Before even hitting the showroom floor, Nissan managed to gather more than 20,000 orders for its all-electric Leaf. The two-seater electric vehicle is set for delivery in Japan and the U.S. in December, and next year in Europe. Consumers will have to have to wait another year to place their order for the zero-emission car.

The Japanese automaker plans to produce 250,000 electric vehicles a year, starting with the Leaf. Nissan’s partner Renault SA of France plans to manufacture another 250,000 electric vehicles a year. Promising to end consumers’ addiction to gasoline, the Leaf is designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis and has a range of more than 100 miles as well as a medium-size hatchback that seats five adults. The vehicle is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm.

"Nissan LEAF is a tremendous accomplishment -- one in which all Nissan employees can take great pride," said Nissan president and CEO Carlos Ghosn. "We have been working tirelessly to make this day a reality, the unveiling of a real-world car that has zero -- not simply reduced -- emissions. It's the first step in what is sure to be an exciting journey for people all over the world, for Nissan and for the industry."

At the heart of the Nissan Leaf is an Information and Communication Technology system (ICT) that ensures drivers are connected at all times to the data and information they need to optimize their electric vehicle usage. For example, the Nissan Carwings Data Center, an information control center, communicates with the car navigation system via the onboard Telematics Communication Unit (TCU). Remote control for battery charging and climate control is also available. And the system can be accessed via a Web browser for owners, via mobile phones, smart phones and computers to manage energy usage.