Nissan gets into the festive spirit by turning its popular Leaf EV into a Christmas tree!

Nissan is clearly set for the holiday season and in the Christmas spirit judging by this Leaf which has been decorated with thousands of LEDs, shimmery baubles, a reindeer and a tree! Its V-Motion grille has its own string light while the wheels get snowflake lights too.

But if you thought the display was just for fun and games, think again; the lights all over the electric car are actually powered by the Leaf itself! Nissan is trying to showcase the vehicle’s energy saving and regenerative abilities – and it sure is working. Sure, every December carmakers tend to release themed vehicles and join in in the festive cheer but Nissan has raised the bar with this little PR stunt which doesn’t just make the car more fun but it also drives home a very important message.

In March this year, the Leaf became the first EV to surpass 400,000 units sold worldwide so clearly it is one of the leaders in the electric vehicle revolution and has been inspiring people about the benefits of regenerative energy. In its Plus trim which features a 62-kWh battery, it can travel up to 226 miles on a single charge.

So, what better vehicle to put on a merry little light show than this? The Japanese giant says the whole thing is powered by electricity produced by the Leaf's regenerative braking system while its e-Pedal lets drivers accelerate, decelerate and stop. Like Formula 1 cars, it recycles energy from the movement of the vehicle during braking and deceleration and that energy is transferred back to the battery.

This Christmas, Santa won’t be the only one with a festive mode of transport!