Nissan Sets 2010 For U.S. Electric Car Launch

[cwerdna]

Green Car Advisor - Nissan Sets 2010 For U.S. Electric Car Launch

Nissan Sets 2010 For U.S. Electric Car Launch

Nissan Motor Co., which has come late to the hybrid game, doesn't want to be caught unplugged when electric cars start hitting the market, says company boss Carlos Ghosn.
An electric Nissan will be introduced in the U.S. in 2010, he told reporters Wednesday during an impromptu discussion at the Geneva Motor Show, with a global lauch of the vehicle to follow in 2012.
Ghosn, who chairs both Nissan and its French partner, Renault, said the electric car would be sold worldwide by both brands. He did not elaborate on brand distrinctions, model variences or particulars of the electric drive system being prepared, but did say the cars would not be identical.
Renault would target the European market, Ghosn said, while Nissan would target Asia and the U.S.

[efusco]

2010 is VERY close...that's quite an announcement to have kept under their hats this long. I really really hope it's true, affordable, has good performance, styling, range, etc. This is VERY big news.

[SyCo]

with a global launch of the vehicle to follow in 2012.

Canada in 2012 ? Or will it be available in 2010 like the Altima 2007 which was also available in Canada from the start !?

Well the sooner the better

[vuapplepudding]

Why is Toyota waiting to announce what they have? They have test models rolling around.

And why are the 2009 Toyota models already being advertised and sold, BUT, the 2009 Prius is still void of any news?

I cannot wait to get a hold of my first affordable electric car.

I would have never thought of Nissan as a contender in the electric race other than their electric forklifts.

I graduate in 2010, so this would be a SWEET graduation present. HINT...HINT to my friends and family.

[hill]

Let's all pray it aint more vaporware. If true? WOW !! Go Nisan! GM (still working on choosing a battery manufacturer and a concept/design that's somewhat aerodynamic) must be cleaning their shorts, on that anouncement.

[clett]

Remember Nissan had the Lithium-ion powered Altra EV on the public roads 10 years ago.

All-New Nissan Altra EV: A Friendly, High-Tech Electric Vehicle for Everyday Life

If they could do it back then, they have the experience and can do it again today with no problems and probably at a reasonable price point this time.

[TonyPSchaefer]

Speaking of range, what is the projected range?

It's one thing to say that someone is going to make an electric vehicle, it's something completely different to announce a predicted range and charge time. I didn't find either in the article. Let's face it, you can drop several LIon batteries in a car, call it an electric vehicle, and be done with it.

I'll celebrate when I see specs and a production model.

[SyCo]

Originally Posted by TonyPSchaefer

Speaking of range, what is the projected range?

"a range of 130 km (81 miles) or 160 km (99 miles), depending on the battery pack."

Mitsubishi i-MiEV Electric Car to Go Global

[efusco]

Originally Posted by SyCo

"a range of 130 km (81 miles) or 160 km (99 miles), depending on the battery pack."

Mitsubishi i-MiEV Electric Car to Go Global

If that's accurate this thing is dead before it starts. Other than a few EV fanatics that'll never go with the public at large....unless it comes in at under $20k...even then I'm not so sure.

[mr_zorg]

Originally Posted by efusco

If that's accurate this thing is dead before it starts. Other than a few EV fanatics that'll never go with the public at large....unless it comes in at under $20k...even then I'm not so sure.

I dunno. Maybe I'm just an EV fanatic (more of a tech fanatic really), but that would be perfect for a commuter vehicle for me. 99 miles is more than enough to get me around town for a day.