Nissan's New Leaf jumps to head of the line

Nissan's New Leaf jumps to head of the line

Nissan appears to have a winner with its new Leaf electric vehicle, coming to a Nissan dealer near you in the near future. Some 14,000 consumers have lined up and plunked down a refundable $99 to get on the Leaf waiting list. But what are they really getting?

Amazingly, the Leaf has pulled in prospects mostly from other brands. Estimates are that 90% of the people on the Leaf waiting list are new to the Nissan brand. It proves that being the first to break into the 100-miles-per-charge target long thought by many marketers to be the prime spot for electric cars to achieve broad market sales.

Meanwhile, Nissan is quietly admitting that in most people's driving world, the Leak will likely get only 50 to 70 miles on a charge, according to Automotive News.
While some critics call it foul to tout 100 miles when the real world result is likely to be much less, we frankly think that if you can drive by a gas station without pulling in, that's still good EV progress.

The new Leaf will go on sale in "select" (read, practically nowhere you and I live) markets in December, it's slated for general distribution and national sales in 2012. By then, the EV will have a chance to demonstrate its actual miles-per-charge and reliability. That is something to watch for before you get in the Leaf line too.

Burdge Law Office
Helping consumers solve problems since 1978.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Known nationwide as a leading Lemon Law attorney, Ronald L. Burdge has represented literally thousands of consumers in "lemon" lawsuits and actively co-counsels and coaches other Consumer Law attorneys. From 2005 through 2018, attorney Ronald L. Burdge has been named as the only Lemon Law Ohio Super Lawyer by Law and Politics magazine and Thomson Reuters Corp., Professional Division. Burdge restricts his practice to Lemon Law and Consumer Law cases. The Ohio Super Lawyer results are published annually in the January issue of Cincinnati Magazine. Ronald L. Burdge was named Consumer Law Trial Lawyer of the Year 2004 by the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the nation's largest organization of consumer law private and government attorneys. "Your impact on the auto industry has been magnified many times over because of the trail you blazed for others," stated NACA's Executive Director, Will Ogburn. Burdge has represented thousands of consumers in Ohio, Kentucky and elsewhere since 1978 and is a frequent lecturer to national, state and local Bar Associations and Judicial organizations. Burdge is admitted to Ohio's state and federal courts, Kentucky's state courts, and Indiana's federal courts. Other court admissions are on a "pro hac" temporary, case by cases basis.