subject: Chicago: Nissan Leaf just keeps going and going and going [print this page] Chicago: Nissan Leaf just keeps going and going and going
Nissan dealers in Chicago can offer customers a little more information regarding specifics on the new electric vehicle from the automaker, the Leaf. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency, the responsible branch of the US Government for testing and regulating vehicles and their emissions and fuel efficiency, put the Nissan Leaf through the regulatory and testing process, just as the agency would any other vehicle. However, the Leaf isn't any other vehicle, so a few adjustments were in order.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for the stickers in car windows on dealer lots that share with consumers expected fuel efficiency, average yearly fuel costs and other pertinent information people need to make informed decisions. The information found through the testing mentioned above is used to comprise these informative stickers. The Nissan Leaf will have the same sticker in theory, but the EPA recognized the need to relate to consumers the Leaf's numbers in respect to a normal gas-powered vehicle, even though the two vehicles are far from the same thing.
For example, the EPA has rated the Leaf's official range to be 73 miles (slightly fewer than Nissan's claim of 100 miles) before the vehicle will need to be recharged. While this fact will help consumers decide if 73 miles can cover their driving needs between charges, more importantly consumers will need to consider how much a charge "fill-up" will cost them just as mpg ratings allow consumers to calculate average fuel costs.
Thus, the sticker on the Leaf will show the EPA's estimated yearly electricity cost to be $561. Clearly this number could vary greatly, especially considering the cost of electricity varies considerably across the nation. As a reference, the EPA previously calculated annual fuel costs for the Chevy Malibu at $1,669. The Malibu is comparable to the Leaf in size.
Next, the EPA compared the Leaf to a gas-fueled vehicle by estimating the EV would earn 99 mpg, if it ran on gasoline. The agency came up with this number on the basis that one gallon of gas is equivalent to 33.7 kilowatt hours of electricity. On city streets, the EPA said the Leaf would earn 92 mpg and 106 mpg on the highway, 99 mpg being the average. Finally, the Leaf is fully charged after seven hours through a 240-volt outlet, which is the equivalent to using 34 kilowatt-hours per 100 miles.
Unfortunately, most people will have to wait to get their hands on a Leaf, including residents in and around Chicago. Nissan has picked just five states as test markets for the first release of their newest invention and Illinois isn't one of them. California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Tennessee are the lucky five, and Nissan has shared plans to add Texas and Hawaii to the list after the first of the year.
Chicago Nissan drivers shouldn't fret, however. If the Leaf lives up to be even half of what Nissan has claimed, it can't be long before the EV is available in all major cities in the country, including on lots at local Nissan dealers in Chicago.
