The Nissan Leaf Brings Electric Vehicles into the Spotlight

Regardless of how you may feel about the future of electric vehicles and the automotive industry, truth is, these battery-powered cars are on their way. As a matter of fact, some electric drive vehicles are already here, but the real players in the segment will make their debut soon beginning with the Nissan Leaf.

The Nissan Leaf will go on sale in select markets across the United States this fall. Its success or failure will likely be a strong indication of the future for the electric vehicle. Why, you might ask? The answer is really quite simple. At a base price cited by AutoblogGreen of around $25,000 after incentives, the Leaf will become the first mass-produced, average price electric vehicle with true capability to haul around five people. When you combine affordability, availability and usefulness into one package, you have the recipe for success, if there is one.

Early indicators point to the Nissan Leaf doing really well right out of the gates. For starters, this vehicle has had significant media coverage and is very well known for an electric vehicle. Then there's the fact that the Leaf reservation program has been a hit. As AutoblogGreen reported, Nissan recorded well over 6,000 reservations in the United States in but a few days and also several thousand more in Japan in a similar timeframe. This shows interest in a vehicle that is not yet available and also shows commitment from potential buyers.

The success of the Nissan Leaf will not be based on numbers alone. For this electric vehicle and others that follow to become a success, the charging network must be well developed and in place before the launch of the car. That means that local governments and national government must work hard to develop a widespread charging network quickly. Without the infrastructure, the Leaf and other could become an instant failure as electric vehicles were last time they rolled out about 15 years ago. Don't remember last time electric vehicles came around? That's because they were destined for failure and last but a few years in low volume.

So how does everyone get it right this time around? It starts with a great vehicle like the Leaf at a low price. Then the infrastructure pops up everywhere to support the vehicle. Finally, buyers commit to the technology knowing that it will be around for a long time to come. If everything falls into place, Nissan with the Leaf and other automakers with their own electric vehicles, will be positioned to dominate the automotive industry of the future.

Sources: AutoBlogGreen.com