Nissan Leaf became the car of year

Nissan Leaf became the car of year

The Car of the Year award was given out in Europe today. The 2011 European Car of the Year is aiming for a bigger impact, as the Nissan Leaf is leading the charge of electric cars.

The United States won't have the Nissan Leaf for sale until December. But when it arrives, it will have been decorated by European journalists. What's more, it is the first car of its kind to be honored in such a way.

As the European Car of the Year, the Leaf is the first all-electric car to receive the honor. It has been hyped as a breakthrough for electric cars, as the EPA says it is the cleanest mid-size car around. Nissan even claims that it can cover 100 miles before it needs recharging, although the EPA says it can only go 73 miles.

As the first modern, all-electric car from a major manufacturer, the Nissan Leaf is leading a massive new campaign. The five door, five passenger hatchback is the first of half a million electric cars that Nissan plans to make in the next few years. Since the Leaf has already become the Car of the Year in one continent, it is an early sign that the campaign could pay off in this country.

Electric cars are deemed very necessary to save the environment, and to start reversing the damage of internal combustion engines and fossil fuels. However, these brands are still a minority, as the environmentally conscious haven't quite dethroned gas guzzlers yet.

The Nissan Leaf is part of a big push to help change that, and to make a car with benefits beyond those to the environment.