Nissan LEAF - Rated for 99 MPG

Proposed EPA-DOT Sticker for EVs

The Detroit News reported today that the 2011 Nissan LEAF was recenlty rated by the EPA with the equivalent of 106 city and 92 mpg  highway for a combined 99 mpg.  See article here http://detnews.com/article/20101123/AUTO01/11230333/EPA--Leaf-has-73-mile-range

Nissan Motor Co. said Monday that its battery-electric Leaf will declare on its new vehicle window sticker that it gets the equivalent of 99 miles per gallon.

But the vehicle's range will be listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as 73 miles, below its advertised 100-mile range, the company said.

The 73-mile range "is about what we'd expect in the real world," said Roland Hwang, transportation policy director for the National Resources Defense Council. Regulators need to ensure the labels have accurate information, he said.

Astrid

LEAF versus Volt or Just Regular versus Electric Cars?

Nissan LEAF Dashboard

The online Wall Street Journal had a series of interesting articles this weekend about the future of electric cars, and it was about as expected - nobody really knows and everybody has an opinion.  See here.

I found it curious that one of the reasons that people might not switch to electric cars is the long charging time (8 hours)

"There are life-defining moments when you find out you can't go pick up your kid who is sick because you don't have enough charge in your car and the next day people come back to the dealership and hand over the keys,"

The other interesting factoid that I learned was that the price point for switching to an electric vehicle in terms of cost per gallon:

Absent the government incentives—which could be ended at any time—Boston Consulting Group's Xavier Mosquet estimates that gasoline prices must rise to $8 to $9 a gallon before electric cars will be cost-effective for buyers.  If fuel hits $4 a gallon—compared to under $3 today—and with the current government incentives still in place, the U.S. market might support up to 5% of total sales going to electric vehicles by 2020.

I can't wait to see how the story will really end in a few years - boom or bust?

We reserved a spot on the LEAF list last April and are one of approximately 20,000 people across America who registered before the process closed for the year.  Michigan is not on the short list for LEAF distribution until late 2011...or beyond! 

How about you....would you risk a dead car and sick kid or stick with a regular car?

Astrid

New Electric Car Battery Plant to Open Today in Livonia

Photo from Eco Friendly Mind blog

From an Associated Press story.  Battery maker A123 Systems, based out of Massachusetts, along with Michigan lawmakers and Secretary Chu of the Department of Energy were on hand to open a new advanced car battery plant in Livonia today.  A second facility is expected to open soon in Romulus, Michigan.

See article here http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100913/ap_on_bi_ge/us_electric_cars

Maybe our electric Nissan LEAF will come sooner than sometime early 2012!

Astrid

Nissan LEAF

Last April, on Earth Day to be exact, the family signed up and reserved a Nissan LEAF.  It's going to be a while before we are given a chance to buy one of these zero-emission cars but the dream is still alive.

I filled out the on-line form, opting for the enhanced electronic package and the color red.  I'm going to look so cool! or maybe not...hard to say how we will feel about a car when our time comes to make a decision. 

According to Nissan, with our early reservation number, we will be given "first dibs" at a zero-emission all electric car sometime late in 2011 or early 2012.  It seems we can't all be first on the list like San Diego or Lance Armstrong who will get their LEAF by Christmas.

Astrid