2013-04-26 13:50:01

Nissan Leaf Acting to Save Green Ahead of Naming Green

Normally, clients of Nissan’s Leaf electric vehicle have been the sort that are more interested in reducing their carbon footprint than their transportation payment and that’s something the car maker tries to change.

Until 2013, buying a Leaf meant a starting cost of $35,200 — before the federal tax credit. Even after that, the Leaf was far away from being a cash scraper’s dream come true. Then the car maker informed about the pricing for the 2013 vehicle to start at $28,800, which cuts $19,000 after a federal tax credit and local incentives. Moreover, Nissan offers a $199-per-month lease.

“We’re concentrating on the value and economic equation of having an EV — what impact that would have on your wallet,” Leaf sales and marketing head Eric Gottfried told Carsbase. “If the vehicle is convenient on a monthly basis and it’s keeping you a significant amount on what would be gas expense, that’s a whole another thought.”

It isn’t decided yet when the new advertising campaign will start, but Gottfried informed they will be presented on a national scale rather than being limited to California.

Initial cost of ownership has been one of the main obstacles to buying an electric vehicle. Nissan’s largest change to the 2013 Leaf was reducing its price by approximately 18 %. Other modernizations include raised range and lowered charge time, though both are minor.