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A Great Time to Buy An Electric Car
posted by InnaAfter decades of subversion, the long- awaited, and many would argue, much needed, electric cars are on the market. And there is competition. As we know, competition breeds better products and better prices. Joining its competitors on the electric car market, Nissan is introducing the Leaf in 2012. The 2012 Leaf will be joining The Ford Focus Electric, the Mitsubishi I (MiEV), and Toyota’s RAV4 EV, which is back after being discontinued in 2002. Tesla’s Model S will be hitting the market in 2013. The Chevrolet Volt and its hybrid cousins do not quite make the cut as they run on a full tank of gas in additional to being electrically powered.
Ford Focus Electric
Mitsubishi I (MiEV)
Source: www.djapanesecars.com
The Leaf is priced as low as $27,700 with federal tax savings and can be leased for $369 a month for a two year period. The MiEV is projected to be even less expensive, as low as $21,625. Pricing has not yet been publicly announced for the Ford Focus Electric or the RAV4 EV. The Model S is a more pricey item at $57,400.
Progressive buyers who are planning to lease or buy a new car but are worried about the rising cost of gas prices or just want to be more environmentally conscience car users would also be interested to know that these cars can be plugged in at off-peak hours for electricity, reducing costs on an already cheaper energy source (compared to the rising price of gas).
The Environmental Protection Agency has forecast that charging the Leaf will cost about $561 per year. In addition, the Nissan Leaf has been awarded 5 stars by the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), a Top Safety Pick rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Ward’s Top Ten Engine Award, among several other awards. For those unimpressed, the MiEV may be a great alternative. It meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and has an extensive list of safety features. Also, the MiEV has less conventional car parts, therefore less maintenance, and as a result, less maintenance expenses!
Rav4 EV
Source: www.autospectator.com
Model S
Source: www.firstain.com
Nissan Leaf
Source: www.nissan.com
The market for these cars is still limited: the newest in the line of electric cars will be available in selected states, which include New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Though demand for an electric car spans a range of socio-economic groups, the target market for the car is home-owners. This is clear from the five steps of purchase outlined on the Nissan website, which calls for a home charging dock assessment and installation.
Interested costumers in the Nissan Leaf have until the end of October to put in their orders. Nissan plans on rolling out the car to the full market next year.
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