Posts Tagged ‘lease’

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.

Just in time for Earth Day, Nissan has announced a priority reservation system for their upcoming electric vehicle.  The Leaf’s 115,000 registered fans can secure their place in line nearly a month before the general public is allowed.  Reservations require a $99 placeholder fee that is fully refundable.

Though Tesla was first to market with a modern highway-capable electric vehicle, Nissan has a significant advantage when it comes to price.  The Tesla Roadster starts at $101,500 compared to the Nissan Leaf’s $25,280 (yes, batteries are included).  A federal tax credit of $7,500 is used in both cases to reduce the vehicle’s base price, though additional state and local incentives can reduce the price even further.

Nissan is getting extra creative by preemptively rolling that same $7,500 federal tax credit into a very aggressive lease deal.  Customers will be able to lease a Leaf for 36 months for only $349 per month (with $1,999 down payment).  Three-year leases on Toyota’s Prius range from about $330-$540, depending on the level of optional equipment, putting the Leaf within easy striking distance of the popular hybrid.

The attractive lease deal is a clever move on Nissan’s part because it allows skeptical consumers to try out the Leaf in the real world without the need for a long-term commitment.  If owners find that the 100-mile driving range is too limited, they won’t have to worry about finding an eco-minded buyer to take the car off their hands.

Nissan doesn’t think that demand will slacken, though.  The Japanese carmaker is already hard at work on several new electric vehicles to sell alongside the 5-seat, 90-mile per hour Leaf and has been partnering with state and local governments to develop an extensive network of public recharging sites.

Carlos Ghosn, Nissan’s CEO, cites research indicating that more than eight percent of automobile owners in Europe, Japan, and the US want for their next vehicles to be powered solely by electricity.  “We are very optimistic,” he said at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this year.  “We may have to rush to build capacity for cars and batteries.”