introducing the leaf!
i was able to catch a few lines of the newspaper the other day, and i’m very excited to share with you what i read! nissan is introducing in 2010 a new all-electric, zero emissions car called the leaf! i know this is not the first electric car invented, but as far as i know, it is the first to be mass marketed. the leaf is due to hit nissan dealerships late this year, but only in certain states (including texas!). what nissan did to introduce this product is, i believe, what sets it apart from earlier models and what will ultimately make it a success. this fall, nissan took the leaf on tour to the states in which it will be sold; leaf execs met with major energy companies (like CPS here in san antonio) to discuss recharging stations. the car is designed to go about 100miles in between charges. this means the leaf would be great for getting around town, to and from work, but on long trips, you would still need to take the old-fashioned gas guzzler as there may not be any recharging stations on the way to your final destination. how much will a recharge cost? that will largely be up to the regional power companies, and in the end, having an electric car might not save you as much cash as you’d hoped. however, as more electric cars become mainstream, the cost should even out nicely and we will have taken a huge step toward our independence from oil and oil producing countries that have had us under their thumbs for so many years.
