DALLAS, May 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Nissan, the
global leader in electric vehicle (EV) sales, achieved another
milestone this month as Dallas
residents Todd and Lisa Bolt made
Nissan LEAF the first all-electric model to hit 50,000 sales in the
U.S. The Bolt family took delivery of their black LEAF SL earlier
this month at AutoNation Nissan of Lewisville.
Thanks to enthusiastic owner advocates, robust public charging
infrastructure and the launch of a successful free charging
promotion, Dallas – and the state
of Texas – have become hot growth
markets for LEAF. So far in 2014, LEAF sales in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex have grown by
about 50 percent over the previous year, with that growth set to
accelerate faster thanks in part to the introduction of a new state
tax rebate of up to $2,500 on the
purchase or lease of a new Nissan LEAF.
"Beyond the simple economics of not buying gas, we've been
impressed with how well the LEAF drives," said Todd Bolt, a pastor at Gateway Church in
Southlake. "When we show the LEAF
off to family and friends, they're surprised that the car is so
quiet and rides so well. The LEAF does everything we need
day-to-day, and given the financial savings, I don't know why we'd
buy another gas car."
Electric vehicle ownership has taken hold at Gateway Church,
where both Todd and Lisa work, after an executive pastor did the
math and decided to buy a Nissan LEAF. Now, more than 20 employees
are in the fold, jokingly referring to themselves as the "Blessed
LEAFs Club."
Dallas-Fort Worth and
Houston are among 10 launch
markets for "No Charge to Charge," a new promotion that provides
two years of no-cost public charging to new LEAF buyers who took
delivery of their car after April 1,
2014. The national promotion is modeled after a successful
pilot program launched in Dallas
and Houston last fall with
Houston-based NRG eVgo.
"With 'No Charge to Charge,' the new EV tax credit and
enthusiastic new owners like the Bolt family, Dallas is poised to climb the ranks of leading
LEAF sales markets," said Toby
Perry, director, EV Marketing for Nissan. "Texas is a great indicator that the right mix
of customer awareness and strategically placed charging can lead to
rapid EV adoption, and we expect to use that model to grow our
sales in markets across the U.S."
With nearly 115,000 global sales since launch, Nissan LEAF is
the world's top-selling electric vehicle. LEAF seats up to five
passengers and boasts an estimated driving range on a fully-charged
battery of 84 miles and MPGe ratings of 126 city, 101 highway and
114 combined. With a starting price of less than $30,000, LEAF is competitively priced with
similar gas-powered cars after applicable tax credits, while
providing the benefits of lower running costs and less scheduled
maintenance.
LEAF is powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery and an 80kW
motor that provides a highly responsive, fun-to-drive experience. A
Nissan LEAF can be charged to 80 percent of its full capacity in
about 30 minutes using its available quick charge port and a quick
charger. Charging at home through a 220V outlet is estimated to
take approximately five hours with the 6.6 kW onboard charger
(approximately eight hours with the S grade's standard 3.6 kW
charger).
About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include
automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing,
sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is
dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green
Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the
Year in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 by the U.S Environmental
Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan
and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and
www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the Americas media sites
NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.
About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is
headquartered in Yokohama, Japan,
and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more
than 236,000 employees globally, Nissan sold more than 4.9 million
vehicles and generated revenue of 9.6
trillion yen (USD 116.16
billion) in fiscal 2012. Nissan delivers a comprehensive
range of over 60 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. In
2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in
zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market,
pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV
in history.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to
sustainable mobility, visit our website at
http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140523/90918
Video - http://youtu.be/ebyLDInnhpY
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140523/90917
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080506/NISSANBADGELOGO
SOURCE Nissan North America