NISSAN has announced that a new 52kWh battery option is available to order for the British-built, all-electric LEAF, following the introduction of the 75kWh version earlier this year.

The new variant also qualifies for the UK Government's full £3,750 Electric Car Grant taking its price to £28,849.

With a range of up to 280 miles the new battery option will be available on Engage and Advance grades.

Aditya Moorthy, product manager at NMGB, said: "We are excited to introduce the new 52kWh battery option on the All-New Nissan LEAF, offering up to 280 miles of range (WLTP) and starting at an attractive £28,849 with the Electric Car Grant. Designed for everyday driving, it combines confident electric performance with the comfort, technology and practicality customers expect from LEAF."

Right-hand-drive LEAF production has now begun at Nissan's Sunderland plant, and cars will arrive at dealerships later this summer.

Nissan says the new LEAF is one of the best value electric cars on the market, offering fantastic range-per-pound in both 52kWh and 75kWh configurations - the latter offering up to 387-miles on a charge.

The model is available in four grades, Engage,Engage+, Advance and Evolve, giving customers a wide range of price-points and features to choose from, including infotainment with advanced Google Built-in technology, a dimming panoramic roof with LEAF detailing, and innovative 3D taillights

Since its debut in 2010 as the world's first mass-market electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF has sold close to 700,000 units worldwide, with owners driving more than 18 billion electric miles.

It's the first EV inthe UK to be in its third generation, and the latest LEAF builds on its predecessors' legacy; having been re-fully designed and re-engineered to meet the needs of modern EV customers, while remaining true to its innovative roots.

Built in Britain at Nissan's world-class manufacturing facility in Sunderland, the LEAF delivers a sharpnew look - and as Nissan's most aerodynamic production car to date, it also offers excellent energy efficiency, as well as fast charging speeds and a suite of technologies designed to make driving easier and EV ownership more rewarding.