Nissan Sees Electric Car Envy in Critics of the Leaf

Nissan Sees Electric Car Envy in Critics of the Leaf
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN — Overhyped. Fanciful. Just not viable.

Skeptics have been harsh in their appraisal of Nissan’s grand electric car plans — which the automaker will roll out this month with its all-electric Leaf compact — scoffing at everything from the car’s limited driving range to what they consider its overly high price tag.

But Carlos Ghosn, chief executive at Nissan and its sister automaker, Renault, dismisses the scoffing as his rivals’ lack of imagination — and their electric car envy.

“They don’t have one, so it’s not a surprise,” Mr. Ghosn said in an interview here this week at Nissan headquarters. “People who are challenged by innovation are going to fight it in the beginning,” he said. “Get ready to see a lot of converts.”


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Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 12/3/2010 12:11:40 AM
-1 Boost
so criticizing the car for being able to barely drive 35 miles away from home means I have a lack of imagination?


topneurotopneuro - 12/3/2010 1:17:52 AM
+3 Boost
No, the Leaf target market lacks interest in you.

72% of Americans drive less than 40 miles a day and 98% drive less than 100 miles per day.



Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 12/3/2010 10:32:25 AM
+1 Boost
and less than 5% of the population will have a day come up where they need to drive more than 35 miles away. I'm not saying it can't be used on a regular basis, I'm saying it's impractical for anything but picking up groceries.


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 12/3/2010 10:32:57 AM
+1 Boost
won't have a day come up*


WhelanWhelan - 12/3/2010 8:45:29 AM
+4 Boost
I'm a critic and I don't envy it. I also have a 80 mile roundtrip commute so I take the train and shuttle to work.


uaw_laxuaw_lax - 12/3/2010 9:11:56 AM
0 Boost
Even with 100 mile range this can not be someones only car. Some days I may plan to only go to work, or school (less than 100) but other matters quite often take me further and I would not risk it in a car like this no matter who made it.


ctsangctsang - 12/3/2010 10:17:44 AM
0 Boost
"Even with 100 mile range this can not be someones only car. Some days I may plan to only go to work, or school (less than 100) but other matters quite often take me further and I would not risk it in a car like this no matter who made it."
just rent one for long trips!


uaw_laxuaw_lax - 12/3/2010 12:20:36 PM
+1 Boost
"just rent one for long trips"

How will i go rent one when my leaf is charging becuase i already driven over its range?


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 12/3/2010 1:22:11 PM
+1 Boost
"just rend one for long trips"

lol 35 miles is not a long trip! I fall into the group of ppl who travel less than 40 miles on an average day, yet I still travel farther than 35 miles away at least once or twice a month. That's a lot of renting!


upwardsupwards - 12/3/2010 12:23:27 PM
+3 Boost
Why spend the money to rent another car when my Volt can handle both task?

Sorry the leaf is just a great city car and nothing more.


FijianFijian - 12/3/2010 1:47:56 PM
+2 Boost
When you buy the Leaf it controls your way of life rather than you living it the way you want.A typical example would be in an emergency you may have to drive to a hospital or Airport or whatever and you did not "plan" on having this in your range.Americans do not like to be controlled.This is the land of the free.Thats why the EV1 failed.Nissan should have learned from GMs mistake.


ctsangctsang - 12/3/2010 4:43:10 PM
+1 Boost
If you have problem with Leaf, then Leaf is not for you. Think before you buy.


cdndrivercdndriver - 12/3/2010 6:07:47 PM
-1 Boost
They say you can get a 80% charge in 20 minutes at a quick charge station. Takes 10 minutes to fuel up...


uaw_laxuaw_lax - 12/4/2010 3:32:14 AM
+1 Boost
the leaf dose not get 100 miles on a single charge.

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/energy/26067/
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