When it comes to electric cars, the biggest turn off is the low range associated with most models. The Nissan Leaf, for instance, comes standard with a 24 kWh battery pack that offers just 84 miles of range between charges. Of course, there’s the Leaf SV that comes with a 30 kWh battery and a total range of about 107 miles, but to get that model (and the extra 23 miles of range that comes with it,) you have to shell out an extra $5,190. All of that is about to change, however, as a new order guide has revealed that the 24 kWh version of the Leaf will no longer be offered. But, that doesn’t mean you’ll have to shell out $34,200 to get into a new leaf.
Instead of dropping the entry-level Leaf altogether, Nissan got the bright idea to ax the 24 kWh battery and replace it with a 30 kWh battery. But to go along with that, the price for the entry-level Leaf S is also being increased by $3,440 to a total of $32,450. That makes the entry-level model just $1,750 cheaper than the mid-range Leaf SV. The Quick Charge Package is also now included as a standard feature, which surely helps Nissan feel justified in that massive price hike.
In fairness, the Leaf has performed quite well in comparison to other electric models in the first half of 2016. According to Fleet Carma, 5793 examples of the Leaf were sold through June 30, 2016, only being outsold by the Tesla Model S, Chevy Volt, Ford Fusion Energi PHEV, and the Tesla Model X. Competitors like the Fiat 500e, Volkswagen e-Golf, and Soul EV all failing to reach even half of the Leaf’s total sales through the end of June. Nissan did tell Green Car Reports that if a customer still wishes to purchase a Leaf S with a 24-kWh battery, he or she can visit the Nissan USA website or their local dealer to locate a 24-kWh model.
from Top Speed http://ift.tt/2e00ByU
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