The New Era Of Zero-Emission Mobility Has Arrived
Want to hear something outstanding? After more than 115,000 Americans had gone on the Internet and registered their interest in the 2011 Nissan LEAF all electric car, last Tuesday (April 20), Nissan opened the reservation lines and in the first 65 hours 6,635 customers paid their $99 and signed up to reserve their zero emission car for a December delivery. Far exceeding the expectations of the company which hoped to have 25,000 reserved customers lined up by the car’s roll out in December. Better than 25% of their goal reached in hours instead of months.
The $99 is refundable if you buy a LEAF or opt out of the program and includes a home assessment with a written estimate of what it would cost to get your 240-volt charging dock installed. Which also has a federal tax credit covering 50% of such installations (up to $2,000). The docking station is weatherproof so it can be installed inside or out.
Nissan also announced Monday (April 26th), it will work with General Electric to develop smart charging stations for electric vehicles. The two companies signed a three-year agreement to study what needs to change in the power grid and in consumer homes to effectively bring electric vehicles to market.
Nissan priced the LEAF within the comfort zone of many American car buyers at a list price of $32,780 plus the up to $7,500 federal tax credit.and various state incentives. For instance, in Oregon buyers will receive a $1,500 tax credit on top of the federal tax credit of up to $7,500, bringing the price down to around $23,780 and in California a $5,000 cash rebate would put their price around $20,280! The LEAF will also be available for a 36-month lease, running $349 per month with an initial payment of $1,999.
“LEAF” from the acronym Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family Car), is an all-electric four-door, five-passenger, med-size hatchback that has a top speed of about 90 mph (144.84 kph), and a range of more than 100 miles (160km) on one full charge, based on the LA4 drive cycle (the EPA’s testing and rating system). The range will vary with driving habits, conditions, weather, and battery age. Running the heater or a/c will have an impact on the range, similar to a gas-powered car. But you’ll be able to pre-heat and pre-cool the car while charging before you leave to reduce battery load and optimize range.
Snuggly fitted beneath the LEAF’s floorboards is the 24 kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, (a location that allows for a low center of gravity, creating great handling), storing the energy for the 80 kW AC synchronous electric motor. This green energy battery technology consist of 48 lithium ion battery modules. Inside each module is 4 laminated battery cells.
It has LED headlights, a 3.3 kW onboard charger, plus a whole host of other bells, whistles, and creature comforts.
The acceleration of the front wheel drive LEAF is said to be surprisingly quiet and effortless. It has “coasting” regenerative brakes which means when in ‘Drive’ mode every time you coast or apply the brakes the electric motor acts as an electric generator, converting energy that would otherwise be wasted into recharging battery energy.
Since 95% of Americans don’t drive more than 100 miles a day, a zero emissions vehicle like this is right up our green alley.
With two packages to choose from, either the basic SV trim level or the higher SL package that includes a rear-view monitor, solar spoiler panel, fog lights and automatic on-off headlamps. Five color choices: blue, black, white, silver and red. (What, no green?!)
Deliveries of the LEAF will begin in December, the first cars going to the Seattle-Puget Sound area, Phoenix and Tucson, and the states of Oregon, California and Tennessee. Soon thereafter it will be available in the Washington, D.C., area, Orlando, Houston, Vancouver, and the states of Georgia, Texas, North Carolina and Massachusetts. The LEAF is scheduled to go national at the end of 2011, with global market roll-out planned for 2012.
Now didn’t I tell you 2010 was going to be a remarkable year in the greening of our market place? This year we are stepping out of the past and into our sustainable future. … Even if we have to drag some folks kicking and screaming all the way.
….as the green future unfolds.
