Nissan announces 56,000 pre-orders for Leaf EV - in the US alone

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"Carlos Ghosn, the head of the Nissan-Renault alliance, isn't impressed with competitors' chatter about electric vehicles. They have concept cars. He has a plan.

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'What I am sure is that in 2011, I am going to be the only one on the market,' Ghosn said.

Ghosn said he already has 56,000 orders for the Leaf in the United States, and they will begin taking orders soon in Japan and Europe. On top of that, he expects fleet orders for taxi companies, post offices and municipalities. Ghosn said the French government wants 100,000 of government vehicles to be electric."

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9E7AF301.htm

[Robb]

1. Pundits are saying in the $27,000 to $33,000 range

Add a $7,500 tax credit, and this is looking quite good.

[wtmusic]

5. When I did a test drive

they asked me how interested I would be if the Leaf cost $34,000.

So it's going to be in the upper end of that range.

[Robb]

6. You've been behind the wheel?

...Tell me you wrote about it somewhere. :bounce:

[wtmusic]

9. I had to sign a non-disclosure

but I will say my experience mirrors this one

http://www.allcarselectric.com/blog/1033906_2011-nissan-leaf-review-and-test-drive

and that its performance rocks. :thumbsup:

[tinrobot]

15. Sure beats the cost of a Tesla.

If it comes in under $30,000 with battery (and tax credit) this car will sell quite well.

I know I'll want one.

[still_one]

2. The problem with the leaf is that not only does your house need special equipment

but that it is not self-sustaining without a power socket

The Volt go without a power socket if needed

[wtmusic]

4. Leaf goes 100mi without gas station

Volt need gas station to go farther than 40 :silly:

[Statistical]

7. Special equipment? It is called an electrical outlet.

Then again if you don't have electrical power at your home then you probably shouldn't buy an electric car. :)

There is a rapid 480V DC charger but it is designed for quick charging (80% charge in 30 minutes). It is something that employers and businesses can install to allow customers a "quick charge".

Overnight "home charger" is a glorified extension cord with normal electrical plug on one end and a industry standard plug on the other.

[still_one]

10. Really, then why do they require a "Home assessment"?

Q: I want to "prewire" a new home for a future Leaf owner, what is required?

A: A home assessment will be part of the buying process. Sign up now to learn more when it's available.
More about charging

Q: What is the expected price of the home-installed charge station components? Are they separate from the cost of the car?

A: We will provide more info about home chargers when it's available.

Q: Can you install charge station by youself or have to be installed by a qualified electrician

A: Your Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE) unit will need to be installed by a professional electrician.
More about charging

http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/charging.jsp#/details

[Statistical]

11. I stand correct. Not sure what Nissan is doing.

Tesla Roadster has a battery pack twice as large and can be charged by simple cable.

One thing I would like to see is more standardization. You shouldn't need a Nissan charger rather just an industry standard charger. You don't need a ford gas pump nozzle.

Standardization would allow economies of scale and better accessibility.

[still_one]

12. I don't know either, we will all know soon enough. You have to start somewhere

and all of this is good

[wtmusic]

13. The plan is to offer a 220V home charger

which requires wiring directly from your junction box. So we could assume the assessment would involve making sure the box is somewhere near your garage or driveway. The specific type of terminals haven't been finalized, but they are not going with an induction paddle.

"How long does it take to charge the battery?

A: The battery will charge in 4-8 hours on a 220V home charging unit. At quick-charge stations, it will charge to 80% in about 26 minutes."

[TreasonousBastard]

3. IF I had the money, this would be neat for local driving, but...

I'd still need a real car.

My doctor is 130 miles rt, my mother is 100, I go to Captree and Montauk for work and they are 130 and 150 miles rt. Just going to Home Despot in Riverhead is 50 miles rt. And who says I'd really get 100 miles per charge, anyway-- short winter days with lights, heater and windshield wipers going could cut that down by well over half. There's a reason they test these things in LA, not NY.

So, I spend something in the mid 20's for this thing, then spend 20 cents or so a kilowatt to charge it, and I still have to buy that Equinox or diesel Jetta I want that would give me pretty good mileage.

It's still a great idea for a lot of people I know who never go very far, but most of us in the snow belt can just wait for the next generation.

[Statistical]

8. Yeah it is more designed for urban, suburban commuters.

It gets 5 miles per kWh. Electricity here in Va is $0.10 per kWh so thats $0.02 per mile.

At $3.00 gasoline for a gasoline car to be that cheap it would need to get 150 mpg. $3.00/150 miles = $0.02
At $4.00 a gallon it would need to be 200 mpg.
At $5.00 a gallon it would need to be 250 mpg.

We will never see that kind of efficiency from combustion engines (12%-18% efficient).

[Kolesar]

16. Would make sense for a two car family

Use the Equinox or diesel Jetta when you have to leave town.

I thought I was the only one who called the store "Home Despot".

[tinrobot]

14. The numbers are little misleading...

They have 56,000 people on the free "interested" list. The next step is for these people to plunk down $100 for a spot on the real waiting list.

Still, this is great news. Glad there's so much interest.