Calling all college students - Nissan wants you!

On Monday, Nissan announced the launch of the Nissan LEAF Zero Emissions Student Competition, which allows university and college students to express how the Nissan LEAF has inspired their outlook towards a zero-emissions future. 

Winners receive a $500 scholarship.

The contest kicks off at the University of Southern California campus, which is the first university stop on the Nissan LEAF Zero Emissions Tour.

Those interested in participating can visit Nissan’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/nissan) and click on the Green 2010 tab. One student from each of the participating universities will be selected as a winner based on the creativity, relevance to the theme and originality of their entry response. The winning students – which will be named at the end of the Nissan LEAF Zero Emissions Tour - will receive a $500 scholarship.

The nationwide tour, which began in Los Angeles, will make stops in 22 cities, in 11 states, the District of Columbia, and Vancouver, Canada, offering the opportunity for everyone to learn more about Nissan LEAF and the benefits of zero-emission driving.

Tour details can be found at www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car.

The Nissan LEAF Zero Emissions Student Competition is open to all students attending one of the participating universities in the Nissan LEAF Zero Emissions Tour. For a list of participating universities, full contest details, rules and eligibility requirements please click on the Green 2010 tab on Nissan’s Facebook page. 

 More information on the Nissan LEAF and zero-emission mobility can be found at www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car and www.nissan-zeroemission.com.

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Filed Under: Autos, Eco Friendly, General, Green, Nissan Leaf, Zero Emissions, nissan, transportation

I’ve written about the prospect that 2010 will be the year of the electric car. Now that 2010 is nearing, one major automaker has announced its plans to bring a full electric vehicle to the market next year. Nissan is planning to release the LEAF in Japan, the United States, and Europe. This is great news as most of the EV or highly fuel-efficient vehicles end up with a Japanese-only launch. Nissan is spreading the love and allowing those of us in the States to get behind the wheel of an affordable EV next year.

Affordable is an important part of the Nissan LEAF. The Chevy Volt has a large following but with an expected price tag of $40,000 +, it is out of the price range of many Americans, especially given the current economy.

Key characteristics of the LEAF include:

1) Zero-emission power train and platform
2) Affordable pricing
3) Distinctive design
4) Real-world range autonomy - 160km (100 miles)
5) Connected Mobility: Advanced intelligent transportation (IT) system

The vehicle is a mid-sized hatchback that will seat five adults. Sounds like the Prius is going to have another competitor. Prior to the release of the Honda Insight, media had dubbed the vehicle the Prius-killer. As the June 2009 and July 2009 auto sales figures show, the Insight definitely didn’t kill the Prius.

However, the LEAF is an electric vehicle and not a hybrid. It has zero emissions…it will be able to drive 100 miles…it may end up being the real Prius-killer. Time will tell.

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Filed Under: electric vehicles, nissan

Today is acronym day here at TGM (TheGreenMotorist). EVs = electric vehicles and FCVs = fuel cell vehicles.

Nissan has partnered with Renault and regions around the world to begin the creation of electric vehicle charging stations in preparation for the company’s entrance into the US EV market – tentatively scheduled for 2010.

A report on the new Automotive News show, AN Today, reports that the Nissan EVs will likely be sold on a city-by-city basis. Cities that have an EV charging infrastructure in place will likely be the first to receive Nissan’s new electric vehicle in 2010. The report goes on to state that there is no reason for Nissan to hold back the entire production process while American cities get their infrastructure in place. Watch the entire video on the AN Today website; the Nissan report is the last one.

In other Nissan news, the company is currently testing a new fuel cell technology.

“The next-generation fuel-cell stack is part of a range of eco-friendly technologies that Nissan is pursuing under Nissan Green Program 2010, a plan focused on developing new technologies, products and services leading to real-world reductions in CO2 emissions, cleaner emissions, and expanded recycling of resources.” Source: Nissan News

Although Nissan has been affected by the global economy crisis (like the majority of other automakers), it is heartening to see this automaker continuing to strive towards meeting its green motoring goals.

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Filed Under: electric vehicles, nissan

The New York Post is reporting that the New York City Police Department will be testing out 40 Nissan Altima hybrids as part of its fleet of police cars. If you are a regular reader of The Green Motorist, then you may remember the hybrid taxi debacle that the city of New York is dealing with. There is a question as to the safety of hybrids in use as taxis. The issue was the center of much debate and ended up in the court system.

Now, the city is testing out hybrids as police cars. The first question that comes to mind is how fast can these Altima hybrids go? The top speed, per the Post report is 113 mph – not too bad.

“If it performs, the fuel-efficient hybrids may eventually replace the gas guzzlers that make up the current 3,254-vehicle patrol fleet of mostly Ford Crown Victorias and Chevy Impalas. Those get 16 to 18 mpg in the city - compared to 35 mpg expected from the Altimas.

To start, the NYPD has outfitted 18 hybrids as marked patrol cars, bringing the $21,500 base cost to $30,752 per car. Another 20 are unmarked ($25,595 each), and two are disguised as yellow cabs for anticrime work ($28,600 each).” (Source: New York Post)

I hope that the Altimas do well – if all of the police cruisers and taxicabs in NYC are converted to hybrids, I imagine that there will be a noticeable decrease in tail pipe emissions in the city.

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Filed Under: nissan

Even though the Chrysler Town & Country EV is only a concept, you can still find some minivans that have a smaller environmental impact than others do. Last year, the Toyota Sienna topped the list of Greenest Minivans of 2008. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has published its list of the top rated minivans for 2009 and the Toyota Sienna tops the list again.

The Toyota Sienna meets both the Tier 2 bin 5 and ULEV II Emission Standards and has a 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway rating. The overall Green Score of the vehicle is 32 and the class ranking is Superior. The average vehicle looked at by ACEEE scores a 30 with the highest ranked vehicle scoring in the 50s and the lowest in the teens. The Sienna is above average for this year.

The second place vehicle is the Honda Odyssey with a Green Score of 31. Last year, the Odyssey was in third place with the same Green Score.

The Chrysler Town & Country dropped down a spot to number three for this year with a Green Score of 31 and an above average class ranking. The other two minivans to make the list are the Dodge Caravan (Green Score: 31) and the Nissan Quest (Green Score: 32).

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Filed Under: Chrysler, Dodge, honda, nissan, toyota

The 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid is already making headlines; it was ranked in the third spot on the EPA’s top ten list of most fuel-efficient vehicles behind the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid. The EPA estimated fuel efficiency ratings for the 2009 model are 35 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

Although the fuel efficiency lagged a bit behind its competitors by Toyota and Honda, in safety ratings determined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid came out with higher marks. The vehicle received the highest ranking, five stars, in all four of the collision standards that the NHTSA uses to determine vehicle safety.

“Altima Hybrid is rated as an Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) and emits almost no evaporative emissions.” (Source: Nissan North America) The MSRP base price of the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid is $26,650 and several accessories and factory-installed options are available.

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Filed Under: nissan

Keeping with the tradition of one manufacturer’s car having a strong resemblance to another manufacturer’s car, the Nissan EV-02 that was pictured in the UK-based Times Online website looks remarkably like a Scion XB.  Nissan is just one of several companies that are planning to have a production-ready electric vehicle available for public purchase in the United States in 2010.

Nissan EV Stats
Although the car is not in full-production status, the car that was tested in the Times Online article featured a single electric motor with three cases of lithium-ion batteries, 107 base horsepower, a top speed of 85 miles per hour and a 0-62 mph time of a whopping 13 seconds.  Taking 13 seconds to get to highway cruising speed is rather lengthy so the engineers at Nissan are working on this and hope to get that down to less than five seconds.  Obviously quite slower than the all-electric Tesla Roadster which puts down a 0-60 mph time of under four seconds but this car is meant for a completely different market. 

Future Availability
It is currently expected that the Nissan electric vehicle will be available in the United States and Japan in 2010 and global expansion in 2012, at the earliest.  According to the article, Denmark, Portugal and Israel will be likely 2012+ target markets as each of these countries is planning to provide tax benefits and create the needed infrastructure to support electric vehicle expansion.

Driving Range
When it comes to electric vehicles, consumers usually ask how far the car is going to take them.  Right now an EV is not meant to be a replacement for cars taken on trips but merely for around-the-town errands, commuting, etc.  The model tested by the reporter has a range of between 62 and 75 miles on a full charge.  The goal is to reach a 100 mile range on a full charge; it takes between six and eight hours to completely charge the Nissan EV.

In closing, the author had this to say of the Nissan EV-02 that he tested, “I’d be lying if I said the EV had not impressed me. Sceptics will find little to hate about a car that goes as fast as (or faster than) a prehistoric piston-powered motor, corners and stops like one but has running costs on a par with a Flymo.”

Source:  TimesOnline

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Filed Under: electric vehicles, nissan

With the recent dramatic increase in gas prices (okay, I paid less than $4 gallon today, but it is still high!), car companies across the world are looking at alternative fuel vehicles to add to their lineup. It seems that 2010 is the forecast year for several of the big name car companies to have electric vehicles for sale to the public. The following cars are projected to be released in 2010.

Chevrolet Volt
If you’ve read any of my previous entries here at The Green Motorist then you know I am a fan of the Chevy Volt. If General Motors stays on track, the Volt should be ready for purchase in 2010.

Saturn Vue Plug-in Hybrid
General Motors has plans to release a Saturn Vue Two-mode Hybrid in 2009 and then hopefully release a plug-in version in 2010. Preliminary statistics show that a fully-charged Saturn Vue Plug-in Hybrid will be able to go 10 miles without the need to use gasoline. Not bad for a quick trip to the store.

Toyota Prius Plug-in
Of course we’d expect to see the Prius on this list. The Toyota Prius is the most popular hybrid vehicles and it is only natural for Toyota to plan a plug-in version of this bestselling hybrid car.

Jeep Renegade Concept
Chrysler gave car enthusiasts a glimpse of three concept electric vehicles at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2008. In typical Chrysler fashion, they are planning one for each of their individual brands – Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep. The Jeep Renegade Concept is projected to go up to 40 miles on a full charge (then the diesel engine would kick in).

Nissan Electric Car
Nissan has plans to release an electric vehicle in the United States sometimes in 2010 as well. The designers at Nissan are actually pretty close-lipped about the project other than the fact that they want to enter the electric car market in 2010 alongside their competitors.

These are just five vehicles out of many that might be released in 2010. It will be interesting to look back at this post, and others like this, as 2010 rolls around to see exactly which cars make it to market and which are but a distant memory.

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Filed Under: chevy, electric cars, electric vehicles, nissan, toyota

If you’re a Green Motorist and are going out-of-town on vacation or business, do not despair.  You can still do your part and rent a hybrid or high fuel efficiency car.  Most of the major national rental car companies as well as many regional brands offer hybrid rentals in some of the larger markets.  The rental car companies have seen the increased demand for hybrids and have added these green cars to their rental fleet. 

The Hertz Green Collection

In a magnificent branding move, Hertz offers the Toyota Prius as part of the Hertz Green Collection.  Although the Prius is only available in a select few markets, Hertz has also added several high fuel-efficiency vehicles to its Green Collection.

Enviro-friendly travelers seeking to rent a car in a non-Prius Hertz area are invited to try the Ford Fusion or the Corolla or Camry by Toyota.  These three vehicles offer a spacious yet fuel-efficient car for the more conscientious traveler.

Budget’s Trio of Hybrids

Budget Rental Car offers the popular Toyota Prius as well as the Nissan Altima Hybrid in some of their markets.  These hybrids offer drivers up to 60 mpg plus the benefit of reduced fuel emissions.  Although the fees are a bit higher than a comparable non-hybrid, the increased cost is not cost-prohibitive.

Budget currently has the highest availability of hybrids with a Toyota Prius or a Nissan Altima available in 47 different states.  To find out if Budget offers hybrid rentals in your area, check out the Budget U.S. Hybrid Locations page.

Avis’ Hybrid Rentals

Continuing the trend towards the Prius hybrid, Avis also offers its customers the ability to rent a Prius hybrid.  The Prius is considered a compact hybrid and thus a bit small for families traveling so Avis has expanded its hybrid fleet to include the full-sized Nissan Altima hybrid sedan. 

The Altima is currently only available to renters in certain California markets.  The Prius can be rented in parts of California, Portland, Seattle, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia and New York City. 

As the nation’s demand for hybrid options increases, rental car companies will be answering.  More rental car companies will offer hybrid choices in more locations throughout the United States.

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Filed Under: Eco Friendly, Fuel Efficient, nissan, toyota

Nissan is serious about taking the lead in next gen green vehicles. They have recently begun talk and negotiations with tech corp NEC, to mass produce and market LI-ON batteries.

This NEW partnership will allow Nissan to get closer to what it wants the most right now, which is to be the leader in the electric vehicles market. Nissan would like to make it to market first, over Honda and over irking eco minded competitor Toyota.

The Nissan-NEC venture, to be called Automotive Energy Supply Corp, is supplying the batteries Renault will use in the electric cars it’s building for Israel and Denmark. The governments of those two nations have rallied behind Silicon Valley startup Project Better Place and its plan to bring affordable EVs to the masses. Nissan is looking at a similar arrangement with the government of Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture, which wants to develop an electric vehicle fleet and charging infrastructure. Getting a few thousand electric cars on the road before its rivals will give the joint venture a solid lead in the market.

This will certainly give Nissan a leg up in the electric vehicles sector. The Li-ION batteries will be mass produced, power up the next generation of plug-in hybrids and electric cars, PLUS they have been proven to out perform the current crop of Prius, nickel-metal hydride batteries. On average lasting more than 60,000 miles. In fact, Nissan and NEC are so confident in their new EV batteries, they plan to sell them to other manufacturers, as well. Production is ready to start at 13,000 batteries for next year, rising to 65,000 a year by end of 2011.

Toyota and Honda, no doubt, are not resting on their laurels. Let’s see how they compete.

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Filed Under: Autos, Eco Friendly, Green, Li Ion, electric cars, electric vehicles, ev, honda, nec, nissan, toyota, transportation