Nissan Leaf director: Chevrolet Spark EV to add competition
Enviado: 13 out 2011, 16:51
Nissan Leaf director: Chevrolet Spark EV to add competition to market, help industry
"Nissan Motor Co. is welcoming the competition of the Chevrolet Spark EV, along with any other all-electric vehicles.
According to Brendan Jones, Nissan Leaf director of marketing, more competition in the electric vehicle industry is actually encouraged.
“We welcome it, competition is great for this segment, we encourage it,” he said in response to a question at the Center for Automotive Research’s 2011 Business of Plugging In electric vehicle conference."Again, another vehicle, the Spark, increases awareness, it's going to increase the segment size and increase the business for everyone."
Jones sat on a panel with Ed Kjaer, director of electric transportation for Southern California Edison, and Cristi Landy, product marketing manager of the Chevrolet Volt for GM, to discuss consumer responses to electric vehicles.
Landy, whose company introduced the all-electric Spark Wednesday morning, said the vehicle won’t affect the market too much because it is expected that “all manufacturers will be offering EVs,” but it does help the cause.
“I think it’s one more vehicle to say that this trend is here and to get the infrastructure ready,” she said.
Landy and Jones both said while feedback from the first generation of customers has mainly been positive, consumers have made some complaints regarding the vehicles, including consistent driving range.
"It's a learning curve," said Landy, adding depending on how someone drives the vehicles changes its range.
Nissan has sold 7,199 Leafs this year. Almost 4,000 models of the Volt, which remains in limited production for 2011, have reportedly been sold.
The Leaf's base price is about $33,000, before a $7,500 federal tax credit. The 2012 Volt will start at $39,995 (down from $41,000 price on the 2011 model), prior to the government incentive.
The Volt can drive up to 50 miles on battery power alone and then uses a small gasoline engine connected to a generator to power the electric motor that extends the driving range to more than 300 miles. Consumer Reports said it is currently getting about 80 miles of range on a single charge of the Leaf.
GM did not release specific details, such as pricing or driving range, about the Spark. "
Em: http://www.mlive.com/auto/index.ssf/201 ... ition.html
"Nissan Motor Co. is welcoming the competition of the Chevrolet Spark EV, along with any other all-electric vehicles.
According to Brendan Jones, Nissan Leaf director of marketing, more competition in the electric vehicle industry is actually encouraged.
“We welcome it, competition is great for this segment, we encourage it,” he said in response to a question at the Center for Automotive Research’s 2011 Business of Plugging In electric vehicle conference."Again, another vehicle, the Spark, increases awareness, it's going to increase the segment size and increase the business for everyone."
Jones sat on a panel with Ed Kjaer, director of electric transportation for Southern California Edison, and Cristi Landy, product marketing manager of the Chevrolet Volt for GM, to discuss consumer responses to electric vehicles.
Landy, whose company introduced the all-electric Spark Wednesday morning, said the vehicle won’t affect the market too much because it is expected that “all manufacturers will be offering EVs,” but it does help the cause.
“I think it’s one more vehicle to say that this trend is here and to get the infrastructure ready,” she said.
Landy and Jones both said while feedback from the first generation of customers has mainly been positive, consumers have made some complaints regarding the vehicles, including consistent driving range.
"It's a learning curve," said Landy, adding depending on how someone drives the vehicles changes its range.
Nissan has sold 7,199 Leafs this year. Almost 4,000 models of the Volt, which remains in limited production for 2011, have reportedly been sold.
The Leaf's base price is about $33,000, before a $7,500 federal tax credit. The 2012 Volt will start at $39,995 (down from $41,000 price on the 2011 model), prior to the government incentive.
The Volt can drive up to 50 miles on battery power alone and then uses a small gasoline engine connected to a generator to power the electric motor that extends the driving range to more than 300 miles. Consumer Reports said it is currently getting about 80 miles of range on a single charge of the Leaf.
GM did not release specific details, such as pricing or driving range, about the Spark. "
Em: http://www.mlive.com/auto/index.ssf/201 ... ition.html