Car Blog

Days before the one-year anniversary of the world’s first Nissan LEAF delivery on Dec. 11, Nissan North America Inc. (NNA) expands availability of the all-electric LEAF into new U.S. markets.

After one year and 20,000 global deliveries, the Nissan LEAF remains the world’s first and only all-electric car for the mass market.

Today, Nissan has re-opened reservations and has begun taking orders from the general public for the 2012 Nissan LEAF in Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Deliveries of the LEAF, enriched for the 2012 model year with additional standard equipment including quick charging and cold-weather features, will take place in these key markets beginning in spring 2012.

“Nissan LEAFs have been on the U.S. roads for one year now, and thousands of drivers have become living proof that a 100-percent electric, zero-emissions vehicle fulfills the daily needs of drivers from all walks of life,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, NNA. “We are seeing already-strong interest in the LEAF continue to grow across the country. This market expansion brings us one step closer to true, nationwide availability.”

With this new wave of availability, Nissan LEAF is now available for order in 30 states, including Washington, D.C. Nationwide, 50-state ordering will be available by March 2012.

Nissan North America announced that it is bringing an innovative, low-cost DC quick charger for electric cars to the U.S. market. The DC quick charger is being launched as part of a global collaboration with Sumitomo Corporation, with the first installations planned for early 2012.

Nissan and Sumitomo also announced that they are looking to Nissan North America’s preferred home charging station partner AeroVironment  to be their wholesale and retail distributor, as well as the preferred provider for U.S. installation services.

Nissan announced the development at a press conference associated with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Honolulu, where Nissan also is offering test drives of the all-electric Nissan LEAF, the only 100 percent electric car designed for the mass market. The new DC quick charger can support all plug-in vehicles capable of quick charging on the CHAdeMO standard, including the Nissan LEAF which is available to U.S. consumers equipped with an on-board quick-charging port. Read the rest of this entry »

Nissan Canada made history when it delivered the first all-electric Nissan LEAF to a Canadian consumer at an event in Ottawa. Ricardo Borba, an Ottawa resident and the first person in Canada to place a Nissan LEAF order, received the keys to his black Nissan LEAF SL from Allen Childs, President of Nissan Canada. Hunt Club Nissan in Ottawa hosted the event and is also hosting the Ottawa stop of Nissan’s cross-Canada Drive Electric Tour.

“This is a significant milestone in the movement that brings sustainable mobility within our grasp and at Nissan we’re excited to be leading the way by bringing the world’s first all-electric car to the mass market, which was also recognized as the 2011 World Car of the Year,” said Allen Childs, President of Nissan Canada, Inc. “Today we made history by handing over the keys to Mr. Borba, the first Canadian consumer to purchase a Nissan LEAF. This represents the freedom to choose a car that has no tailpipe, produces no emissions and will never have to visit a gas station.”

Borba, a 44-year old electric engineer and software developer with IBM currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario with his wife and son. His new Nissan LEAF will be the family’s primary car providing ample range for their day-to-day commutes. Read the rest of this entry »

Nissan Americas officials joined Gov. Pat Quinn and representatives from the City of Chicago to announce the Illinois rollout of the all-electric Nissan LEAF for this fall. Nissan has accelerated the launch of Nissan LEAF in Illinois in response to strong consumer demand and supported by plans that include an extensive electric car charging network in Chicago and surrounding suburbs in the coming year.

“Governor Quinn, Mayor Emmanuel and other visionary Chicago-area leaders have paved the way for mass market adoption of electric cars in their community,” said Scott Becker, senior vice president, Administration and Finance, Nissan Americas.  ”Chicagoland consumers want a transportation solution that uses no gas and produces no emissions, and the introduction of the Nissan LEAF to Illinois makes that a reality.”

In February, Gov. Quinn announced an investment of $1 million in capital funding to install state-of-the-art charging infrastructure for electric cars throughout the Chicagoland area, matching an additional $1 million in Clean Cities Grant funding secured by the City of Chicago.  In total, the project will result in a network of 280 electric vehicle charging stations. Illinois also offers up to $4,000 in rebates after the purchase of electric and alternative technology vehicles – in addition to the $7,500 federal tax credit – making Nissan LEAF even more affordable to Illinois residents. Read the rest of this entry »

Nissan North America Inc. is expanding availability of the all-electric Nissan LEAF to U.S. consumers for the 2012 model year, with upgrades based on feedback from the thousands of owners who already have driven several millions of miles in the first 100-percent electric car for the mass market.

The Nissan LEAF, enriched with additional standard equipment including quick charging and cold-weather features for the 2012 model year, now will be available for order in the Southeastern United States and Illinois.

“Many enthusiastic consumers have eagerly anticipated ordering a Nissan LEAF of their own, and now we can make zero-emissions mobility a reality in more markets,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America. “In response to direct feedback from Nissan LEAF owners, the features that customers want most will come standard on the 2012 Nissan LEAF – including quick charging and cold-weather features.” Read the rest of this entry »

Nissan North America brought sustainable mobility to Texas with the arrival of the state’s first all-electric Nissan LEAF.

The Sauers family took delivery of their blue Nissan LEAF SL at Clear Lake Nissan of League City, Texas. This groundbreaking moment follows last month’s deliveries in Northern and Southern California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Tennessee.

Jimmy Sauers, along with his wife Christie and their three daughters, live in Seabrook, TX, a suburb of Houston. Jimmy is an engineer and analyst for Reliant Energy while Christie is an engineer for NASA.

“Electricity is the new fuel for cars, and the Nissan LEAF has the potential to transform the automotive industry and the way people drive,” said Carlos Tavares, chairman, Nissan Americas. “Starting today, drivers in Houston have the freedom to choose a future that produces zero tailpipe emissions, moves away from our dependence on fossil fuels and represents the end of trips to the gas station. This Nissan LEAF delivery signifies the dawn of a movement that brings sustainable mobility to within our grasp.”

In November 2009 Nissan announced that it was entering into an agreement with the retail electric provider, Reliant Energy of Houston to advance zero-emission mobility. A similar partnership with the City of Houston was formed in February 2010 that also helped pave the way for the introduction of the Nissan LEAF in Texas.

NRG Energy, Inc., the parent company of Reliant Energy, recently launched the nation’s first privately funded, comprehensive electric vehicle charging ecosystem in Houston called eVgo(SM). The Sauers have chosen eVgo’s Mobile Plan and Reliant’s EV Owner’s Plan for their new Nissan LEAF providing them with power for their home charger and unlimited access to the city’s charging ecosystem.

“We are very pleased to have the owners of the first Nissan LEAF in Texas select eVgo to keep their vehicle charged wherever they go in the city and ultimately across the entire Texas Triangle,” said Arun Banskota, president of NRG’s Electric Vehicle Services.

“Today marks a dramatic shift in the way Houstonians will be driving,” said Annise Parker, mayor of Houston. “Electric vehicles are now a real and viable part of our future. We look forward to working with Nissan and continuing to make Houston a cleaner and greener city in which to live and work.”

The delivery is Nissan’s first in Texas in 2011 as the company delivered the first Nissan LEAF vehicles to each of its primary launch markets in December 2010 to Northern and Southern California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Tennessee. Nissan also donated $25,000 to the World Wildlife Fund to mark the occasion.

Nissan is on track for a nationwide launch of the Nissan LEAF by 2012, with Hawaii next to roll out later this month. In order to fulfill interest and meet demand in initial launch markets, Nissan plans to reopen reservations in the first half of 2011 as well as shift timing of additional markets until the second half of 2011.