A day spent with the 3rd generation Nissan LEAF.

Once I got on the Tomei Expressway, the true nature of EVs became clear. The car responds instantly when I press the accelerator, picking up speed without the engine roar typical of gasoline-powered vehicles.

“Even at nearly 100 km/h, it feels more like 70 km/h,” Mr. Yasushima says with a laugh. “There’s absolutely no shaking, and you don’t even feel the car straining. In a good way, it’s a bit scary because you end up driving too fast.”

It seems there was also a unique sense of surprise regarding its quietness.

"In my current car, I have to crank the music up to full volume to hear it on the highway, but in this car, I can actually have a conversation at a normal volume. The fact that I can even talk to the people in the back seat is surprisingly impressive, isn't it?"

After driving on the Tomei Expressway for about 30 minutes, once I had gotten a feel for the car’s characteristics, I decided to try out the ProPILOT 2.0 system installed in the vehicle. I wanted to see under what conditions it would activate and when it would hand control back to the driver. With his hands on the steering wheel, Mr. Yasushima placed his hand on the ProPILOT 2.0 button with a serious expression.

To begin with, ProPILOT 2.0 is a system designed to operate while driving on highways. It automatically controls the set speed and the distance to the vehicle ahead, while also assisting with steering to keep the vehicle centered in its lane. Another key feature is its ability to work in conjunction with the navigation system to anticipate upcoming junctions and curves, automatically adjusting speed accordingly. Of course, it also operates during traffic jams, when the use of the accelerator and brakes becomes more frequent.

Once certain conditions are met, the vehicle can operate in “hands-off” mode, with the driver’s hands completely off the steering wheel. What’s more, the driver doesn’t even need to keep their foot on the accelerator. Throughout this time, the driver monitoring system constantly tracks the driver’s gaze and head position. If it detects the driver looking away or dozing off, it issues a warning and prompts the driver to take back control. This system is designed to safely transition between “automatic” and “human” modes. It might be easier to understand if you think of it as having hired a co-pilot.

"To be honest, at first I was a little scared. But after trying it a few times, I realized, 'Oh, so that's how it is.' I went in feeling a bit hesitant, but my attitude started to change a little..."

Knowing someone brings you closer. It’s kind of like falling in love. That process sets the stage for the rest of the day. Before we knew it, we had passed our destination and arrived in Hakone. ProPILOT 2.0 is truly amazing.