nissan leaf Archives – The Green Optimistic

New 2019 Nissan Leaf E-PLus Ready to Compete With Tesla

Arsenij Percov — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 20:04:12 +0000

The 2019 Nissan Leaf will have a new, more powerful option with a longer range named Leaf E-Plus. According to Brian Maragano, Nissan’s head of EV marketing and sales strategy, the coming “Plus’ model will be equipped with a larger battery. He didn’t specify the capacity, however, some rumors suggest that it will use a […]

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Best-Selling 2018 Nissan LEAF Faces Performance Criticism

Guest Contributor — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 14:26:09 +0000

The Nissan LEAF is the best-selling electric vehicle in Europe with over 37,000 sold since its inception in October 2017, 18,000 of which have come in since January this year. However, some UK owners have raised their concerns over the stated battery range and charging times. LEAF sales have been slow to take off in […]

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2019 Nissan LEAF’s Range Beats Tesla Model 3

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 19:22:17 +0000

When it comes to electric vehicles, range is a factor of utmost importance as it illustrates how far they could traverse before running out of battery. Boosting an electric vehicle’s range could also mean boosting its market sales. Just last week, the new Nissan LEAF was reported to give a range of 225 miles, beating […]

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How Much Nissan Leaf’s 24 kWh Battery Upgrade Costs

Guest Contributor — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 03:42:29 +0000

One of the biggest questions that came to peoples’ minds when carmakers started releasing cars was how much the replacements parts cost, considering the fact that the technology used in EVs is quite different from that in fossil fuel vehicles. Nissan recently answered the most important part of this question. The carmaker announced that the […]

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Hacked Nissan Leaf Goes to Races, Gets 150 Miles of Range

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 19:37:02 +0000

Hacking late at night is something on the liking of engineers – you know, those guys who instinctively headed straight to the wall socket when they did their first steps. So were some engineers in Barcelona, Spain, who hacked a Nissan Leaf and made it go for 150 miles on a charge. At the Nissan Technical […]

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Nissan Leaf: Europe’s #1 Green Taxi

Michelle Lutz — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 20:56:35 +0000

All of Europe is choosing to follow suite after Amsterdam total electric taxi service which was instituted in 2011. With a total of over 550 electric vehicles hitting the streets of Europe, there shouldn’t be a long wait when leaving the Pub. The savings on maintenance and fuel costs are a couple of driving factors; the […]

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Nissan Wants to Build Self-Driving Vehicles by 2020

Annika Tostengard — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 06:35:54 +0000

Nissan is well on its way to actually getting self-driving vehicles on the road. Their Nissan Leaf, an electric car, is being equipped with the sensors that will make autonomous driving possible, and is set to hit the Japanese market by the end of next year. Three cars have already been upgraded with the new technology, […]

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Nissan Leaf Lawsuit: New Battery Replacement for Unhappy Customers

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 13:50:38 +0000

Just like it happened to many respectable automakers (see Toyota), in 2012 a class action lawsuit was targeted against Nissan for its great car, the all-electric Leaf. The unhappy Leaf owners claimed that their batteries failed after having only a short lifespan, and that the car didn’t perform as in the ads, through they had […]

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EV Supporter Embarks on First Carbon Negative Road Trip

Mila Luleva — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 12:09:29 +0000

Young EV enthusiast and environmental campaigner begins an extraordinary 100 day carbon negative journey. He will travel on electric charge and plant 48 trees, one in each state he passes through. There are many ways in which we all can contribute to a better and cleaner environment. All it takes is to sacrifice just that […]

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Nissan LEAF Battery More Reliable Than Conventional Engines

Benji Jerew — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 19:40:27 +0000

According to data aggregated by Warranty Direct, in the UK, the Nissan LEAF battery pack is (surprise!) more reliable than conventional engines, by how much? Before answering that question, think for a second about the opposition. Ask any electric vehicle skeptic about electric vehicles, such as the world’s best-selling Nissan LEAF, and you’ll get responses […]

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Nissan Leaf “TRON Edition” on Dutch Smart Highway

Benji Jerew — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 19:10:26 +0000

Here at The Green Optimistic, we love solar power, and it turns out that lots of Nissan Leaf owners love solar power, too. We already know that electric vehicle emissions, such as those associated with the Nissan Leaf, are entirely dependent on where you charge. If your power grid is mainly fossil-fuel based, then of […]

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Fuel Cell Cars to Price Competitively with Clean-Diesel, says Toyota

Benji Jerew — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 19:13:50 +0000

Fuel cell cars are nothing new, and their price is certainly nothing to sniff at, which makes some people wonder who will adopt the technology. Of course, paying around $60,000 for a modestly-equipped midsize sedan, because it runs on a hydrogen fuel cell, would attract a certain number of buyers. That’s why the Tesla Model […]

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You Guys REALLY Don’t Like Selling Electric Vehicles, Do You?

Benji Jerew — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 21:08:11 +0000

With the introduction of the first commercially-successful electric vehicles, things have started to change in how vehicles are sold. Of course, we’re not talking about the General Motors EV1, which was more of a research project than mass-production electric vehicle. We’re talking about Tesla Motors’ Tesla Roadster and Tesla Model S, which started an electric […]

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Electric Vehicle Emissions and “Creative” Headlines

Benji Jerew — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 02:04:19 +0000

When researchers at the University of Minnesota did a study on electric vehicle emissions, I’m fairly certain that they had no idea that it would turn into, well, this… The problem is not the report, which can be best summed up by this video: On the other hand, there is a disturbing number of articles […]

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Does Cheap Gasoline Make Toyota Prius Less Attractive?

Benji Jerew — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 19:00:11 +0000

Toyota Prius is a hybrid electric vehicle, the most popular in the United States and just one of over six million Toyota hybrid vehicles sold around the world. There are two reasons to buy a hybrid vehicle, such as the Toyota Prius, which offers better fuel economy than just about everything else on the road […]

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BMW i3 vs Nissan LEAF, or Bang vs Buck

Benji Jerew — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 14:45:38 +0000

What is it about the BMW i3 that makes it somewhat more expensive than other electric vehicles? How much bang for your buck do you get for the i3? It should be no surprise that, here at The Green Optimistic, we love electric vehicles. Thanks to innovative automakers, such as Tesla Motors, General Motors, and […]

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Nissan LEAF Green Goes Further Than Just Being an Electric Vehicle

Benji Jerew — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 21:39:29 +0000

Nissan has sold over 120,000 Nissan LEAF electric vehicles around the world, and it could certainly be referred to as a green car, but being green goes beyond its fuel supply. Of course, the greenest a Nissan LEAF could, at least from a refueling perspective, would be to charge it on solar power, and you […]

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Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles May Be the Future

Benji Jerew — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 18:33:57 +0000

While battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles may co-exist for some time, will one or the other dominate long-term? With the early successes of electric vehicles (EV) like as the Tesla Model S and Nissan Leaf, it may seem that battery electric vehicles (BEV) have gotten a head start on hydrogen fuel cell […]

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Nissan Leaf Charging Network Loses a Major Supporter

Benji Jerew — Fri, 23 May 2014 23:46:40 +0000

Not all Nissan Leaf owners work or play within their round-trip range of about 80 miles. At least for these, easy access to a charging station is an important consideration. Easy access is what was planned for Nissan Leaf owners, in the No Charge to Charge program, as well as the EZ-Charge Card, but there […]

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Better Battery Capacity, Possible Tesla Styling for 2017 Nissan LEAF

Leigh Hutchens — Sat, 10 May 2014 07:15:08 +0000

In an effort to mainstream the Nissan LEAF, Nissan executives have shared some of their goals for the next version. A higher capacity battery and conventional styling top the list of changes planned for the 2017 release and are seen as a way to higher sales. Andy Palmer, executive VP in charge of Nissan’s zero […]

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Chevy Volt V2.0 Gets a Hefty Funding Boost from General Motors

Benji Jerew — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 17:44:56 +0000

The Chevy Volt extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) is one of those great stepping-stone vehicles between conventional and electric. Soon, it will be even more capable. Currently, the Chevy Volt has a measly 37-mile electric vehicle (EV) range, but that doesn’t give drivers range-jitters, because of the small gasoline-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) generator. In driving, […]

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Goldilocks and the Three Electric Vehicles

Benji Jerew — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 17:42:00 +0000

Forty miles might not seem like much, if you’re considering your daily commute or weekend getaway. On the other hand, when considering electric vehicle, could it mean the difference between a comfortable drive or white-knuckle range-jitters? Psychologically-speaking, those forty miles make a huge difference in how electric vehicle drivers feel about their range. Take, for […]

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Nissan Leaf Sales Triple in Texas

Benji Jerew — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 21:24:38 +0000

The rebirth of the electric vehicle, led by the Tesla Model S and the Nissan Leaf, has seen electric vehicle sales numbers in the triple-digit-percentages over previous years. For example, Nissan Leaf is the best-selling electric vehicle in the world, in a field of electric vehicles from a number of other automakers. Closer to home, […]

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Nissan e-NV200 Debuts at Geneva Motor Show

Benji Jerew — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 16:22:11 +0000

If you could take the electric vehicle technology that runs the world’s best-selling electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf, and put it into a larger package, the result would be the Nissan e-NV200 pure electric delivery van, debuting at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. With all the focus on super-luxury cars at the Geneva Motor Show, […]

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Nissan Leaf vs Nissan Sentra, Wallet Referees

Benji Jerew — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 13:36:23 +0000

We love that the Nissan Leaf is a pure electric vehicle, and its upstream emissions are, in some states, far beyond reproach. On the other hand, actually buying a Nissan Leaf, is more expensive, by thousands of dollars, than a conventional vehicle. It also requires installation of a home electric vehicle charger, adding perhaps a […]

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“No Charge to Charge” Nissan Leaf in Texas

Benji Jerew — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 13:56:52 +0000

The offer is ending soon, but if you buy a Nissan Leaf in Texas by March 31, 2014, you can charge for free on the eVgo Texas Freedom Station network of electric vehicle charging stations. Tesla Motors started it, with the deployment of the Tesla Supercharger network, on which Tesla Model S owners can recharge […]

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Chevy Volt Ad Playing Rough with Pure Electric Vehicles

Benji Jerew — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:11:38 +0000

Do automakers run attack ads? See for yourself as the Chevy Volt leaves pure electric vehicles to die in the desert! Whoa! Did you read that correctly? At least, that’s my impression on seeing a recent ad, featuring a Chevy Volt extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), cruising through the desert. Concerned, the kid asks his dad […]

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2015 Kia Soul EV Ready to Roll

Benji Jerew — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 13:00:13 +0000

We might already be familiar with the funky-looking Kia Soul, a compact crossover, but what about in an all-electric version? Regarding electric vehicles, Kia hasn’t been sitting on its haunches, like some other companies, and the results were just shown at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show. Now, the 2015 Kia Soul EV isn’t being set […]

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Nissan Leaf Sales Behind, but 100,000 Units Isn’t Bad!

Benji Jerew — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:08:55 +0000

The Nissan Leaf may be one of the two most-successful electric vehicles in the world, but it’s still a little behind original sales predictions. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn may have been a little optimistic when he announced that it would sell 1.5 million electric vehicles by 2016. Well, he was probably more than a little […]

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Nissan Taking a More ‘Radical’ Approach to Future EV Design

Danny Harper — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:59:45 +0000

While it is certain that Nissan is ahead of the game when it comes to the transition to electric vehicles, their current Leaf design has much to be desired from an aesthetic standpoint. Aware of the serious momentum being built in the Tesla camp regarding high-performance and stylish EV’s, the Korean auto manufacturer is looking […]

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Buying a Nissan Leaf, What’s Your Reason, Ms. Eichenberger?

Benji Jerew — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 18:15:58 +0000

Over 100,000 Nissan Leaf have been sold since the beginning, an impressive start for an electric vehicle, but why would you buy one? You can probably come up with a number of reasons to buy a Nissan Leaf, especially if your financial circumstances permit you to sign financing papers. “Zero emissions” might top the list, […]

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2014 Nissan Leaf, Real Competition For Chevy Volt

Benji Jerew — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 14:15:18 +0000

It seems that Nissan Leaf might finally give the Chevy Volt run for its money this year, thanks to some manufacturing changes and better fuel economy. Of the pure electric and Plug-In hybrid electric vehicles being sold today, the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf are just about neck-and-neck, the two best-selling electric vehicles on the […]

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Electric Vehicles Will Dominate, but Not For the Reason You Think

Benji Jerew — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 02:08:33 +0000

The world needs electric vehicles but, in spite of skyrocketing sales, the general public is still fairly unaware of them. For example, most people still think electric vehicles are basically limited to golf carts and minicars. According to a recent survey, just 22% were familiar with the Tesla Model S, and just 31% were familiar […]

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Tesla Model S is The Best-Selling Electric Vehicle in Canada

Benji Jerew — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:26:57 +0000

In the last couple of years, electric vehicle sales have more than tripled in some places, and Tesla Model S is proving to be heavy competition for the established automakers Of course, Tesla Model S isn’t the only electric vehicle on the market, but it is being manufactured by the newest and most successful automaker […]

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Envia Systems Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery Company Faces Legal Problems

Benji Jerew — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 22:06:04 +0000

Of course, A123 Systems was not the only lithium-ion battery company to arise just as plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles were coming onto the market. A123 Systems, an advanced lithium-ion battery manufacturer, and Fisker Automotive, maker of a high-end extended-range electric vehicle, might only be the most famous because of their failures. On the […]

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Nissan Leaf Owner Arrested for Electricity Theft, Was it Overkill?

Benji Jerew — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 12:00:20 +0000

A Nissan Leaf Owner in Dekalb, Georgia, was watching his son play tennis after school. Perhaps, not thinking about the consequences, he plugged his car into an exterior outlet of the school. Eleven days later, he was in jail. Whoa, that escalated quickly. As it turns out, a police officer noticed the Nissan Leaf, plugged […]

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Future Nissan Leaf Could Come with Battery Options

Benji Jerew — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 15:18:47 +0000

Perhaps you can’t afford a Tesla Model S 85kWh, which is why the 60kWh version makes it easier to get into a Tesla. Soon, we might see Nissan pulling the same trick with the Nissan Leaf. After all, if you’re in the market for an electric vehicle, wouldn’t it be nice to have options? For […]

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Electric Vehicle Pricing Still, Mostly, Outside of Buyer’s Range

Benji Jerew — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 15:13:04 +0000

Recent studies have shown that those who are in the market for a new car, even those interested in electric vehicles, aren’t planning on spending more than $25,000. There are plenty of fuel efficient cars in this range, such as the Mini Cooper and the Toyota Prius, but you might be hard-pressed to find an […]

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Nissan Leaf Autonomous Drive Successfully Navigates Public Highways in Japan

Benji Jerew — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 16:57:20 +0000

As more companies are pursuing autonomous drive vehicles, successes of mainstream companies, such as Nissan Motor Corporation, show that the technology has promise. Depending on who you ask, there seem to be a couple of different camps regarding vehicles with autonomous drive technology. If, or when, autonomous drive becomes standard equipment, drivers, that is, those […]

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Chevy Volt Racks Up More EV Miles than Nissan Leaf?

Benji Jerew — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 16:00:20 +0000

This may seem like a contradiction, but a recent study done by the United States Department of Energy [DOE] seems to indicate that drivers of the Chevy Volt go more miles on electricity than do Nissan Leaf drivers. For a little background, the Nissan Leaf is a pure electric vehicle [EV], powered by a lithium-ion […]

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Electric Vehicles Best-Sellers in Norway

Benji Jerew — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 16:54:28 +0000

In the United States, California is the center of hybrid and electric vehicle sales, accounting for about 40% of all plug-in vehicle sales for the entire country. Actually, sales of plug-in vehicles, including plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, have more than tripled sales in the last year, but the best place to spot them is […]

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Move Over, Lithium-Ion Battery, Time for Something Leaner

Benji Jerew — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:33:44 +0000

The industry-leading electric vehicle, the Tesla Model S, uses a lithium-ion battery pack, pretty much like every other electric vehicle of repute, but is that as good as it gets? Rechargeable battery technology has indeed come a long way, but the evolution is slow. Nickel-cadmium [Ni-Cad] gave way to nickel-metal hydride [NiMH], which eventually gave […]

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Why the BMW i3 Extended-Range Electric Vehicle’s Tiny Fuel Tank?

Benji Jerew — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 15:32:27 +0000

The BMW i3 is an extended-range electric vehicle [EREV], which is basically an electric vehicle [EV] with an onboard backup generator, but just a little one. For some people, who aren’t fully on board with the limitations of electric vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf, with a range of about 75 miles, an EREV could […]

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Range Anxiety Stifles Electric Vehicle Rentals

Benji Jerew — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 18:21:22 +0000

Major automobile rental companies, in response to demand, have been putting electric vehicles into their fleets, but the interest is fleeting, at best. Depending on the time available, the next time you go on vacation farther than a few hours from home, you’ll probably take an airplane. Unless you like road trips [I’m the only […]

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Toyota Prius Plug-In Behind Sales Target, Joins Pricing War

Benji Jerew — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 15:54:51 +0000

Toyota Prius may have been the first on the hybrid electric vehicle market, but it is, by no means, alone. Since 1997, Toyota Prius and her hybrid extended family have sold over five million units worldwide, just shy of two million in the United States, alone. Encouraged by this news, and seeing the rising popularity […]

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Nissan Leaf Granted Permit to Test Semi-Autonomous Vehicles on Japan’s roads

Benji Jerew — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 16:54:58 +0000

By 2020, Nissan expects to have fully-autonomous vehicles on the road but, in order to do that, Nissan will have to prove that they will be just as safe, or safer, than vehicles with human drivers. In the state of New York, once your get your driver’s permit, you need to drive with a licensed […]

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Grid-To-Vehicle-To-Grid, Electric Vehicle Charger Swings Both Ways, Nichicon Corporation

Benji Jerew — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 23:15:00 +0000

If you think about it, an electric vehicle is essentially a battery on wheels, whose energy would typically be used to power those wheels to get you to work or play. In order to get that energy though, an electric vehicle charger takes it from the grid and pumps it into the battery, storing it […]

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Electric Vehicles Outnumber Gas Stations in the US, Sort Of…

Benji Jerew — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 19:15:12 +0000

Sales of electric vehicles have been experiencing unprecedented growth, as much as 500% greater than last year, depending on which model you look at. For example, Nissan is currently selling about 2,000 Nissan Leaf per month, and Tesla Motors is manufacturing balls-to-the-walls at 500 Tesla Model S per month [and can’t keep up with demand]. […]

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Nissan Leaf Production to Increase, Battery Production Playing Catchup

Benji Jerew — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 20:24:05 +0000

Regarding pure electric vehicles available right now in the US, there are really only two contenders for the top sales spot, Tesla Model S and Nissan Leaf. Nissan Leaf and Tesla Motors are fighting at opposite end of the spectrum, regarding price and range and comfort options, which means they really aren’t in competition with […]

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Why Automakers are Really Cutting Prices on Electric Vehicles?

Benji Jerew — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 16:08:29 +0000

There has been a lot of discussion on why electric vehicles sell, or don’t, and what can be done about it. The answer, of course, is to sell more pickup trucks? In the last year or so, prices of electric vehicles have been dropping steadily. For example, if you can jump through enough hoops, you […]

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Nissan Leaf Sales Rising, Nissan Ramping Up Production to Meet It

Benji Jerew — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:33:27 +0000

Electric vehicle sales, this year, have far exceeded expectations, if last year’s sales numbers were any indication. The Nissan Leaf has benefited from the boom, which is good news for everyone. From January through July of 2012, Nissan Leaf sold just 3,543 units but, in the same seven-month span this year, Nissan Leaf has moved […]

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Electric Vehicle Sales Exploding, 500% over 2012 Numbers

Benji Jerew — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 19:20:19 +0000

Expanding public adoption of electric vehicles appears to be in full swing, but can the market keep up this trend? According to the most recent sales numbers of electric vehicles, they’re selling like hotcakes, if hotcakes were powered by lithium-ion and were available at an automobile dealership. It’s not just electric vehicles, such as the […]

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Nissan Leaf Marketing Scheme “Dumps” Toyota Prius and Others (in London)

Benji Jerew — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 14:09:22 +0000

In order to improve air quality in the London downtown district, legislators “encourage” drivers to choose cleaner transportation by imposing a daily Congestion Charge for any vehicles driven downtown that exceed 100g/km CO2 [carbon dioxide] emissions. Vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and Vauxhall Ampera [Chevy Volt] easily beat that requirement. Even other low-emissions models, like […]

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Nissan Leaf Battery Replacement Program Could Cost $100/mo

Benji Jerew — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 15:12:59 +0000

Everyone knows that the rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack in the Nissan Leaf, or any other electric vehicle, only has a limited amount of cycles before it starts to lose capacity. This we’ve come to accept in small items like laptops or mobile phones, but these only cost us $10 to $100 every few years or […]

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Nissan Leaf Long-Term Ownership, Still Going Strong

Benji Jerew — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 17:11:54 +0000

While the average driver in the US covers about 30 miles per day, Nissan Leaf owner Steve Marsh is pushing the limits of what the vehicle was designed for. Marsh has a 130mi round-trip commute, or about 65mi each way. This is just shy of the Nissan Leaf’s 73mi range. Where a typical commuter might […]

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Cheapest Nissan Leaf Lease Ever, Just $150/mo? Testing Smart Charging

Benji Jerew — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 20:52:30 +0000

In order to test out a theory, Nissan is preparing to offer what could be the cheapest Nissan Leaf lease ever, just $150/mo. The Nissan Leaf isn’t selling like hotcakes like the company was hoping, but this new lease offer has nothing to do with increasing sales and brand awareness. The new project, My Electric […]

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Nissan Leaf Braving Down Under With Lower Prices, Again

Benji Jerew — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:48:25 +0000

Sales of the Nissan Leaf in Australia haven’t been all that great, but then the market is a fledgeling one. Perhaps better pricing will help to spur the market? Americans may think that had a stranglehold on the muscle-car market and big pickup trucks and 4x4s, especially in comparison to our nearest neighbor Europe, whose […]

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Earth Day 2013 – New York City Starts Nissan Leaf Taxi Fleet Pilot Program

Benji Jerew — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:34:31 +0000

There is nothing in New York City more quintessential than the yellow NYC taxi fleet. This year on Earth Day, April 22nd, the Nissan Leaf will begin service as an emissions-free taxi. NYC Mayor Bloomberg arrived at the Rockefeller Center on the 22nd to make a special announcement, and perhaps the best way to lead […]

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Nissan Leaf’s Battery Lease Program to Start in Europe

Benji Jerew — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:50:08 +0000

Instead of paying for it up front, buyers can opt for a Nissan Leaf battery lease program, with just a couple of restrictions. For 2012, the best-selling pure electric vehicle was the Nissan Leaf. What better way of increasing adoption of electric vehicles could there be than to reduce the upfront pricing? Electric vehicle marketing hasn’t […]

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Leaf or Juke: Which Nissan Costs More to Own?

Benji Jerew — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:45:59 +0000

Quick, does an electric vehicle cost more than a gasoline vehicle? Look up automobile prices anywhere and you could give me a quick answer and say which which one costs more up front, but that’s only a small part of the story. We have to add in refueling, maintenance, depreciation, environmental impact, public health, and […]

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Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, CHAdeMO or SAE Combo?

Benji Jerew — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:29:23 +0000

While pretty much everyone agrees that more electric vehicle charging stations are necessary, not everyone agrees which connector or charging protocol should be used. Often in the beginning stages of a new technology, there will be different approaches to achieve similar results. Take videotape for example, VHS and BetaMax, which both had their pros and […]

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Wireless Inductive Charging Gets Boost From DoE

Benji Jerew — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:31:01 +0000

Plugless Power in Whytheville, VA will use a US Department of Energy [DOE] grant to implement its wireless inductive charging receivers on electric vehicles. Electric vehicles could really get going if there was a way to easily charge them whether you are at home, at work or shopping. True, charging stations are available in different […]

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European 2013 Nissan Leaf is Cheaper, Has More Range Than Ever

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:17:58 +0000

Higher is better, right? The 2013 Nissan Leaf to be produced in the UK has 14% more range than the Japanese version made in 2012. That translates into 124 miles of pure electric drive versus 109 miles. The fact that Nissan is going to cut the price of the European Leaf is no news anymore. […]

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EPA Ratings – Your EV Mileage May Vary

Benji Jerew — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:41:47 +0000

We have all seen or at least heard the phrase, “Your mileage may vary,” and it has much more to do with the driver than anything else. We recently covered an interesting test drive that Edmunds.com puts all their test vehicles through, a 105.5 mile real-world test track otherwise referred to as the One Lap […]

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Nissan Leaf’s Bose Audio is Twice as Efficient

Benji Jerew — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:41:04 +0000

If there any any audiophiles among you, then you’re probably familiar with what it takes to ramp up the sound in a vehicle. Often, this involves ripping out all that stock pedestrian audio equipment and installing a high-end head unit, amplifiers, speaker boxes, and a bass box. Don’t forget ramping up the electrical system to […]

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First Electric Driving School Car in UK is a Nissan LEAF

Benji Jerew — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:20:45 +0000

Nissan LEAF electric vehicle [EV], we know, it a great little car. It’s a decent size for a family of four, but is also fuel efficient enough to use as a commuter. With a 73-mile EPA-estimated range, or 83 miles as tested by Edmunds.com, the Nissan LEAF is finding its way into people’s garages, the […]

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Nissan Turning Over a New, and (Much) More Affordable, Leaf

Benji Jerew — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:25:36 +0000

One of the best ways to get people interested in a new technology is to make it more affordable. The latest in vehicle technology, electric vehicles [EV], could certainly benefit from a reduction in price. Many consumers have a hard time comparing two $35,000 vehicles, one EV and the other gasoline-powered. Certainly the fuel economy […]

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Nissan Leaf Gets Upgraded and Cheaper, Will We See it in the US?

Benji Jerew — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:18:45 +0000

No matter where you happen to drive, considering an electric vehicle [EV] may not be very appealing, once you consider charging time and limited range. After all, if you “run out of juice,” you can’t just stop at any gas station and “fill up.” Nissan Senior Vice President Masaaki Nishizawa says the Leaf does away […]

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NSC-2015: The Self-Parking LEAF Than Can Also Come to Its Owner When Called

Benji Jerew — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:58:22 +0000

A few manufacturers have been working on autonomous vehicles, so-called “robot cars,” that can drive themselves and avoid accidents. Nissan recently showed the NSC-2015 prototype electric vehicle [EV] at Japan’s Cutting-Edge IT & Electronics Comprehensive Exhibition [CEATEC]. The new prototype can find its own parking spot and even come to you when you need it. The NSC-2015 […]

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Nissan Leaf Having a Hard Time Selling, GM Volt Thrives

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 18:06:37 +0000

It looks like the Chevy Volt is outselling Nissan Leaf, at least in the U.S. sales. For the fifth consecutive month, the first all-electric mass-produced Nissan falls behind the half-electric-half-gas produced by GM. Even last year saw better sales than these. Want figures? They only sold 536 Leafs in July. While GM sold close to […]

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The Nichioh Maru: Nissan's Greenest Cargo Ship Saves More Than 1,000 Tons of Fuel Each Year

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:59:43 +0000

In an age when they started building world’s first mass-produced electric car, the LEAF, Nissan now wants to go even greener by modifying the cargo ships they transport their cars with. The new cargo is called “Nichioh Maru” and uses solar panels to power its LED lighting system. Another improvement to it is a low-friction […]

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Nissan Director "Thinks" EVs Don't Need Bigger Batteries, Leaf Has Enough

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:41:34 +0000

An article I read today showed that recently Nissan started thinking big batteries aren’t necessary for EVs. They claim to have studied extensive data before claiming what seems to be one of the stupidest claims since the one saying “you won’t ever need more than 64 kilobytes of RAM in a computer” (in the 80’s, […]

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Nissan Wants to Sell 1.5 Million Electric Cars By 2016

Mike Sandru — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:18:31 +0000

Nissan, second-largest automaker behind Toyota, plans to sell 1.5 million electric vehicles worldwide by 2016, the company announced this week. They have decided to focus on green vehicles because the demand is increasingly growing. Nissan says it wants to become the world’s largest player in so-called “zero-emission vehicles,” and their plans include developing a new […]

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Top Gear's Bad Jokes Hit The Nissan Leaf This Time

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:27:56 +0000

Now, filming for a new series of their Top Gear show, petrolhead Jeremy Clarkson and his crew apparently rode a Nissan Leaf for 30 miles until the battery ran out, only to show how they don't believe electric cars are not the future, and have some spectators push the car to the nearest wall socket, at the University of Lincoln.

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Nissan's "Leaf To Home" Can Power Family Home For 2 Days

Mike Sandru — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:05:24 +0000

The new system, called "Leaf to Home," has been conceived as an emergency power backup for the homes during a power blackout or a natural disaster. Nissan claims that the new technology will be on the Japanese market by March 2012.

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Nissan Sold More Leaves Than Chevrolet Sold Volts in First Half of 2011

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:47:23 +0000

Although I don't quite see how one can truly compare any gasoline or hybrid car with a pure electric one in terms of market and customer targeting, it looks like the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt have something in common. Nissan's recent sales reports nevertheless say that the Leaf has outperformed the Volt in the first half of 2011.

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Dutch Nissan Leaf Drivers Complete 24 Hours Marathon

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:48:13 +0000

Two Dutch electric car enthusiasts took their Nissan Leaf for a 24 hour drive just to prove the world that you can go for 779.19 miles in such a vehicle without problems and with the least amount of money spent (they don't have highway taxes in the Netherlands). They said they were doing it out of curiosity.

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Nissan & JAF's 5-Ton Diesel Truck That Saves Stranded LEAFs

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:11:51 +0000

Now this is not good news for treehuggers, but sort of good news for Tokyo-based Nissan Leaf owners. The company is advertising its all-electric multi-thousand dollar marvel with all of its financial power, but despite that they recently unveiled a 5-ton diesel truck to save stranded drivers who forgot they drive an electric vehicle with a relatively low battery range of 100 miles.

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New Nissan Leaf Ad Attacks Everything Gas-Powered, Including The Chevy Volt

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 27 May 2011 20:57:08 +0000

I don't currently own a Nissan Leaf, but what I know is this car benefits from excellent advertising. After the polar bear ad, Nissan effectively attacks everything that runs on gas in an over-dramatized scenario. It also uses the Chevy Volt image at the end to suggest this one also runs on gas, like all the other things in "this" world.

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Wheego LiFe Electric Car Out On The Market

Mike Sandru — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:55:19 +0000

It appears that the Nissan Leaf has a new contender that threatens to steal its clients away: the Wheego LiFe has recently been unveiled and sold at its dealership in Atlanta.

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Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt Receive High Safety Marks in Official Crash Tests

Mike Sandru — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:49:30 +0000

If you have any doubts about switching to an electric car, then they shouldn’t concern safety, because by choosing a Chevrolet Volt or a Nissan Leaf you will be as protected as you would be in a regular vehicle. And i’s not me who’s saying this: the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an authority in […]

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Nissan Leaf Owners Complain About Start Issues

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:31:03 +0000

Just like all of its predecessors tinkering with electricity such as the Prius or Tesla's Roadster, the Nissan Leaf has already been tagged with problems by some of its only 450 owners in the U.S.. The issue in this case is not safety-related, but merely a functional one: at times, the Leaf refuses to start.

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Nissan Leaf Deliveries Not Affected by Japan Quake, States UK Company Official

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:38:45 +0000

Nissan UK has assured its customers that they won't get left out of Leafs, even if Japan's earthquake has destroyed most of the transportation infrastructure in the country. So far, 550 orders worth some $42,000 have been fulfilled.

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Obama Claims U.S. Will Become The First Country With 1 Million EVs on The Road by 2015

Mike Sandru — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:38:45 +0000

Eight years ago, President George W. Bush proposed a $1.2 billion program to help develop fuel-cell vehicles and hydrogen storage systems. Now, in 2011, the U.S. still has no hydrogen fuel cell cars in commercial production.

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Nissan Director Says Leaf Can Get to 140 Miles, Despite EPA Estimates

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:53:40 +0000

The Nissan Leaf's battery performance has been evaluated by the EPA at 73 miles, but company officials say that the driving range will depend on the user's driving habits and will usually get over 100 miles.

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Is GM Volt's Battery Cooling Approach Better Than Nissan Leaf's? Here's How They Both Work

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:47:23 +0000

Nissan and GM both have big plans for the highly-expected pure electric and plug-in hybrid waiting to be released this month in the United States. Battery capacity is one of the fears the users of such cars have, and the fact that the manufacturers will use lithium ion batteries can be an issue.

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The Nissan Leaf Production Started In Japan – First Shipments Expected This Year

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 08:33:11 +0000

The first factory to manufacture the Nissan Leaf, in Oppama, Japan, started producing functional units on October 22. The first shipments will be made to Japan and the US this November and to Europe starting December.

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Nissan Leaf Has Range Problems Associated With Air Conditioning and Traffic Jams, Official Recognizes

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:40:30 +0000

The drive range of an electric vehicle, namely Nissan Leaf, could be affected by the use of air conditioning whether to heat or cool the interior, said Mitsuhiko Yamashita, executive vice president of Nissan Motor Co Ltd at Ceatec Japan 2010.

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Paris Motor Show 2010: Nissan LEAF Charged by 50 kW Charger From Epyon Power

Ovidiu Sandru — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 08:43:41 +0000

Nissan's Leaf has been a main attraction of the Paris auto show 2010, not only because it's going to be released this year, but also because it's fully electric and price-friendly.

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Polar Bear Hugs Nissan LEAF Owner In The Company's Most Touching Ad

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:27:49 +0000

Nice idea for a car that pretends itself to be more than hybrids are, and though less than fuel cell powered ones. Batteries are still a pollution factor, but hydrogen extracted by solar power means are not.

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Nissan Planning to Migrate Electric Car Technology from LEAF to 370z or Essence Coupe

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:35:45 +0000

Edmunds' Inside Line reports sources at Nissan say that the company will make a sports car based on the future Leaf, which hasn't even made its debut on the market.

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Oman-Based Company to Develop All-Electric Vehicle Capable of 2,236 Miles / Charge

Mike Sandru — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:24:41 +0000

The chief executive officer of Noor Majan, sultan bin Hamad al-Amri, offered no explanation when we might see this wonder vehicle or how the unnamed car will achieve such stupendous range. The only thing he said is the car would be equipped with an 800-horsepower electric motor.

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Electric Nissan Leaf to Be Sold for Under 30,000 Euros Starting December

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 19 May 2010 19:50:49 +0000

The electric car that caught most of the attention from the press lately is Nissan Leaf, presented as being the first mass-market electric car. The Netherlands will be the country that Nissan is going to sell it first, probably because of the country's green orientation. The unveiling will take place in December this year.

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