Following its recent unveiling, Nissan has announced that its forthcoming Leaf electric vehicle will hit the retail market in 2010. The Leaf was originally scheduled to launch in fleets next year with retail sales beginning in 2012, but Nissan has committed to at least 5,000 sales in 2010.
Nissan will initially launch the Leaf in five U.S. markets – the Tucson-Phoenix area, Oregon, Seattle, San Diego and Tennessee. Nissan chose those five locations as Electric Transportation Engineering Corp. will be setting up charging stations in those areas, thanks to a $99.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Although the 5,000 Leafs will technically be for retail sales, buyers will still be required to participate in a testing program. All Leafs sold next year will come with a black box designed to monitor recharging habits. Because of the nature of the program, Nissan will select the first 5,000 buyers.
“We don’t want these first cars going to somebody who commutes 150 miles a day or who lives a great distance from a recharging station,” Mark Perry, Nissan’s director of product planning and strategy, told Automotive News.
Nissan has yet to release pricing for the Leaf but says the EV will be on par with similar gasoline powered vehicles.
08/06, 10:20 AM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
and all 5000 people will have to agree to say at least once a day, “i’m going to make like a tree, and leaf” – while grabbing their keys and heading out the door…
08/06, 10:44 AM
posted by:
beatusmongous
LMAO, Leftwing.
Have you heard that GM is going to release an SUV EV shortly after Nissan’s? It’s the Hummer LEAD-Blower.
08/06, 10:57 AM
posted by:
slider5634
Hey, Nissan. Here’s a hint. If you make the Versa look like this, I might actually consider buying one. The current gen Versa is fugly. Just thought you should know.
08/06, 11:43 AM
posted by:
key4wheels
…not sure what you are looking at, because this Leaf is currently attached to the ugly branch.
08/06, 11:57 AM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
It needs to be tossed into a shredder and redesigned. I’d almost (almost) rather be seen in an Acura TL than in this mess
08/06, 12:24 PM
posted by:
A4
I like how they told everyone that the car will cost the same as similar gasoline powered vehicles in the segment and then failed to emphasize that you have to lease the battery separately.
08/06, 1:09 PM
posted by:
Borat
I see a lot of Renault in this leaf. Must be parts of the same tree.
08/06, 1:13 PM
posted by:
PerformanceGuy
Looks pretty good. I would opt for this over the Volt, Prius, or Insight.
08/06, 2:38 PM
posted by:
ASIMO
Mos def, Borat, mos def.
But that’s been happening since the current Quest. La conception gallique prospère!
08/06, 2:42 PM
posted by:
SomeGreek
How would be the world without the engine sound?
08/06, 2:43 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I’m actually interested in this car. I hope the price stays down.
08/06, 4:34 PM
posted by:
Lawnchair88
This is an interesting approach: Sell the car to a select few for testing purchases and gain positive publicity for having an EV “on sale” even though no one can buy it. It’s like if Chevy sold the Volt’s their testing now to people in those 5 cities and called it a day instead of doing the research themselves. They should get more real world driving habits too.