Rush for Nissan's electric car

Nissan has received 19,000 pre-orders for its new Leaf electric car, yet only 10,000 will be made in its first year of production.

The car will cost from £23,350 (including a £5000 government incentive) in the UK when it goes on sale next year.

Order books are open in the US and Japan; 13,000 pre-orders have come from the US and 6000 from Japan. European pre-orders will commence next month.

Production of the Leaf will start in Tokyo later this year the firm aims to produce 10,000 units by the end of March 2011.