EVDRIVER said:
The old and very large and tall Scion XB had a curb weight of 2300 LBS, the new model with a much larger motor, etc is 2600 lbs. In contrast a small MINI is 2600 lbs. A Yaris 2 door hatchback is 2300, same as the Scion XB was. I think if the Leaf were truly a ground up design it would weigh less, I believe it is based on an existing platform with reinforcement for the pack opening. If the pack did not need to be removed from the bottom a unibody construction would shed quite a bit of weight.
OK, let's look at the cars you are comparing to the Leaf (Using base model w/auto in all cases):
1. 2006 Scion xB:
Curb weight: 2470
Length/Width/Height: 155.3/66.5/64.6
Passenger/Cargo volume: 90/21
2. 2010 Scion XB:
Curb weight: 3086
Length/Width/Height: 167.3/69.3/64.7
Passenger/Cargo volume: 101/22
3. 2010 Mini
Curb weight: 2646
Length/Width/Height: 145.6/66.3/55.4
Passenger/Cargo volume: 76/6
4. 2010 Yaris 3-door
Curb weight: 2355
Length/Width/Height: 150.6/66.7/60.0
Passenger/Cargo volume: 85/13
5. 2010 Yaris sedan
Curb weight: 2346
Length/Width/Height: 169.3/66.5/57.5
Passenger/Cargo volume: 87/13
7. 2010 Toyota Prius
Curb weight: 3042
Length/Width/Height: 175.6/68.7/58.7
Passenger/Cargo volume: 94/22
8. 2011 Nissan Leaf
Curb weight: 3300+ (est)
Length/Width/Height: 175.0/69.7/61.0
Passenger/Cargo volume: unknown
I think given the similarity in dimensions of the Leaf, it will be comparable in passenger/cargo volume to the Prius. All the other cars are substantially smaller and thus lighter.
The Prius battery pack weighs about 100 lbs - substantially lighter than the 440 lbs the Leaf battery supposedly weighs. Your typical 4-cyl engine weighs around 300 lbs, though, so Toyota has obviously done a very good job of keeping the weight down in the Prius. I know the Prius uses an aluminum hood/hatch which saves about 50 lbs between the two - does the Leaf use any aluminum?
Would I like the Leaf to be lighter? As I said before, yes, I would love for it to weigh less than 3000 lbs.