The new Nissan LEAF is the first mass-produced, 100% electric, no gas, no tailpipe vehicle and everyone is asking when will the Nissan Leaf be at Nissan Dealers in CT?
2011 Nissan Leaf
When you pop the hood on a Nissan LEAF, you’ll notice a few things are missing. There’s no starter, no alternator or spark plugs, in fact there’s no engine in the traditional sense. That’s because there’s no gas. The Nissan LEAF runs on electricity, and while electricity’s been around for a long time, it’s never powered a car.
The Nissan Leaf is the first all electric car available to consumers at a competitive price. The Leaf is different from all the electric cars that have come before it. This practical hatchback that just happens to be electric is a conventional compact vehicle that will be widely available and accessible to many more family budgets at $25,280 net, after tax savings than the 2-seat Tesla Roadster at well over $100,000. And if you’re lucky, the price will be even less if you win a Nissan Leaf.
Nissan constructed a manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee now producing the lithium-ion batteries that power the Nissan LEAF zero-emission vehicle. Starting in 2012 the plant will be putting out 150,000 all-electric LEAFs annually. Until then however, with 20,000 reservations to date - a number that far exceeded Nissan’s expectations – it is unclear when the vehicle will be available for purchase at Connecticut Nissan Dealers.
So with the first Leaf production sold out, when are electric vehicles coming to Connecticut?
The short answer is we don’t know. The Nissan Leaf roll out dates were announced in August, but that was when there were only 13,000 orders for Nissan’s new electric car. With 7,000 additional orders now in place our guess is that the Nissan Leaf will be available for lease or purchase at dealerships in CT in late 2012.
With zero emissions, four doors and seating for 5, Nissan says that the Leaf can be fully charged at home for less than $3.00. Of course, if you program the car to charge at night when off peak rates are lower the cost to recharge will be even lower. Away from home chargers are slowly beginning to appear in some parking garages in New York and before long at big box stores and chain restaurants in the suburbs.
Meanwhile, the Leaf’s navigation system is “smart” enough to tell you based on destination input
and state of charge whether you have the range to “make it,” and if not, search for nearby charging station along the route. The EPA rates the Nissan Leaf’s range at 100 miles before needing a charge, but under ideal driving conditions, a flat road, at a constant 38 mph, and not running the air conditioner, the range is extended up to 138 miles.
The Nissan Leaf led the way in the NYC Marathon yesterday and will be followed by other events around the country. The Nissan Leaf drive electric tour… sponsored by the 100% electric Nissan LEAF will provide the opportunity to learn about the car, its technology, its features and to actually take it for a test-drive. Schedule your drive time now at your Middletown Nissan Dealer, and then contact Executive Nissan in North Haven, CT for updates on availability.
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