Leafs All Gone

Nissan Leafs, that is, and only for the year, though not one of these 19,000 preorders for the all-electric, plug-in car has yet to be shipped. The Leafs shouldn't venture too far from home - the range is 100 miles on a full charge.

1 minute read

May 29, 2010, 5:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


"More than six months before the car, the Nissan Leaf, arrives at dealerships, the preorders mean that the car is sold out for this year and that the company might stop taking reservations"

Nissan plans to break ground Wednesday in Smyrna, Tenn., for a plant to build batteries for the Leaf and eventually other models, part of its goal to sell at least 500,000 electric cars worldwide starting in 2013.

Nissan has given the Leaf a starting price of $32,780, minus a $7,500 federal tax credit. The Chevy Volt, whose price has not been disclosed, is expected to sell for close to $40,000 before the tax credit."

Unlike the Leaf, the Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle or PHEV, meaning that it also has an internal combustion engine that burns gasoline to extend its range of 40 miles from battery charge. Volts are expected to be available by the end of the year.

"We wanted to do a zero-emission vehicle," Nissan's chief executive, Carlos Ghosn said. "I don't want gasoline in the car, period."

Thanks to Greenwire

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 in The New York Times - Business Day

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