The 2010 plug-in showdown: Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, and Think City
Photo: engadget.com
2010 seems to be the year for the electric vehicle. With the Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, and Think City electric vehicle all to be available in the States by December of this year, the competitive market may end up benefiting the consumer with more and better choices.
Chevy Volt – $41,000 MSRP
Let’s start with the Chevrolet Volt which just announced its official price point at $41,000 (down to $33,500 after the $7,500 federal tax credit). Chevrolet will also be allowing leasers to grab on with a $350/month deal and $2,500 down payment. The Volt will be targeted to be used with mostly 110-volt outlets (what most of us use on a daily basis), which will pack a full charge within 10 hours, allowing you to get 40 miles without a drop a fuel. Though you have the option to fill up your Volt with a backup tank (premium fuel only please).
Nissan Leaf - $32,780 MSRP
The Nissan Leaf has already announced a lower price tag at $32,780 (calculate the rebate yourself on this one). The Leaf packs a 24kW lithium-ion battery back with 48 modules and 4 cells a piece, where if any one cell fails, Nissan will replace the individual module instead of the entire battery.
More on the Nissan Leaf and Think City electric vehicle after the break…
Photo: autoblog.com
The Leaf will drive up to 100 miles on one charge (1-up’ing the Volt by 60 miles!) but is targeted towards a 220-volt outlet which could set you back a few G’s and still takes 7 hours for a full charge. However if you find a 440-volt charging station (like those starting to pop up around Cali), you can get up to an 80% charge in just 30 minutes! Impressive, I must say.
Think City electric car - $28,000 MSRP
Think City is the cheapest of the bunch, though cheap still isn’t cheap, but you get what you pay for. The much smaller interior will drive you a claimed 100 miles from a 4 hour charge (off a 220-volt outlet). I’d say that’s a pretty good charge time, if you live somewhere packing 220-volt outlets. This small fella will only take you up to 68 mph though – speed demons be aware. All-in-all though, this is a pretty good deal if you are on a tighter budget and are willing to go with a car assembled in Southern California. Cheers to you!
From these three options you are really going to have to choose between power, comfort, or practical. The Volt will really let you rev those engines, but the Leaf has just as much room with a lower price tag and better mileage, while the City is the cheapest and smallest of the bunch. The choice is yours, but either way it looks as though consumers will now be able to choose their smart cars based off what they want and not just what is available. Mainstreaming plug-ins no longer seems too far away.
