2013 leaf improves to 115 mpge

2013 Nissan Leaf: Efficiency Up 15 Percent To 115 MPGe From 99 MPGe

I'm sure those reuters writers are still writing the the obituary.

The 2013 model has other improvements and a lower price already mentioned
2013 Nissan Leaf delivers high end Bose sound system with high efficiency

The new stereo, heat pump hvac and available leather top the list.

 

The new heating system should give it more than 15% better range on cold days. The official epa aer goes to the mysteries of SOC management. I'm surprised Nissan didn't give us both numbers at once.

 

I did read the reuters hit piece against all Plug-ins, where they mistook 300% growth in plug-ins for a dead end. Now are you saying the best selling plug-in is dead because its too expensive? That seems a little, well crazy. It survived the big political attack, and seems to be surviving gm's poor inventory management. My guess is volt generates positive cash flow this year even while spending R&D on the next generation. It won't payback initial costs, but volumes are actually much better than most of the nay sayers were predicting a year ago. More competition may actually be good for the car, as it helps draw attention to the category.

Nissan has taken steps to help weaknesses in the best selling bev. They improved price, range, and choices of amenities There are 3 things going against the leaf now - Range, perception the battery may quickly decrease useful energy in hot climates, and looks. These may need to be addressed in a different model by nissan. They have very good engineers, and I'm sure they will eventurally get it right. The Leaf changes are very encouraging.

 

We have some good news out of Nissan - lower prices, more optons, more range, yet somehow it seems people are looking at it as bad news.

Yes it would be nice if things were less expensive, but in California a stripped leaf is less than $20K, that can hardly be the reason that someone wanting a BEV will walk away. Its got to be range and looks and fear of range shrinking for those initial adopters.

The prius is more expensive than a similar vehicle with similar materials but say an advanced ice like skyactiv drive instead of hsd. I would not expect that a volt with better materials and a much bigger battery should be priced under a prius. It does come close enough for those initial adopters that want that aer, handling, etc that is better and are ok with 4 seats and GM. A lower price would be nice, but lets face it the volt is going to sell less than the prius for this generation or maybe forever, just as the prius took a decade to really it its stride in sales.

I fully expect the next generation to take costs out, now the question is whether they drop to cheaper materials like the prius c, whether that may actually hurt sales. They do have the new ELR to play with on materials though.