AN American Nissan LEAF owner has just completed 100,000 miles in his all-electric car.
In early 2011, Steve Marsh purchased a new Nissan LEAF for his 130-mile round-trip daily commute. Since then, he has racked up 100,000 miles in the car, using no petrol, creating no exhaust emissions and, by his estimation, saving thousands of dollars.
‘With a daily commute of about 130 miles, I’ve saved more than $9,000 compared to my old gas-powered car since I bought my LEAF,’ said Marsh. ‘With plenty of public charging options, as well as a charger installed at my office, my LEAF is the perfect car for my commute.’
Marsh was one of the first customers to take delivery of a Nissan LEAF in Washington state, in the north-west of America. A financial controller by profession, he made the decision to go electric and buy a LEAF primarily because of the car’s low cost of ownership – a benefit that 40,000 other LEAF drivers in the States also enjoy.
Erik Gottfried, director of electric vehicle sales and marketing at Nissan, said: ‘While many early buyers were excited to buy a LEAF for environmental reasons or to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, Steve Marsh is a prime example of consumers who approach electric cars with a practical mindset.
‘Most buyers now choose LEAF for the simple economics that Steve recognised right away. Nissan LEAF costs much less to drive and maintain than a gas car yet still provides a great driving experience.’
Easy and convenient
To support residents like Marsh and help speed up the adoption of electric vehicles in the state, Washington developed one of the country’s most robust EV charging networks.
The West Coast Electric Highway opened last year giving EV drivers confidence that they can find easy and convenient charging along the main roads in the area.
Since the launch of Nissan LEAF in December 2010, Nissan has sold more than 40,000 all-electric LEAF cars in the United States and more than 92,000 globally.
- In our picture, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, right, presents Steve Marsh with a special pin in celebration of Marsh reaching 100,000 gas-free miles in his Nissan LEAF.