Posts Tagged ‘green’

So, you’ve decided that you are ready for smooth, clean electric mobility. You’ve chosen the 2011 Nissan Leaf as your next vehicle. The next question is – should you lease or buy your Nissan Leaf?

Nissan has made it quite easy for drivers to get in on the Leaf action. First step is that you will want to reserve your spot to purchase or lease your vehicle. The next steps include getting a home assessment for charging your Leaf and having the home charger installed. Nissan has a two-minute video that explains how the process works.

The final step involves purchasing or leasing your Nissan Leaf. The MSRP for the Nissan Leaf is $32,780. However, the federal government has a $7500 consumer tax rebate towards the purchase of electric vehicles. This drives down the purchase price to as low as $25,280. If you typically pay at least $7500 in federal taxes, then purchasing a Leaf is your best option.

You may also want to consider tax credits available from your state governments towards the purchase of your Nissan Leaf. Both California and Alabama have implemented an additional $5000 tax credit towards the purchase of an electric vehicle. It is likely that many more states will adopt similar legislation in the near future.

If you typically pay less than $7500 in federal taxes (and/or less the $5000 in state taxes), leasing a Nissan Leaf may be a better option. Nissan will absorb the federal tax credit to be able to offer the Nissan Leaf at a very affordable $349/month for a 3-year lease. This is a very smart move for Nissan, as many young and first-time car leasees will also want to take part in the electric car action.

Leasing a Nissan Leaf may also be an option to consider is you are interested in trading Leaf 1.0 in for a possible Leaf 2.0. No word yet on what a Leaf 2.0 may offer, but one can imagine perhaps a larger battery pack that will allow you to drive farther. (That said, many drivers of the first and only generation of Toyota RAV-4 electric vehicle – which has the same 100-mile range as the Nissan Leaf – report high levels of satisfaction with the range of their cars even after ten years of ownership.)

And, if you still needed more reason to get a Nissan Leaf, many state and local governments are also providing funds to cover the cost of having a home charger installed (which can run around $2000). For some, this means that whole process of owning of a Nissan Leaf and home charging unit could be as low as $20,000.

Keep in mind that these local, state, and federal funds are geared towards helping the first wave of electric vehicle owners. Just like early hybrid owners reaped the benefits of discounted prices and carpool lane stickers, the first wave of electric car owners get to take advantage of the early adopter “freebies.”

Dr. Shannon Arvizu loves driving clean, green machines. You can find out more at MissElectric.com.

My brother and his wife have a bun in the oven and a serious need for a new family vehicle.  They’ve been busy getting ready for their new baby girl and asked me to help them start the initial research for their next car.

The Honk search tool was built to handle situations exactly like this so I fired up my browser to sort through family-oriented crossover vehicles with high safety ratings, ample seating, and great fuel economy:

2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Matt and Natalie have their own organic farm, complete with fresh vegetables, chickens, and a cow (yes, really – they own a cow).  It goes without saying that ‘green’ is at the top of their list.

The Toyota Highlander is one of the few family-friendly hybrids out there and I think that my brother and his family will appreciate both the great mileage and the roomy cabin.

2011 Kia Sorento

Matt and Natalie have already told me that third-row seats are a must-have.

The great-looking Kia Sorento just arrived and it’s got an optional third row of seats that will be great for the occasional carpool or visit from Uncle Josh.  It’s also easy on the wallet and it gets great fuel economy (up to 29 mpg on the highway).

2010 Toyota RAV4

In addition to two adults and two kids, this family also has two canines – Rio and Bella – to cart around.  The Toyota RAV4 scored well with people who own pets and I discovered that there’s a wide range of aftermarket pet accessories (cages, harnesses, etc) built especially for the RAV4.

2010 Mitsubishi Outlander

Matt and Natalie live in snowy Pennsylvania and they’re going to need all-wheel drive and plenty of ground clearance to handle the next Snowpocalypse.  The Mitsubishi Outlander has the most ground clearance of all the vehicles on this list and it can be had with the all-important third row.  Winter, you’ve met your match.

How now brown cow?

So what car should you drive if you’ve got two kids, two dogs, and a cow?  My vote goes to the Toyota Highlander Hybrid but we’ll have to see what Matt and Natalie pick for their family… Rumor has it that my 3-year old niece is in love with the sock monkey from the Kia Sorento TV commercial.

Attention 4×4 enthusiasts and hybrid lovers alike: your days of car-buying turmoil and indecision are coming to an end.  According to a report published in AutoCar, the 62-year Land Rover Defender, an off-road icon, is going green(er).



Land Rover’s parent company, Tata Motors, has officially sanctioned the new Defender project.  The 2014 Defender will be the company’s flagship model and should help to reemphasize Land Rover’s dedication to the adventure-seeking off-road space.  Aside from being an incredible performer off-road, the 2014 Defender may also boast Land Rover’s patented Electric Rear Axle Drive technology, which will vastly improve fuel economy and serve to lower emissions.

The Defender was sold for only a short time in the US and if you’re not familiar; I highly recommend you read up on this iconic beast of burden.  This is the SUV that teenage boys dream about.  It’s what you take on safari in Africa and what you drive through the jungles of  South America and Asia.  It’s the off-road capability of a Hummer with the classic style of a Jaguar.  It’s rugged, yet sophisticated.  Simple, yet luxurious.

Ladies and gentlemen of the luxury safari set, start the countdown for the new and improved Defender!