All About Japan Autos

Daily Auto News

The highly anticipated Nissan Leaf electric vehicle will cost $32,780 without delivery fees, Nissan announced yesterday. However, it could end up costing buyers even less.

Edmunds Inside Line points out the Leaf’s “starting MSRP is before the federal tax credit, which could bring the price down $7,500, to $25,280. Plus, certain states are eligible for additional credits.”

According to Left Lane News, these include California and Georgia, which offer $5,000 rebates, and Oregon, which offers a $1,500 tax credit.

The Leaf’s sticker price isn’t the only expense buyers will encounter. Installing a home charging station for the electric car costs $2,200. But don’t despair – the government is willing to help out with that too. Autoblog confirms, “Uncle Sam will throw another $2,000 tax credit your way for that equipment.”

Along with pricing, Nissan has announced that the Leaf will come in two trims, SV and SL. It comes standard with navigation, Bluetooth, an Intelligent Key and XM satellite radio. It even comes with remote start and remote charging through an iPhone application or a laptop computer.

According to Nissan, more than 80,000 people have already expressed interest through Nissan’s website. As of April 20, these customers will have three weeks to make a purchase reservation for a refundable $99 fee. On May 15, the reservations open to the public. The Leaf will arrive in dealerships this December.

When it finally does arrive on our shores, the Leaf will become one of the most widely available and affordable electric vehicles in the U.S. — but it won’t be the last.

“While skeptics abound, almost all major automakers are working on developing battery-run cars for use mainly in urban areas, to meet stricter emissions and mileage regulations being introduced around the world,” writes Automotive News.

The Leaf comes with a lithium ion battery pack that takes about eight hours to fully charge at home. It can also be charged up to 80 percent of its capacity in less than 30 minutes at a quick charging station.

The Detroit Free Press notes the Leaf “can run an average of 100 miles per charge, takes about 16 hours to charge up on a 110-volt outlet and 8 hours on a 220-volt outlet.”

If you’re in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year’s best cars as well as this month’s best car deals.