Nissan LEAF named one of Kelley Blue Book’s 2017 "5 Best Electric Cars Under $40,000"

The 2017 Nissan LEAF has been named one of the "5 Best Electric Cars Under $40,000" by the editors of Kelley Blue Book. "Keep in mind all of these vehicles are eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit – in addition to potential state and local incentives – bringing the net price for each of them to below $30,000," states the introduction to the special EV section. In selecting the Nissan LEAF, the Kelley Blue Book evaluation team wrote: "Dating all the way back to the dawn of this decade, the groundbreaking and ever-evolving LEAF has received several upgrades and enhancements over the years." The editors also credit LEAF for bringing affordable electric vehicles to a wide consumer audience, writing: "When the Nissan LEAF debuted in 2011, it brought electric vehicles to the masses. Easy to drive, whisper-quiet, respectable cargo capacity thanks to its hatchback design and refueling that's as easy as plugging in a power cord, the LEAF has moved nearly a quarter-million units worldwide, making it the best-selling EV yet." "The Nissan LEAF continues to show its strength as the most popular electric vehicle in the world – with sales exceeding 100,000 in the United States alone," said Dan Mohnke, vice president, Nissan Chief Marketing Manager & Marketing Operations. "Nissan is also played a leading role in growing the number of DC fast-charging stations in the U.S., with more than 2,100 CHAdeMO connections to date, which helps all EV drivers regardless of make or model." Nissan and EVgo recently revealed a plan to connect Boston and Washington D.C. via nine electric-vehicle DC fast-charge sites. The plan will deliver a robust charging infrastructure along I-95, providing EV owners peace of mind when driving along the route. The Northeast charging route is slated to be on-line this fall. The charging sites have been designed with future advances in EV technologies in mind, and have been pre-wired for a high-power charging power output of up to 150kW with simple upgrades once such technology is available to consumers. Along with the 100-mile plus range, the 2017 LEAF features a standard 30 kWh battery that can be quick-charged to 80 percent (from the low battery charge warning) in about 30 minutes. Charging on a home charging system (Level 2, 240V) is estimated to take about six hours with the 6.6 kW onboard charger. All 2017 LEAF models include multiple drive modes: Normal, Eco and B-Mode, which engages regenerative braking more aggressively while decelerating. LEAF’s lithium-ion battery pack carries warranty coverage of eight years or 100,000 miles against defects, plus the industry-leading coverage for 8 years/100,000 miles (30 kWh) against excessive capacity loss. LEAF is assembled in Smyrna, Tenn., including battery production.