Nissan announces prices for the Leaf in Japan and the United States.

Nissan announces prices for the Leaf in Japan and
the United States in line with their claim that the Leaf is the world’s first affordable medium-sized electric car.

In Japan and the United States, ‘the world’s first affordable mass produced medium-sized electric car’, the Nissan Leaf, will be launched in December this year. To support the launch, order take began some eight months ahead and pricing has been announced in both countries. In the UK, where launch takes place early next year, prices are expected in May.The zero emission Leaf is designed specifically around a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis and carries five adults in comfort.

In Japan, the Leaf will be priced from 3.76 million yen (£27,000), benchmarked at about a million yen (£7200) below the all-electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV and 1.76 million (£12,600) over the hybrid Prius. Government subsidies will reduce the sticker price of the Leaf to around 3 million yen (£21,540).

In the United States, Nissan will launch the Leaf in five states, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington and Tennessee, in December this year. A nationwide rollout will occur during 2011, with additional markets added each month. The Leaf is priced at $32,780 (£21,700), reducing to $25,280 (£16,750) after the deduction of US tax credit of $7500. There is also a leasing option priced at $349 a month (there is no battery-only leasing option).

Owners need to have a charger installed in their home for an additional $2,200 - reduced by half by a federal tax credit. A domestic full charge takes eight hours and costs about $3 – commercial quick chargers will take about 25 minutes.

UK prices

Prices in the UK could start at around £25,000, reducing to £20,000 after the government incentive, bringing the Leaf in at around the price of the hybrid Prius. Details are expected in May.