Nissan Leaf wins Car of the Year in Japan

The Nissan Leaf electric car has won Japan's Car of the Year award. It's the first time in the award's history that the honor has gone to an electric car.

The Leaf was praised for its high-performance electric motor, quietness, ride comfort and handling stability. The car's onboard control system can be accessed remotely, and its batteries can be used to power a home, if the need arises. Nissan says the Leaf offers a new mobility value as the world shifts toward zero emissions.

“We have sold 20,000 Nissan Leafs and delivered on our promise of affordable, zero-emission mobility on a global scale. This award is as much a win for Nissan as it is for our customers,” Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said. “All these accolades show that zero-emission vehicles can clearly be competitive alternatives to conventional ones.”

This is just the latest award for the Leaf. The electric-powered vehicle was named 2012 RJC Car of the Year, presented by the Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference of Japan. It also won the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Car of the Year, 2011 European Car of the Year and the 2011 World Car of the Year.

By Jake Lingeman