Nissan Leaf EV Gets 367 MPG, More Than Chevy Volt

by Blaine Metzgar | August 12, 2009 at 11:24 am

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The much-hyped Nissan Leaf EV will be able to reach up to 367 mpg, that's 40 more miles per gallon than, de facto electric vehicle, the Chevy Volt. Nissan announced the impressive milage via Twitter.

Nissan Leaf = 367 mpg, no tailpipe, and no gas required. Oh yeah, and it'll be affordable too! #general #environment

The Leaf is expected to be released in late 2010 with 50,000 being shipped out to the U.S., Europe, and Japan. The mid-sized hatch-back will be able to reach a top speed of 90 mph and being is rumored to priced somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,000.

Mark Perry, a Nissan spokesman, said the Leaf will cost no more than a comparable mid-sized car, and that means with a price around $15,000 the company could initially lose money on each one. The battery pack alone reportedly costs $10,000. Perry said customers would either buy or lease the little car, but pricing will be announced later. Perry also said he expects most buyers to charge up at home, but - especially for the Leaf - there will be other options.

The Nissan Leaf EV has generated quite the buzz this week, coinciding with President Obama's promise of a $2.4 billion initiative for electric vehicles and their required infrastructure.

The US government is installing 2,500 charging stations, while Nissan have promised the first run of 5,000 Leafs and a data-capturing programme to analyse driving styles and battery range.