Auto Nissan Leaf
To prepare for the holiday season, Nissan outfitted the Leaf with thousands of multicoloured lights, as well as a tree and reindeer perched on the roof! Image Credit: Supplied

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.

Auto Nissan Leaf
There are a total of 15,200 lights and 190 meters of tinsel on the vehicle which are all powered by the vehicle itself, not an external power source. Image Credit: Supplied

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!