Nissan LEAF MSRP Pricing Announced

Think you can’t afford an electric car? Think again …

The Nissan LEAF’s price has been set at an eye-opening $32,780. A Federal electric vehicle (EV) tax credit of $7,500 knocks the cost down to just $25,280. Individual state tax and local credits should ensure that the LEAF sells out in EV-crazed areas. Given the EV frenzy in California, we expect that dealers in the state will tack on a host of premiums.

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Inconvenient Truths About Electric Cars

Make no mistake about it. We love plug-in electric cars. The electrification of the personal transportation device has the potential to bring about great change, with the promise of more jobs and less pollution. Economic renewal in a cleaner world is a lofty and worthwhile goal for all, regardless of political affiliation.

2010 is shaping up to be the year remembered as the launching point for high-volume production of highway-capable electric vehicles (EVs). We can expect to see the Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, and Coda sedan enter production, among other vehicles. Other plug-in electric cars from major manufacturers will soon follow.

Governments around the world have committed massive amounts of funding to the electrification of the automobile. This influx of capital is allowing the business world to ramp up at a torrid pace. That said, this is a long road, with a tough grade to climb.

This post, which will be updated as conditions and information warrant, shares notes gleaned on the realities of EVs from a number of industry conferences. While we encourage the adoption of EVs, we are realists, not cheerleaders.

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AMP=D’s Electric ’33 Ford Hot Rod @ SEMA

SEMA 2009 may have been one big blur, but it didn’t take long to find MPGomatic’s pick for car of the show. AMP=D’s ’33 Ford exemplifies the cutting-edge hot rod spirit. It took the AMP=D crew just four weeks to mate a UQM electric motor (pumping out 660 foot pounds of torque) with a set of custom A123 lithium battery packs and stuff it into a Factory Five ’33 kit.

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A Comprehensive Unbiased Approach to National Transportation/Energy Policy

Our national security continues to be at stake. By borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Middle East, we dig ourselves deeper into the hole each day. As a nation, we must take a comprehensive and unbiased approach to national transportation/energy policy. We have been given the natural resources to make this happen. … Read more