the Green Car of the Year award for 2010. It is a direct response to being classed as the UK's first affordable full-electric car, available from March 2011 but with pre-orders being taken now.

According to the online resource, it was chosen because the car is designed to be a full family hatchback that offers a solid range of performance criteria, while also being affordable at £23,990 with a £5,000 government grant. Emitting zero tailpipe emissions, it is highly sought-after, the website continued.

Website editor Faye Sunderland said that the Leaf is a highly-anticipated car because there is nothing quite like it on the market.

She added: "Unlike other electric cars coming to the market in 2011, the Leaf has been designed from the start to be a purely electric-powered model and in this sense it is truly revolutionary, marking a turning point for the car industry."

Earlier this month, TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk awarded engineering firm Ricardo with the prestigious Green Innovation award for its development of drivetrains and engine solutions.