Introducing the Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle

It looks too much like an "eco car".
I think Tesla got it right with the model S
although it's more expensive. As soon as I
see an electric car in a showroom that I
like, I'm buying one.

I agree with Ghosn: hybrids have the name, nothing else to offer. A Prius has a range of a mere 2% when driven exclusively electric; so the other 98% is on regular fossil fuel. As for consumption: my Mondeo diesel with twice the power, twice the range and half the complication and a lower(unsubsidized) cost, consumes less than the touted Prius. So where's the advantage? OK, yes the Prius emits somewhat less CO2.

it is great

ex

Great to have such a fantastic car in the market ...

http://www.Free-Money-4-U-007.blogspot.com

I would buy two of these yesterday... When will I be able to buy them in California ???

Finally the begining of the end for fosil burning our way to death.

Finally the begining of the end for fosil burning our way to death.

do you remember the EV1 from GMC? that was the best EV! it looked like the future! this one, looks the same than any other cars... i would have preferred that GMC puts their EV1 back on the lines... who knows, maybe they will. (i hope)

I was so hoping that this issue (alternative vehicles) could be approached logically and with a balanced thoughtful approach? For me the largest issue with ANY battery powered vehicle is what to do with the batteries when there exhausted? I applaud the efforts of Nissan, et al, but where will the dead batteries go?

Sorry to say I find this another disappointment. I will not trade the use of fosil fuels for the lease of batterys. For me, make an electric car that has batterys that are not leased. I will not pay two to three hundred dollars a month for rent on them.

It's dog ugly. Nissan has some awesome performance cars. Why not use something with a more attractive body, like the Z, for an EV? We'd be first in line for something like that. Sadly, only Tesla seems interested in making green vehicles that don't look like they're owned by some tree hugging, bad poetry spouting coffee shop patron, and with a 100k price tag, I don't see us trading in our sports cars or motorcycles any time soon.

I hope I'll see it soon in Italy. I will buy it immediately!

I'd like to see a CO2 comparison, a gallon of gas burned in the average American car vs. CO2 emmisions from power plants, equal to producing an electric charge that will propel the car as far as an average gallon of gas.

In the USA, 70% of the driving is limited to 40 miles a day--to and from work, running erands, visiting friends. The desire to be more green, drive cheap cars--given the economy--will make this a big seller. No question.

It won't sell well in cities simply because there's no place for citydwellers to charge it. Rowhouses and apartment buildings don't have garages with electric outlets. Solve that one, and the demand will go through the roof.

The cost per gallon equivalent of an electric charge in America, on average, is about one dollar fifty. Given an average driving distance of about 10 K miles a year, that represents a $160 fuel savings per year, at current gas prices. Not dramatic. Most people won't do the math, however.

I'm happy to see someone light a fire under US automakers. Congress doesn't have the will to legislate any sort of significant change. The marketplace will have to force the change, and Nissan just knocked over the first, marketplace domino that will start a big, electric car run.

I hope that this takes off....yes, it is not the most attractive thing and it has battery and charging issues, but at least Nissan seems committed to it.

GM yanked electic cars out from everyone....It seems to be that there is huge incentives against electrics....less revenue for the oil companies, less money for the car companies to maintain electic cars, etc. Here is a very good free movie...'Who killed the electric car':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3rw9MsHB8Y&feature=related

Why can't we figure out a better way to store energy?! After over 100 years we can't come up with something better?! Are we just collectively incapable of innovative thinking when it come to energy storage or is the battery/fossil fuel lobby that strong? That car should be powered by a module no larger than a toaster that allows for over 500 miles of driving at over 80 miles an hour, recharges in 2 minutes or less and should be able to hold the energy for 30 days when the vehicle is not in use. It should last a minimum of 10 years, have no moving parts and weigh less than 10 pounds. The energy storage module should be a smaller version of industrial size modules capable of keeping a major office building running for a week without any energy input at all. It should be part of an entirely new family of energy storage modules that put an end to engines, generators and anything that runs on fossil fuels. Hybrid cars are a joke and should be seen as a technological embarrassement. That's the best we can do?!! And this, a 100 miles, at what 45 miles an hour - oh, I guess they'll put a speaker on it that makes wind noise so you'll feel like your moving faster. We can do better - and the day we stand up, stop whining and put our minds to changing this world, the better off we will be. If we don't, in the end we'll be fighting to plug in to the last working wall socket, powered by the last fossil fuel plant to drive on the last open road. If we can't do better than this, we might as well go back to horses .

i'm 26 years old and currently drive a 1986 cadillac, which guzzles the gas like a raging alcoholic does their liquor. in a few years i will consider buying this or some other ev car because i like how quiet they are, how they don't smell like gasoline, and all things considered i think they're, on the whole, still better for the environment. the design doesn't actually look that bad. besides, if you're confident enough, it doesn't matter what your car looks like. all i care about is economy. but if what that other guy says is true (about leasing the batteries) i would become more hesitant about signing a deal... i don't like the idea of leasing batteries either. another issue i have is that there is still so much variety out there. are we ever going to consolidate the technology and develop something standard? i don't want to invest in a car only to find out that the batteries have been discontinued 2 years after i buy it. anyway, i like what nissan is doing- best of luck with the leaf.

About givening more details on the new Nissan electric cars.
When will they be intreduced into the market.

Who killed the electric car? Probably Business Week. What's with the photo selections from these news sites? Here's a better one.

http://www.nissanusa.com/ev/media/images/nissan-ev/NISSAN-3QT-Front.jpg

By the way, it'll cost around $20-25K with a $7,500 credit. Not bad at all. As for battery disposal, these are going to be way too expensive to simply throw away. They'll recycle/reuse for sure.

Ghosn is right, they are going to get run over by the stampede to buy these things. They are SO superior to any ICE car.

Diesel hybrid/electrics are the wave of the future. Now that low-sulfur diesel fuel is available, they will be able to meet the highest emission standards at cruise speeds on the engine alone, and the electric hybrid concept is a proven fact.

The all-electric car will always need huge batteries, while the hybrid will not.

Looking for my diesel Prius.

This is exactly what I want. The 100 mile range is fine, I can keep an older car for longer trips. The idea of paying only $10 per month to keep it charged up is fantastic! I want one.

Love this little sucker but it is only a toy for wealthy people who want to feel green good. I sure do not intend to be the one you see stuck on the side of the road with a flat battery.
We gotta get serious about this pollution and raise the gas price to minimum $8 per gallon then we will all start cutting down on the size of our vehicles and how much we drive them

This is so fantastic!

Environment friendly:) this reduces the CO2 that some others cars releases in our environment due to zero emission of greenhouse gases.

Hope that many people will like this model:)

HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS REVIEWS

Zero emissions? The end of fossil fuels?

What are you people smoking? Where do you think the electricity comes from to charge this thing? Depending on where you live, you are probably responsible for burning an equivalent amount of coal or fuel oil. Hydroelectric power is only about 7% of the electricity generated in the USA. Nuclear is 19%.

These EV will be like golf mini-cart. It is ok to drive to work less than 20 miles per day... Imagine driving from NY to FL...

What a beautiful car
I hope I can have one someday

business

We love our hybrid honda. we are pricing a pv system for an additional 3 kW for charging an EV...enough to commute daily to nyc. no carbon, no gas...

OK for the environmental side, but on the energy independence side, I hope we are not trading OPEC for some future OLEC (Organization of Lithium Exporting Countries). Is there enough lithium around, and which countries have it?

I'd buy one today. Way to raise the bar Nissan!

I drive a Prius. It has 160K miles on it, ultra-low emissions, 50 mpg, and I have not had even the smallest problem with it. The best car I have ever owned.

But as a 2nd car I'm hoping to have a pure electric, as 80% of my driving is within 30 miles.

NO ONE is going to buy this--only the people that buy into the doom and gloom eco terrorists crap

Has anyone done the math on the strain to the elctrical grid that may be caused by recharging several thousands of EVs in states that are bprone to rolling brownouts?

It's not so much of an Eco car, when you consider the energy used to manufacture the vehicle, ship the product and most importantly charge the batteries still comes from fossil fuels.

It's just a feel-good car. "Hey honey I'm not hurting the environment", he says as he plugs in his EV then walks into the house and turns on his air conditioner.

Kudos to Nissan and Renault for this bold move, I too long to own one of these EVs. My only wish is if such cars can be made of recyclable components, in carbon-neutral plants, with car manufacturers taking back their products for recycling at the end of their life cycle.

To help alleviate the strain on city grids, how about the Leaf being coated in some photovoltaic material or having some PV panels so that it can charge while under the sun? Perhaps governments can revolutionise infrastructure by making charging points so easily accessible that topping up on gas will be a thing of the past.

I haven't yet seen the movie 'Who Killed the Electric Car' but I'm pretty sure some rich and powerful cabal have a vested interest in not innovating and investing enough in sustainable future technologies whilst draining the lifeblood out of the earth at the cost of humanity's future.

In many countries one KWh is produced with CO2 emmissions of 0.5 Kg and more. The Nissan Leaf runs 160 Km using its 24 KWh, thus indirectly sending 12 Kg of carbon in the atmosphere. With my Astra I consume 6 litre of gasoline for 100 km. Burning a litre of gasoline creates 2.32 Kg of CO2. That makes about 22 Kg for the same 160 Km.

The three litre Volkswagen Lupo did not sell because of its higher price and inspite of the environmental benefit. The Leaf is also a "3-litre car". Let's hope that the Leaf doesn't face the same fate.

So whats the price tag? Can a family who makes 40k afford one of these electric cars? How many more billions will the Government have to subsidize more vehicles that Americans can not afford?

So whats the price tag? Can a family who makes 40k afford one of these electric cars? How many more billions will the Government have to subsidize more vehicles that Americans can not afford?

It sounds very interesting. But what is the leasing price for the battery ?
The lifeteime of the battery should also be taken into consideration.

I hope Nissan is aware of the fact that a lot of pollution is created while producing electricity!!!!!!! There can be no truly zero-emission car except solar powered car (and they are still not in a shape that can be used by majority of people). Making battery powered cars is just to shift the blame of pollution to power stations. They are not as useful as gasoline powered cars and give you a bigger shock when it comes to changing batteries.

Congratulation Nissan – now it looks like EV har a lot closer that I expected.

Best regards

Martin
Http://www.evtest.dk

A message for clunker Claude:

We don't need to raise the price of a gallon to $8. Most of us have already reduced our driving to a minimum because of the gas prices. To raise the gas prices any higher would simply punish the world for needing the energy we always will. It would further kill the economy leading to more people being laid off and more people living off the government, which in and of itself lives off the population. This kind of thinking is what will bring the US to its knees in anarchy. How about instead of destroying civilization as we know it we find an alternate means of energy production/storage?

I'm from Portugal, the country that will produce the batteries for Nissan. At this time the government is devloping a natinwide network of charging points for EV's. In the parkings, at the fuel stations, at the supermarkerts. Our energy is mainly produced by hydroeletric eolics and solar.

Repetition of 'electricity being used to charge electric car leads to emission' is too boring and sickening. Electric car's claim is zero emission at tail pipe. In terms of environmental impact, if the electricity is sourced from COAL it reduces CO2 emission by 60-75% as a stationary power plant got much superior cleaning mechanism than an automobile. Electricity will be sourced from more and more cleaner sources as we progress

All the reasons I'm hearing not to buy it are superficial: Styling, range, cost. This car is going to be a huge hit & Nissan deserves credit for changing the game on August 1, 2009.

while striving to lead the world in implementation of carbon-saving, alternative technologies, FedEx also says electric vehicles will remain fairly niche until there is a significant technical breakthrough bit.ly/nrLBi

Nissan really deserve the credit for this car because GM opt out of the game when they sold the technology along with the blue print to Exxon in the 90s of the EV 1

This is Ian Rowley, the author of this blog. Many thanks for all the comments. First, one thing I didn’t mention in the post above was the launch schedule. Nissan plans to begin making the Leaf in Japan next year, assembling about 60,000, before rapidly increasing production in the years after that. In the U.S., Nissan is using a $1.6 billion Department of Energy loan to retool its Smyna plant in Tennessee to make EVs and batteries. Capacity is expected to be 150,000 vehicles and 200,000 battery packs. In Europe, it has selected Portugal and Britain to make batteries and, at the launch on Sunday, one exec said that the Sunderland plant in the north of England will also eventually make the cars. With that in mind, it is pretty clear that Nissan is very serious about electric vehicles.

As many of you point out, though, there are questions concerning how to make the business model work, particularly if governments start to scale back financial support. So far, there are no details on pricing, but as I mentioned in the post, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn insisted that the price of owning—i.e. buying and running—a Leaf will compare favorably with a comparable gasoline car. One reason for confidence is that Nissan says its business model is based on an assumption that the oil price is $70 a gallon. That sounds conservative.

One question from me: What will EVs like the Leaf do to the image of hybrids? Does it make the Prius look old hat?

Cool! I like it. I will be one once it's on sell here in Canada just to encourage the new clean technology.
Let American poluate the earth as they don't even recinize it.
Well, they are wariors not intelect as they just good for wars.

Lee said: "After over 100 years we can't come up with something better?! Are we just collectively incapable of innovative thinking when it come to energy storage or is the battery/fossil fuel lobby that strong?"

One reason (not the only one) is the siphoning of creative and technological talent to the military-industrial complex. Cut the military budget in half (or so; we really don't need to spend more than the rest of the world combined to deter others or fight terrorism) and watch a thousand technical innovations bloom!

I like this car, at a glance. I also like the Pininfarina B0, at least on paper.

For those who are thinking that use of this car just moves emissions from the car's tailpipe to your local power plant, there are 2 things to note.

First, in some states solar panels are a zero-money down, neutral cash flow affair. In CA, I had panels installed last year, which I lease for a monthly amount roughly commensurate to the drop in my utility bill. I have had a negative bill from spring on, and a positive one in the winter. Size the array to be bigger than your house needs, and you're set. Maybe own the car for a year to see how much you use total, then put in panels?

Second, when the electricity is used in the day is important. During peak times, power is dirtier, and at night, it's cleaner. So charge at night.

I don't know of a good way of calculating this because each utility is different, and your individual neighborhood matters too.

It's all about the battery. Let's all hope and pray that the next battery break thru occurs sooner than later and we get NUMEROUS e-cars to choose from soon. I'm a drop top kinda guy myself. Let's hope the next cash for clunkers program to come around is only good when we trash our fossil fuel burners.

The future was invented in the 1950s. The media loves to harp on alternatives that are always just out of reach. When batteries actually got better we had to start dreaming about hydrogen and ethanol, impossible alternatives. We have the ability to make limitless electricity with minimal waste through nuclear energy and the biggest kicker of all??? There is a nationwide grid already in place to distribute it to the people all without exhaust spewing diesels and chemical plants. Problem solved, 1950s, everything else is a joke.

Even though gas prices and availability are in constant flux, we always find a way to produce electricty. Personally, I've had my fill of oil changes, transmission issues, and coolant level monitoring. I spent a lot of good weekends unhappily under the hood of a car. Thank God I'm free at last.

I've been carless for 3 years, refusing to buy another gas powered car. Now I only have 2 more years to wait!

There isn't enough lithium to make millions of these things but that's OK, it will last until 2014 when Chevron's NiMH patent expires and then we will have access to those batteries again.

I guess Nissan's biggest competitor will be Tesla's model blue. Maybe Tesla will now bump up release of that car. And GM .... well, they're history, a waste of taxpayers' money.

I've been carless for 3 years, refusing to buy another gas powered car. Now I only have 2 more years to wait!

There isn't enough lithium to make millions of these things but that's OK, it will last until 2014 when Chevron's NiMH patent expires and then we will have access to those batteries again.

I guess Nissan's biggest competitor will be Tesla's model blue. Maybe Tesla will now bump up release of that car. And GM .... well, they're history, a waste of taxpayers' money.

I've been carless for 3 years, refusing to buy another gas powered car. Now I only have 2 more years to wait!

There isn't enough lithium to make millions of these things but that's OK, it will last until 2014 when Chevron's NiMH patent expires and then we will have access to those batteries again.

I guess Nissan's biggest competitor will be Tesla's model blue. Maybe Tesla will now bump up release of that car. And GM .... well, they're history, a waste of taxpayers' money.

Is it too little, too late? I hope not.

I also hope the other Automakers, particulary in America, will follow suit.

Maybe our kids will have a future after all.

Next step:
How to get cows to stop producing methane gas.

Go back to horses ... what a crazy idea. Have you any idea how much pollution comes out of both ends of a horse? Pollution that's produced whether it's being used or not.

I agree with Jessie S.

I would like to see this line a huge success and do believe that looks matter here so...why not make it look less like an electric car. look at what GM with Volt is doing--it looks really good (in my opinion) such that the 200+mpg seems like just one of its features.

There isn't enough lithium to make millions of these things but that's OK, it will last until 2014 when Chevron's NiMH patent expires and then we will have access to those batteries again.

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On the surface, this car has so much over the Chevy Volt (price point, availability, range, etc.). The "new" GM still lags behind.

Now, Where is the Car that was supposed to run on air. theaircar.com

Rather than plugging the LEAF into your house current, why not figure out a way to plug it into a photovoltaic system? The PVC can collect energy during the day and store it to a battery which the car can be plugged into during the evening. On cloudy, rainy days you'd have to use your house current. For night owls like myself, I could plug in during the day and drive at night. I want a Leaf....rather have something American made, but if they're coming out of a plant in TN, I'd buy it!

"These EV will be like golf mini-cart. It is ok to drive to work less than 20 miles per day... Imagine driving from NY to FL..."

That's why we need high-speed rails all around america.

You folks that seem to think that batteries have stagnated into an uncurable glob of expensive, hard to replace, heavy cumbersome nusiances, need to be aware of a most remarkable battery that is in the making. It is a revolutionary capacitor battery that is being developed by the Eestor Corporation in Texas. Mark my word, when this super battery hits the deck, all hell will break loose in the auto industry. These lightweight batteries, (only a few pounds), are chargable in minutes, and deliver an unbelieveable amount of power. Go ahead, google eestor and see what I mean. I called the company to see if I could invest in it, but it is privately held (damn it) and I feel that it will be the true salvation for electric energy storage in a light weight, cheap, easy to use form.

There is a nationwide grid already in place to distribute it to the people all without exhaust spewing diesels and chemical plants

One reason for confidence is that Nissan says its business model is based on an assumption that the oil price is $70 a gallon. That sounds conservative.

All you people saying that it still takes fossil fuels to charge the batteries are friggin idiots. Using electricity only emits a fraction of the amount of green house gases that a gas burning engine does. This is because there is no energy lost to friction and movement in the engine, which is where a lot of the energy in your car is wasted.

With all those big problems out there like melting artic, increasing Co2 etc..
The world needed this ev desperately because now it is going to be a first mass market hit. This will help environment heal, i just cant it to arrive in Indai

With all those big problems out there like melting artic, increasing Co2 etc..
The world needed this ev desperately because now it is going to be a first mass market hit. This will help environment heal, i just cant it to arrive in India.

it is a beautiful car.i hope i can buy it some dayfn

We certainly need to go green and this car is a good start and you have to start some where. New technology is hard to introduce over existing technology. Give it time and electric cars, wind turbines , solar cells etc will largely replace present types of energy. There is lots of sun and wind out there. For pure electric cars the manufacturer might want to introduce the idea of "Out Board" motors like boats have to have hybrid features for a those who want the addition of hybrid.

We certainly need to go green and this car is a good start and you have to start some where. New technology is hard to introduce over existing technology. Give it time and electric cars, wind turbines , solar cells etc will largely replace present types of energy. There is lots of sun and wind out there. For pure electric cars the manufacturer might want to introduce the idea of "Out Board" motors like boats have to have hybrid features for a those who want the addition of hybrid.

They can't solely blame the batteries for a higher price tag, after all, there's no gasoline engine, so it seems to me that that should account for some cost savings, not 10K worth, but a good part of that.

Buying a car on looks alone is the reason Detroit was able to sell so much mechanical junk for so long to so many. But, of course, if you have lots of loot lying about, go ahead and buy an expensive toy like Tesla!

Buying a car on looks alone is the reason Detroit was able to sell so much mechanical junk for so long to so many. But, of course, if you have lots of loot lying about, go ahead and buy an expensive toy like Tesla!

Way to go Nissan! Assuming the lease for the batteries is less then 100/month, I think leasing is the right approach. I would buy one instantly! I would think this is phase 1 of electric cars. Battery powered to buy time to develop the ultimate, fuel cells and hydrogen. This is the start away from fossil fuels. I love it!

I think it was unfair of Rowley to say that hybrids, and by inference all I.C.E. vehicles, don't require "billions of dollars of public subsidy." Presumably because they use gas and not "expensive" charging stations. The oil industry DOES receive billions in public subsidies. According to Koplow and Martin in "Fueling Global Warming" anywhere between $11.5 and $35 billion. Honesty in reporting would be refreshing.

what a beautiful car ,I dream of having one.

business letter

Great beginning of a new era of clean cars, however, range of only 100miles isn't so appealing for me to buy the car at this time. Look at tesla's range of 300miles, or even german trabant EV which will have range of 150miles. Nissan could do better on the range issue.
If batteries are to be leased i'm out of it altogether and stick to my diesel x trail.

I live in the 6th floor of a building in London, that doesn´t have a garage, I go and buy a Leaf, leave it on the street, I cannot charge it can't I? I them go to work but i have to wait 30 minutes in a gas station prepared for this electric car, and after wating for my turn i leave, well 40 minutes late for work. Arriving work the 30 minutes obv.not enought for full charge, but wait my work doesn't have chargers.

Is this a good buy? or a big mistake?

I don't understand people who are so against electric cars.
We just want some FRICKIN' choice here!!! How about some electric cars, some plug-in hybrids, some plug-in diesels and maybe someday we can even have hydrogen fuel cell cars as well. But these folks who root for gasoline-powered cars like their rooting for a football team are IDIOTS! None of us know which technology is going to eventually win out, maybe several technologies will win out, but dammit, I WANT CHOICE!!!

I don't understand people who are so against electric cars.
We just want some FRICKIN' choice here!!! How about some electric cars, some plug-in hybrids, some plug-in diesels and maybe someday we can even have hydrogen fuel cell cars as well. But these folks who root for gasoline-powered cars like their rooting for a football team are IDIOTS! None of us know which technology is going to eventually win out, maybe several technologies will win out, but dammit, I WANT CHOICE!!!

By the way, I LOVE the look of the Nissan Leaf! I do wish the range was higher, like 150 miles, but I would still buy this car tomorrow if it was made available.

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Margaret

When will they arrive to Houston ?

500 cars only in México? they will sold like "pan caliente", who whe say in México.

You shut import more than 500 cars.

The idea is wonderfoul to carry zero emisions cars, but i think, 100 milles is not enougth, un less 200 or 300 it will be good.

I got one.

If NISSAN gets too goofy with the battery lease issue, it will cost them big time in the long run. Why not make a big splash with a large volume of sales and knock off the creative greediness.

quote/Finally the begining of the end for fosil burning our way to death./quote

Then what do American power stations burn then ?

D

NISSAN Leaf, will bring a great releaf to all non petrolium rich countries. Natural Leaf gives life to the world, NISSAN Leaf will be a moving artificial leaf on the road. India should strongly support the worlds EV's projects towards building strong, clean and peaceful nation.

I've always liked the consept of an electric car and this one will be a hit!

"Zero" emissions? Not really but....
I think it's alot easier to filter the companies that supply us the power than leave it to indivuals. How many broken tail pipes or pourly maintained vehicles do we have in our cities?
If I plan a "cross country" trip; how better to see it in 100 mile hops. Ford did it with the "T".