Nissan said that although consumers would buy the electric car, they would lease the battery.
Martin Zimmerman -
Los Angeles Times - November 20, 2008
More promises... Will we actually see product soon? -- Ed.
The future -- or at least a future -- may finally be in sight for the electric car.
Nissan-Renault Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn announced plans at the L.A. Auto Show on Wednesday to begin selling a competitively priced electric car in Oregon in 2010. The vehicle would go "mass market" by 2012, Ghosn vowed.
After years of false starts, the bold pronouncement was the clearest sign yet that electric cars may soon go beyond golf carts and $100,000 eco-status symbols. And there is more evidence of the trend on display at the Los Angeles Convention Center, including an electric version of BMW's popular Mini and a trio of electric vehicles from Chrysler.
But don't put on those shades just yet. Electric vehicles still have high hurdles to overcome, especially in terms of range and functionality.
"There's nothing I've seen here that points to a vehicle with a range of 250 miles before a lengthy charge is required," said Jack Nerad, market analyst with auto data tracker Kelley Blue Book. "And I think that's what you need before...
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