Nissan Aims to produce Cheap Electric Cars

Even without the nifty bonus of government subsidies, Nissan’s Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said that they fully intend to go through with the making of advanced batteries for full-electric cars at a competitive price to consumers. Chief Executive Ghosn spoke to a rather tiny grouping of reporters in the Chinese capital, giving an estimated timeframe of only about 3 years for the ultimately cost-cutting attempt, though he did admit that the price of oil would hugely impact their effort’s success.

Rightfully so, the executive admits that Nissan fully believes that the urge for fully electric cars is only going to keep increasing. He also admitted that by getting a head start over competition, they will likely be able to bring affordable full electric cars to consumers before others. With their various developments, the costs of producing lithium-ion batteries as well as high-powered motors and other newfangled technologies will decrease dramatically.

Despite competitors’ many scoffs and skepticism, Nissan plans to make a huge, world-wide push for battery cars (especially their own), beginning later next year. The Leaf, which is a hatchback, is planned to be available to corporate customers in Japan, Europe, and the US. While Nissan’s competitors invest in plug-in hybrids, Nissan is staying ahead of the curve by going all-out electric. Nissan even plans to release the Leaf in China by 2011 as a test-market. Unfortunately, only government agencies and other such customers in Wuhan will be able to enjoy the new bad boys.

During the first run, Nissan wants to make the Leaf’s price not only comparable to, but competitive with gas-fueled cars. This will heavily rely on government incentives for private customers, and the fact that the battery will be sold separately. They will lease out the battery, charging monthly rates that would be similar to the amount of money spent on gas per month. If gas prices were to suddenly drop, however, Nissan might find themselves suffering. But no one’s too worried about that, as the CE and many others believe that gas prices will remain high for years to come.