Nissan LEAF News

Does EV Quick-Charging By the Minute Make Sense?

Brad Berman — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:41:07 +0000

When drivers of gas-powered cars fill up at the gas station, they know they are paying a certain price for a clear and fixed amount of liquid automotive fuel. But emerging payment models for Quick Charging of electric vehicles for a 30-minute period means a lot of uncertainty about the real value of what you’re getting.

The first operational Quick Charger near me is the 350Green location at Stanford Mall. I haven’t used it yet, but I’m told that it requires a special card that costs $21 for three sessions—or $7 per session. People usually talk about these Quick Chargers as providing up to 80 percent charge on a battery like the one found in the Nissan LEAF in about 30 minutes.

Chevy Volt Sales Still Sizzling, Nissan LEAF Slumps in April 2012

Eric Loveday — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:03:43 +0000

With April 2012 now in the history books, US sales of the two most-hyped electrified vehicles have been tallied and it's the Chevy Volt that continues to blaze the sales charts.

Nissan Eliminates $99 LEAF Reservation Fee

Eric Loveday — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:51:01 +0000

Nissan has decided to ditch its $99 LEAF reservation fee and will sell its electric hatchback either online or directly through its dealership network.

Though always fully refundable, Nissan's $99 LEAF reservation fee may have deterred a handful of potential buyers. Fortunately, Nissan now decided to ditch its reservation fee and will sell its electric LEAF in a more conventional manner.

No longer will potential LEAF buyers be restricted to using Nissan's dedicated reservation site. Instead, buyers can simply walk into their local Nissan dealerships to order a LEAF. The process is now basically identical to ordering any other vehicle.

For the tech-savvy types, Nissan will keep its online reservation site active, but will drop the $99 fee previously associated with the online ordering process.

Now, the process of buying a LEAF is much the same as for other Nissan automobiles.

Pimp My Leaf

Gary Lieber — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:54:34 +0000

The Top 10 Things Leaf Owners are Doing to Their Cars Today.

One of the most important indicators of how well a new car model is accepted is by owners is how enthusiastically they go about modifying their car to suit their personality. The Leaf is no different, and has turned out to be quite popular in the EV customization community. Here are the Top 10 most popular mods that owners make to their Leaf:

10.Tinted windows. Leaf owners, especially in hotter climates, are tinting their windows so that their air conditioner does not have to work so hard, and to make their battery last longer.

UK-Built 2013 Nissan LEAF to Feature Unique Styling

Eric Loveday — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:07:47 +0000

The UK-built 2013 Nissan LEAF will feature unique exterior styling, added range and possibly even a lower price tag.

New York Times Calculates ROI on LEAF and Volt

Brad Berman — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:05:31 +0000

From the first day that hybrid gas-electric cars arrived on US streets, journalists have tried to calculate the “premium” for electric-drive vehicles by comparing them with supposedly similar pure gas vehicles. Invariably, the conclusion is that a hybrid or electric car doesn’t pencil out.

After record sales of hybrids and EVs in March, The New York Times revisits the subject today—and comes to the conclusion that buyers of a $28,421 Nissan LEAF will take 8.7 years to “break even” compared to $18,640 Nissan Versa. The calculation is based on $3.85 a gallon gas, but that even at $5 a gallon, it would take six years before hitting break-even.

Looking for Nissan's Inflection Point on Electric Cars

Brad Berman — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:09:37 +0000

Worldwide sales of the Nissan LEAF now exceed 27,000 units.

Nissan-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn, delivering the keynote address Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show, said he's "not changing his bullish" outlook on zero-emissions cars. He warned reporters afterwards not to take one or two months of sales results as an indication of the promise of electric car technology or his commitment to it. But production and sales numbers, at some point, are going to have to seriously increase, if Ghosn is going to make good on his words.

Ghosn is holding firm to his view that by 2020, electric cars will command about 10 percent of total auto sales in major mature global markets, like US, Europe, and Japan.

Chevy Volt Sales Hit Record High, Nissan LEAF Slumps in March

Eric Loveday — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:04:31 +0000

With March 2012 now in the history books, US sales of the two most-hyped electrified vehicles have been tallied and it's the Chevy Volt that blazed its way into the record books.

2013 Nissan LEAF to Feature More Range in Cold Weather

Brad Berman — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:58:31 +0000

The 2013 Nissan LEAF will feature an improved heating system that boosts range by up to 25 miles in cold-weather conditions.

When Nissan rolls out the 2013 version of the all-electric LEAF in late 2012, it will feature a new heating system—improving its range in cold weather—as well as an upgraded interior and (as previously reported) an optional 6.6-kW on-board charger. Nissan will unveil the upgraded 2013 LEAF in December when production of the electric hatchback begins in Smyrna, Tennessee. Mark Perry, director of product and advanced planning for Nissan Americas, discussed the enhancements in an interview with The Detroit News.

Here's Why to Avoid Puncturing a Nissan LEAF Tire

Eric Loveday — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:57:29 +0000

The ContiComfortKit's orange compartment contains a bottle of liquid latex tire sealant. When the tire sealant has been activated to temporarily repair a tire, the sealant flows through an adapter and air hose, which become coated with the sealant. Therefore the sealant bottle, adapter and air hose must be replaced after each use.

Here's a tale of a Nissan LEAF owner who experienced first-hand what type of damage puncturing a tire can do to his pocketbook and how his beloved LEAF was repaired.

LEAF owner James Billmaier recently "picked up a nail" in his rear tire and awoke the next morning to find the tire completely flat. LEAF should be aware that Nissan didn't equip the electric hatchback with a spare tire. Rather, Nissan threw in an electric pump and tire sealant kit.