Nissan announces Leaf EV tour dates
2010 Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery
Nissan is continuing its "leadership on EVs" plans with an upcoming North American tour of the Nissan Leaf. The all-electric vehicle will make its debut on these shores in L.A. in about three weeks, on November 13. From there, the Leaf will head to the north, east and south hitting 22 cities in 11 states and the District of Columbia – and Vancouver, BC – by Valentine's Day, 2010. At each stop, Nissan will offer "interested drivers, media, civic partners, businesses and university students" a chance "to learn more about the Nissan LEAF and the benefits of zero-emission driving." See the complete schedule after the jump.
If Nissan wants to have the broadest impact in promoting EVs, we recommend that these tour stops include test drives. Let people get behind the wheel – the way Mitsubishi did with the i MiEV in New Zealand – and let the public experience the EV grin for themselves.
Gallery: 2010 Nissan Leaf EV
[Source: Nissan]
PRESS RELEASE:
NISSAN ANNOUNCES DATES FOR NISSAN LEAF ZERO EMISSION TOUR
LEAF makes first U.S. appearance in Los Angeles Nov. 13
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (Oct. 22, 2009) – Nissan North America announced that the Nissan LEAF zero-emission, all-electric car will make its North American debut in Los Angeles on Nov. 13. The Los Angeles showing will be the first time people in the United States will be able to see the five-passenger, five-door, gasoline-free car, which is embarking on a nationwide tour.
The Nissan LEAF Zero Emission Tour will make stops in 22 cities, in 11 states, the District of Columbia , and Vancouver , Canada , offering the opportunity for interested drivers, media, civic partners, businesses and university students to learn more about the Nissan LEAF and the benefits of zero-emission driving.
Follow the tour, get updates on the final schedule and specific showings, and sign up for more information, at www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car. Look for the Nissan LEAF to make public appearances in the following areas during these times:
Southern California
Los Angeles: Nov. 13-17
Orange County: Nov. 18
San Diego: Nov. 19-21
Northern California
Berkeley/Walnut Creek: Nov. 23-24
San Francisco: Nov. 25-29
Santa Rosa: Dec. 1
Sacramento: Dec. 1
San Jose: Dec. 3-6
Pacific Northwest
Seattle: Dec. 8-12
Vancouver, Canada: Dec. 14-15
Portland, Ore.: Dec. 17-23
Southwest
Phoenix/Tucson: Dec. 30-Jan. 5
Las Vegas: Jan. 6
Midwest/East Coast
Detroit: Jan. 11-13
Knoxville/Chattanooga, Tenn. : Jan. 16
Middle Tennessee : Jan. 19-21
Washington, D.C.: Jan. 26-28
Raleigh, N.C.: Jan. 29
Orlando: Feb. 1-2
Texas
Houston: Feb. 5-6
New York
New York City: Feb. 9-14
Nissan is the only automaker committed to making all-electric vehicles available to the mass market on a global scale. Through the Nissan LEAF Zero Emission Tour, Nissan will be showcasing the electric vehicle and battery technology as well as the company's zero-emission mobility objectives. Nissan already has partnered on the development of an electric-vehicle infrastructure through partnerships in the State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon, Sonoma County, San Diego, Phoenix, Tucson, Washington D.C., Seattle, Raleigh, and Vancouver. Additional partnerships will be announced in the near future.
In North America , Nissan's operations include automotive design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information on the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissan-usa.com/leaf-electric-car.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Throwback 1:18PM (10/23/2009)
If they are not including test drives what is the point? Telling people about a car is fine, but cars are built to be driven, not stared at.
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Ignatius 1:32PM (10/23/2009)
Especially this one.
Ray 1:28PM (10/23/2009)
The car as a Cube mule drove very nicely. It is much more refined (quieter and less vibration) than my car and it won't take 40 hours to recharge on 110. My car will go further on one charge. http://www.evalbum.com/1892
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Mark Kiernan 2:57PM (10/23/2009)
You have to let people test drive it, otherwise people will consider it only a concept.
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Erik Ness 3:24PM (10/23/2009)
Doh! I was so excited about this until you guys pointed out the "no test drive" thing. Now I don't know if I would even go.
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jpm 5:09PM (10/23/2009)
And they don't say EXACTLY where the car will be. And no test drives? Useless.
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Ray 6:05PM (10/23/2009)
There is a schedule. For instance I know it will be in Portland on the 17th - 23rd of Dec.
jpm 6:06PM (10/23/2009)
Oh really? So where in portland? Are you going to drive around portland untill you find the Nissan Leaf?
Ray 2:53PM (10/24/2009)
@jpm
Well yes I could drive around Portland for 3.5 hours as that is the amount of time it takes to run my pack down to 80% depth of discharge :).
Do you think they are going to hide it some where in Portland between the 17th and 23rd of Dec? What would be the point in that? I suspect they would make it available at a Nissan dealership.
I might even offer to race it for pinks slips. My car against the leaf could even be on a episode of "Pinks". That would be cool. My car would beat it if the race were an endurance race. My car would probably beat it in a straight line drag. (Actually the Leaf would probably win in a drag race). The leaf would be able to go faster for longer than my car in the summer. In the winter I could run with it at top speed. My car is air cooled motor and pack and would over heat in the summer. The Leaf's is water cooled. The leaf is quieter and more refined but my car has a 35kw Kokam battery pack.
Who is afraid of a Leaf? Not me! http://www.evalbum.com/1892
Yanquetino 5:53PM (10/23/2009)
Hold on, bloggers! Nissan has not yet specified anything about test drives at these showings one way or the other: maybe they will, maybe they won't. Sebastian simply expressed the hope that they will. I do too.
My guess is that they're still working out the details for all these visits. It wouldn't surprise me if, just like they did with the Cube mule, they do offer test drives to certain politicians, journalists, utility representatives, advocacy groups, celebrities, etc., and maybe, perhaps, possibly... also a few private citizens chosen by lottery ticket. Let's give 'em a chance to set things up before we jump down Nissan's throat!
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mikee805 7:48PM (10/23/2009)
I had a text conversation with a Nissan rep about the tour here is the transcript:
Friday, October 23, 2009 2:05:34 PM (10/23/2009 7:05:34 PM - GMT)
Welcome to EV Customer Support, William will be right with you.
William:
Thank you for contacting Nissan Electric Vehicle Customer Service, my name is William, how can I help you today?
michael:
Hi
William:
hello!
michael:
I just saw news of the leaf tour
William:
yes it was just released
michael:
I live in la
michael:
where is specifically is it going to be?
michael:
times, location, etc
michael:
are there going to be test drives?
William:
The exact details about routes, stops and time has yet to be released, we are partnering with some local spots at this very moment. We will be releasing another email with more information about your area in the next few weeks.
William:
Individuals will get a hands on approach but no information about test driving has been released as of yet to whether they will allow test drives or not.
michael:
is there a site or rss feed or something to make sure I can see the schedule?
William:
If you have not done so there is a brief questionnaire online at http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/opt-in/en/index.jsp
By competing this we can keep you updated as more information about your request becomes available in your area.
William:
We forward all information to individuals who complete this questionnaire.
michael:
ok cool I will take the survey
William:
Excellent
michael:
so if there are not going to be test drives, are their ride alongs?
William:
again, the exact details of what individuals will get to do with the LEAF have not yet been releases, please monitor your inbox after completing the questionnaire, we will forward the exact details to you when we have them.
michael:
ok thanks for you help
William:
you are very welcome Michael, Before we end our conversation, I want to ensure your needs have been met. Do you have any additional questions?
michael:
yeah your chat widget does not work very well in opera
michael:
i keeps scrolling itself to the top and i have to copy and paste the conversation into another window to read it
William:
I will forward that to my it team and see what we can do, thank you for letting me know.
michael:
thanks, also are they taking suggestions for locations on the tour?
William:
I believe all tour dates are already set, no additions are being added at this time.
michael:
sorry let me be more specific
michael:
within the tour the actual locations
michael:
for example I know Aptera came to pasadean and tesla universal studios
William:
i understand, no type of actual suggestion method is actually being used, Nissan is partnering and setting up the stops independently.
michael:
ok thanks!
William:
you are very welcome.
William:
Please feel free to visit us at nissanusa.com often for updates about the Nissan LEAF, and encourage your friends to call us with their questions. Thank you for contacting Nissan Electric Vehicle Customer Service.
_____
So they have not decided on test drives or ride alongs yet. Along with a lot of other details like the exact locations.
-Mike
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Bob Seeley 8:39PM (10/23/2009)
Thanks for the link, Mike. They won't know what hit them. :-)
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Randy C. 3:31AM (10/24/2009)
I'll be the first to admit having an electric car for sale is terrific. Personally I liked the mule cars better. To bad Nissan isn't going to deliver the Denki Cube.
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Ray 2:59PM (10/24/2009)
I concur, the Cube was cool, especially the old square Cube mule they were using (not the new rounded, curvy Cube) when I test drove it in May here in Portland.
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hsr0601 4:28PM (10/24/2009)
With the concept of "V2H" (vehicle to home), the vehicle can supply 100V electricity stored in its on-board lithium-ion batteries to electric appliances in a house.
It is possible to charge the batteries at night, when electricity is cheaper, and use it for home appliances during daytime, Mitsubishi Motors said.
And the company claims that the batteries can provide almost all the electricity used in a normal household throughout the day.
Thanks !
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