Nissan Exec Defends EV Focus

Nissan North America’s top official says the company’s new electric vehicle doesn’t have a range problem. Carlos Tavaresdefended Franklin-based Nissan’s focus on fully electric cars to business leaders Tuesday morning.

Tavares says more than 90% of U.S. drivers commute less than 100 miles a day and three in four households have more than one car. Nissan’s executive vice president for the Americas says 60% of homes also have a garage or carport for overnight charging.

“We think all of that shows that LEAF, with its 100 mile range, will be an ideal commuter car for a majority of Americans.”

Nissan has stayed out of the gas/electric hybrid market, for the most part. Tavares says that’s because the future of cars is in no-emission vehicles, not low emissions. To help kick-start electric vehicle sales to a wider market, Tavares asks business owners to install charging stations at their workplaces.

The LEAF launches in select markets, including Nashville, December of next year. Nissan will produce the electric vehicles and their batteries in Japan at first, then expand production to Smyrna in 2012. Construction at Nissan’s Smyrna plant is expected to start in January.

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