Announced by Brian Brockman, senior manager, corporate communications, Nissan North America, the programme is conditional upon driver returning their original battery pack (valued at $1,000) to the dealer in exchange for the new battery.

He added that this price does not include tax, installation fees or an installation kit required for 2011 and 2012 vehicles. Installation will take around three hours and will carry an MSRP of $225 for the installation kit (which includes brackets and other minor parts required to retrofit the newer pack to original vehicles).

These replacement batteries are the same battery found in 2015 LEAF vehicles, which are also on sale now at Nissan dealers. As a replacement, this battery is expected to provide similar range and charging characteristics as the battery offered since the launch of the LEAF in 2010.

Replacement packs will carry similar warranty coverage as a new LEAF: 8 years/100,000 miles against defects and 5 years/60,000 miles against capacity loss.

Brockman also said the carmaker is continuing to finalise details for a Nissan financing programme, with a monthly payment expected in the $100 per month range and drivers given ownership of the battery at the end of the finance terms.