More Pricing Details on Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf, set to be released in select US markets by the end of this year, will be priced at around $25,000 after a $7,500 federal tax credit.  This will be about $7,500 less than the Chevy Volt after tax credits, which will be released about a month beforehand.  In the upcoming weeks, people will be able to make refundable $100 dollar deposits on the Leaf.  So far there has been an overwhelming interest in this compact four door hatchback with a 100 mile electric range.  Nationwide availability will begin in 2011.  Nissan sounds pretty serious about an electric future, and we think they are right.  Here is their full press release:

NISSAN PRESS RELEASE

NISSAN DELIVERS AFFORDABLE SOLUTIONS FOR PURCHASE, LEASE OF ALL-ELECTRIC NISSAN LEAF

As low as $25,280 ($32,780 MSRP minus up to $7,500 federal tax credit)

Lease world’s first mass-marketed EV for $349 per month

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (March 30, 2010) – Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today announced U.S. pricing for the 2011 Nissan LEAF electric vehicle, which becomes available for purchase or lease at Nissan dealers in select markets in December and nationwide in 2011. Nissan will begin taking consumer reservations for the Nissan LEAF April 20.

Including the $7,500 federal tax credit for which the Nissan LEAF will be fully eligible, the consumer’s after-tax net value of the vehicle will be $25,280. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price *(MSRP) for the 2011 all-electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF is $32,780, which includes three years of roadside assistance. Additionally, there is an array of state and local incentives that may further defray the costs and increase the benefits of owning and charging a Nissan LEAF – such as a $5,000 statewide tax rebate in California; a $5,000 tax credit in Georgia; a $1,500 tax credit in Oregon; and carpool-lane access in some states, including California.

As a result of aggressive pricing and the availability of the $7,500 federal tax credit whose benefit is immediately included, Nissan will be able to offer a monthly lease payment beginning at $349, not including state or local incentives, which could further reduce the net cost of the Nissan LEAF.

“Imagine the possibility of never needing to go to a gas station again. Or of paying less than $3 for 100 miles behind the wheel. Or of creating zero emissions while driving,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, NNA. “Nissan leads the industry by offering the first affordable, zero-emission vehicle for the mass market. Nissan LEAF truly is in a class by itself.”

The vehicle at the SV trim level is well-equipped with a variety of standard features, including an advanced navigation system and Internet/smart phone connectivity to the vehicle, enabling pre-heat/pre-cool and charging control. Nissan LEAF is equipped with energy-efficient LED headlights and makes extensive use of recycled and recyclable materials, such as seat fabric, instrument panel materials, and front- and rear-bumper fascias. Other standard amenities include Bluetooth connectivity; Intelligent-key with push button start; Sirius/XM satellite radio capabilities and roadside assistance. Safety features include vehicle dynamic control (stability control), traction control and six airbags. The SL trim level, available for an additional $940 (MSRP), adds features including rearview monitor, solar panel spoiler, fog lights, and automatic headlights.

Reservations and Purchase

In order to ensure a one-stop-shop customer experience, Nissan is carefully managing the purchase process from the first step, when consumers sign up on NissanUSA.com, until the customer takes the Nissan LEAF home and plugs it into a personal charging dock.

• Nissan begins accepting reservations on April 20 first from people who have signed up on NissanUSA.com, and, after a brief introductory period, to all interested consumers.
• Consumers will be required to pay a $99 reservation fee, which is fully refundable.
• Reserving a Nissan LEAF ensures consumers a place in line when Nissan begins taking firm orders in August, as well as access to special, upcoming Nissan LEAF events.
• Rollout to select markets begins in December, with nationwide availability in 2011.

Charging Equipment

In tandem with the purchase process, Nissan will offer personal charging docks, which operate on a 220-volt supply, as well as their installation. Nissan is providing these home-charging stations, which will be built and installed by AeroVironment, as part of a one-stop-shop process that includes a home assessment.

• The average cost for the charging dock plus installation will be $2,200.
• Charging dock and installation are eligible for a 50 percent federal tax credit up to $2,000.
Using current national electricity averages, Nissan LEAF will cost less than $3 to “fill up.”
• Nissan LEAF also will be the sole vehicle available as part of The EV Project, which is led by EV infrastructure provider eTec, a division of ECOtality, and will provide free home-charging stations and installation for up to 4,700 Nissan LEAF owners in those markets.

In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information on the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.NissanUsa.com.

MSRP excludes applicable tax, title and license fees. Dealer sets actual price. Prices and specs are subject to change without notice.

Electric Joule has Vision

Optimal Energy is a South African firm with a goal that is widely adopted by new-coming EV manufacturers: reduce our carbon footprint with 0 emission vehicles while creating thousands of new jobs.  This pretty much sums up their message in the “Don’t Be a Passenger” campaign.  Here is a nifty, albeit, drawn out 4 minute video on their humanitarian mission:

Kind of reminds me of that Crystal Pepsi commercial from the early 90′s.

Anyways, as much as I love saving polar bears and hugging trees, I’m more concerned about when the rubber meets the pavement. South Africa’s Joule was first revealed at the Paris Auto Show of 2008 and scheduled to launch in 2010 (aka, now). Instead, we have slightly redesigned model, a spiffy youtube video, and a new release date in mid 2013. Will the Joule still harbor the same novelty as it did five years before? Hopefully, if all goes well for Nissan (Nissan Leaf), Mitsubishi (iMiev), GM (Volt), and a slew of other potential EV manufacturers, Optimal Energy’s market share will be overcrowded with more established companies by that point.

This is not to say the Joule is not a capable machine. The Joule is a highway speed electric vehicle, with a top speed of 84 mph, and a very solid 185 mile EV range. The Joule receives its power from a 36-kilowatt lithium-ion battery and the ABS-assisted all-disc braking system will be equipped with regenerative braking to help recharge the battery. However, the car’s acceleration leaves much to be desired at 0-60 mph in 15 seconds. In 2013, will these specs keep up with well know car companies vying for a piece of the EV market pie? The price tag is set at a tentative $33,000 before tax incentives. The Joule will have to rely on its Jaguar inspired looks and hefty electric range to compete at that level in 2013.

Nissan Leaf is Something to Get Excited About

Simple, stylish and on your show room floors this year, the Nissan leaf is something to watch for in the near future.  In the midst of painstaking delays, vaporware, and just face palming prototypes,  the Nissan Leaf is a breath of fresh air.  Their platform is simple, 100 miles per charge, good electric acceleration, and actually going into production at an affordable price ($25K-$35K).  The Nissan Leaf will be available to US buyers in Fall 2010.  More companies should be this forthright.

Perhaps their gall partially comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that granted the EV Project nearly 100 million dollars to deploy the Nissan Leaf and 11,210 fast charging stations in the US.  Here are the details on the specific Nissan Leaf hot spots from the EV Project site:

In the summer of 2010, charging infrastructure will be deployed in the following major population areas: Phoenix (AZ), Tucson (AZ), San Diego (CA), Portland (OR), Eugene (OR), Corvallis (OR), Seattle (WA), Nashville (TN), Knoxville (TN) and Chattanooga (TN). The Nissan LEAF will be available in those same areas in the fall of 2010 to consumers and fleets.

In February 2010, Nissan announced that 50,000 people in the US had already registered to have first priority.  Time magazine even called the Nissan Leaf one of the 50 best inventions of 2009.  America is ready for a change in transportation.

This is all very similar to the EV-1 project of nearly 15 years ago.  Except with our domestic brands struggling and failing to get the hint that they need to innovate, a Japanese car manufacturer is partnering with our most advanced infrastructure projects.  I for one welcome our new Japanese automotive overlords.

China: BYD to Sell Electric Car This Month

According to the Chinese automobile manufacturer, the F3DM will be available for private purchase in Shenzhen on March 29th, 2010.

The F3DM is a range extended electric vehicle, meaning it has a completely electric drivetrain and a gasoline engine is only incorporated as a generator to charge the battery.  BYD claims their Dual Mode is different from a range extended electric vehicle because it actually has three modes of operation: 1) Full battery-powered electric mode 2) Series-hybrid mode, in which an engine drives a generator to recharge the batteries, acting as a range-extender like in the Chevy Volt. 3) Parallel hybrid mode, in which the engine and motor both provide propulsive power, like in the Toyota Prius.

The BYD F3DM is priced at $22,000 and will hopefully be available in the US by 2011.  However, this is twice the price of an equivalent car in China using traditional fuel.

A BYD spokesman said that the new version of the F3DM, available for private buyers will implement more advanced battery and electronics to further enhance efficiency.  The first selling location will be Shenzhen, which plans to have 24,000 cars on the road, possibly with the help of government subsidy programs.

Source: PeopleDaily.com

The Volvo Recharge

On the outside, the Volvo Recharge is simply a Volvo C30 compact hatchback.  But the inner workings of this fascinating concept are what make this car truly exceptional.  The Recharge is a series hybrid that uses cutting edge drive train (or lack thereof) technology that allows each wheel to be powered by individual electric motors, seen in such drivable concepts as the Venturi Volage and  Eliica. This eliminates the need for bulky transmissions, a large central motor, and axles.  So not only will this create less power loss and decreased weight, but you will have more room for cabin space and storage.

This plug-in hybrid has about a 60 mile range before a 1.6 liter diesel engine kicks in to generate more electricity.  This is all on about a 3 hour charge.  Therefore, most daily drivers will never need a drop of diesel.  When the combustion engine is aiding the motors, the fuel efficiency is stated to be in the 40 mpg range.  The car gets from 0-60 in 9 seconds, which won’t win any stop light drag races, but is sufficient for a commuter car.  The Recharge has a top speed of about 100 miles per hour.

Here’s a view of the Volvo Recharge’s internals:

Volvo Press Release

Volvo Car Corporation launches unique cooperation for the development of plug-in hybrid cars in Sweden

Together with electricity provider Vattenfall, Saab Automobile, ETC and the Swedish state, Volvo Car Corporation is launching a joint broad-based research venture to develop spearhead technology in the area of plug-in hybrid cars. Sweden will be the arena for the field tests.

“I see this project as a positive further development of sustainable personal transport. We have a unique opportunity to take the lead when it comes to innovations for advanced green-car technology”, says Fredrik Arp, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.

The aim of the project, which is being carried out jointly by Volvo Car Corporation, Saab Automobile, Vattenfall and ETC, is to develop and demonstrate the next-generation hybrid cars. A fleet of 10 plug-in hybrids will be produced that can be recharged directly from the mains wall socket.

Volvo has long experience of cooperation with a variety of society’s actors and with this project the company aims to participate in and shape decisions and initiatives that are taken both within and outside the car industry.

“We want to be involved in setting up the rules for the future and to help build up broad-based competence in Sweden in this vital area,” says Fredrik Arp.

Over a five-year period, Volvo will invest just over 11 billion SEK in development aimed at reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Volvo already offers its customers one of the industry’s widest ranges of Flexifuel engines. In parallel the company is continuing to enhance the efficiency of its petrol- and diesel-powered cars. 2008 will see the launch of car models that release less than 120 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

Volvo is also focusing intensively on hybrid technology. In the medium term the company will introduce hybrid variants where an electric motor supports the combustion engine. In the longer term, plug-in hybrids will be introduced. One example of this was presented in autumn 2007 with the Volvo C30 ReCharge Concept. Used in the most effective way, this concept car cuts emissions of carbon dioxide by about 65 percent compared with the hybrid cars available on the market today. And if the electricity comes from CO2-sustainable sources such as hydropower and windpower, this figure improves still further.