Nissan Leaf Gets Updates – and Stays the Same – Where It Matters Most

SAE Media spoke with Jeff Tessmer, senior manager, R&D engineer, technology planning and research at Nissan Technical Center North America, about these updates.

September 1, 2025

Sebastian Blanco

The full working prototype of the next-generation Nissan Leaf. (Nissan)

The third-generation Nissan Leaf represents the automaker’s efforts to bring the world’s first mass-market modern EV up to date. This meant making changes to the powertrain – better winter charging, new NACS connectors – while keeping some things the same. SAE Media spoke with Jeff Tessmer, senior manager, R&D engineer, technology planning and research at Nissan Technical Center North America, about these updates.

Nissan Americas chairman Christian Meunier called the new Leaf “the most effortless, most intuitive EV yet.” What makes it intuitive?

Jeff Tessmer, senior manager, R&D engineer, technology planning and research at Nissan Technical Center North America. (Nissan)

The 2026 Leaf is intuitive in that it doesn’t require a drastic change in behavior to own and drive, compared to a conventional ICE vehicle – and yes, this was an intentional goal for our engineering team throughout the development of the vehicle.

Seasoned EV owners will notice that the third-generation Leaf eliminates many of the usability compromises found in other models. We decided to keep the hard Start and Shift buttons, which many drivers find intuitive. Both charge ports are intentionally located on the front fender, helping to create ease of use when pulling into a Supercharger or for the occasional DC fast charge. We designed a trunk maximized for cargo space – no frunk. We used both engineering and design choices to help enhance overall approachability and understanding for drivers across the spectrum of EV ownership.

There will be two powertrains (52-kWh battery pack, 174-hp motor or 75-kWh pack paired, 214-hp motor). Are both battery sizes liquid-cooled and what does the optional battery heater do during winter charging?

Both battery sizes are liquid-cooled. Level 2 charging times are also shorter. The optional battery heater provides direct heat to the battery, enabling preconditioning, which effectively maximizes the charge rate. Without this additional heater, the system naturally heats the battery by using “waste” heat generated by the vehicle; however, this natural heat is gradual and may not always reach optimal temperatures for charging. This attention to thermal management also helps to minimize range loss in extreme conditions (mainly the cold), which means less compromise for Leaf owners.

Perhaps more than any other EV, the Leaf has been through the fast-charging standard gauntlet. What were the discussions like surrounding the shift to NACS?

Because the benefits of NACS compatibility for our customers were very clear, and we knew that providing access to the Supercharger network would be a game changer for our EV drivers, Nissan’s engineering team prioritized making this shift within a couple of months of initial discussions. We’re proud of the efforts made to make this charging option available to our 2026 Leaf customers.

The new Leaf’s design uses the “2-3” language. How did “2-3” affect engineering decisions, from aerodynamics on the exterior to anything under the hood?

Leaf’s holographic taillights were the impetus for creating our 2-3 icon. We sought a graphic element that was impactful and memorable, while subtly amplifying the brand energy. In the interiors, we mindfully added the motif where it could be tastefully and cleverly applied, bringing in our 2-3 expression in an almost subconscious way. However, the 2-3 icon really had no impact on engineering or aerodynamics. You may notice a debossed 2-3 motif on the exterior of the vehicle, which acts as a marker for where to press when opening the charge lid – but again, this has no effect on aerodynamics.