The countdown is on! In just a few short months, Nissan dealers in select markets will start selling the Leaf electric vehicle (EV) to retail customers, offering a zero-emissions, zero-gasoline driving experience that starts at just $25,280 (after a $7,500 federal tax credit). And with almost 17,000 Leaf reservations already booked, Nissan has recently announced the next steps in the launch of its ground-breaking EV.
Car Maintenance Framingham said the Leaf initially will be available in five states—California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Tennessee—that are part of the ongoing EV Project. This partnership between Nissan and ECOtality, which provides EV infrastructure needs, was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and is designed to help communities prepare for the increased number of electric vehicles that are expected to go on sale here in the near future. More than 55 percent of current Leaf reservations came from potential customers in these states, and they will be able to place firm orders for their vehicles beginning in August.
Leaf sales will begin in January 2011 in Texas and Hawaii, with availability in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Alabama and Washington, D.C., to follow in April. (Note: Initial reservations for the Leaf have all sold out, but check Richmond Nissan in case someone had a change of heart). The fall of 2011 will then see Nissan expand its rollout through the rest of the country, and the automaker plans to be offering the Leaf in all 50 states by the end of that year.
Further fast facts about the Leaf, gleaned from early reservation info:
- The No. 1 color chosen by Leaf intenders is blue, followed closely by silver.
- Offering features like a rearview monitor, solar panel spoiler, fog lights and automatic headlights, the Leaf SL is the preferred trim level on approximately 75 percent of the early Leaf orders.
- A similar percentage of those who have already ordered the Leaf own a single-family residence, with 86 percent having either a garage or a carport, which is a big advantage for home charging.
- Among the most popular reasons for choosing a Leaf are a desire for energy independence, environmental consciousness and fuel efficiency.
“We are pleased to see so many people making a choice for a zero-emission future by placing reservations for the Nissan Leaf,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America. “Consumer feedback and market readiness have been key drivers in developing our phased rollout. Nissan is able to target areas of customer demand for early launch, while continuing to work in future markets to ensure the continued success of electric vehicles.”
As Nissan expands the Leaf to include other markets, check with your local Nissan dealer, like Connecticut Nissan, to see when it will arrive in your area. For more information about the Nissan Leaf or to place an order, visit the Nissan website now.
