 |
| Nissan Leaf |
The 2012 Leaf's design evolves the five-door hatchback form in some striking ways. Unlike the car to which it's often compared, the 2012 Chevrolet Volt, the 2012 Nissan Leaf runs solely on battery power--it does not have the Volt's range-extending gasoline engine. The 24 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack is built into the Leaf's floor and recharges by plugging it into the electric grid, using either standard 120-Volt power or a charging station that operates at 240 Volts. The EPA gives the Leaf a range of 73 miles, and Nissan says it's "up to 100 miles," but industry analysts are skeptical that the bulk of U.S. buyers will accept a car without at least 200 miles of range. Most Leafs are expected to be the second or third car in their household, though electric-car drivers report that their "range anxiety" abates within a few weeks, as they get comfortable with and grow confident in their cars. Nissan plans to expand U.S. Nissan Leaf sales into several Southeastern states and Illinois this year.
For 2012, Nissan added the optional winter package as standard equipment on all Leafs, including electric warming for the battery pack, heated front and rear seats, and even a heated steering wheel. For the higher-level SL model, it added a DC quick-charging port as standard equipment (previously optional), which allows an 80-percent battery recharge in 30 minutes at rare public DC charging stations.
The base 2012 Nissan Leaf starts at $35,200, and the Leaf SL model at $37,250. Most owners are likely to qualify for a $7,500 Federal income-tax credit for purchase of an electric car, though Nissan also offers a $349 monthly lease on the car that wraps the tax credit into the price. You could view the 2012 Nissan Leaf as the first vehicle for a new century of electric cars.
In one sense, the "Nissan Leaf" is a success. After deducting the federal ($7500) and state (California’s credit is $2500) tax credits available, the Leaf’s approximate $35,000 price tag sounds a little more plausible.
The biggest problem I see is the electric battery, a 24kWH lithium-ion battery pack with a range of 73 miles. If you can overcome these two concerns, and a 2 to 4 month wait, this first electric car from Nissan has every advantage over its competitors, especially if you don’t like $4.00 a gallon gasoline prices. The Nissan Leaf should be a leader in the all electric car segment, which is only going to get bigger and more crowded.
