The 100% electric Nissan LEAF is the official first pace car of this year’s NYC Marathon. It will be the first vehicle where runners will not have to worry about running behind a tailpipe and dealing with emissions.
Thank goodness! Imagine inhaling all that smoke?
Nissan is the official and exclusive automotive sponsor of this year’s 2010 ING New York City Marathon.
Nissan LEAF will be at the Jacob Javits Center tomorrow, November 6th from 2-8pm doing a ton of fun activities leading up to race day!
New York Chica readers who attend this special event will have a chance of getting some nice cool prizes through Nissan LEAF Breathe Easy Tour, a multi-venue tour of the world’s first 100% electric vehicle.
In addition to receiving free merchandise courtesy of the ING New York City Marathon partners, consumers at each stop can enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a new LEAF! For each day’s location, follow us on Twitter @NissanLEAF.
I DROVE THE LEAF!!
I was fortunate to test drive the Nissan LEAF a few weeks ago in the streets of New York City. At first I was skeptical because it was parked on the busy Central Park South in front of Mickey Mantle’s Restaurant. If you know New York City, you know that area is MAYHEM around there.
Once in the LEAF and finally on the road, getting out of Central Park South was not too bad. I felt unusually comfortable in the vehicle as soon as my foot pressed on the gas pedal. I say unusually because I’m used to driving my small SUV (which is also a gas-guzzler!).
While driving the new Nissan LEAF, Mark Perry (Director of Product Planning & Advance Technology Strategy for Nissan North America) was giving me the scoop of information about the car.
- You get 100 miles to a single charge
- The LEAF can “fast charge” in just 30 minutes for an 80% charge.
- The LEAF is powered by 192 rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
- It cranks out a maximum of roughly 207 pound-feet of torque at about 107 horsepower. That enables the Leaf to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in about 12 seconds with a top speed of about 90 mph.
- Charging stations will be available across the United States.
- The LEAF will be available first in Japan.
- Nissan’s goal is to sell 50,000 LEAFs in one year.
- The LEAF is nearly soundless so Nissan added “the sound of a car” into the vehicle so people know the car is near.
- The cost will be approximately $20,000 after tax credits and discounts of up to $7,500.
- The LEAF will be available in New York Fall 2011.
- The next five states will be Tennessee, Arizona, California, Washington & Oregon.
Would I buy the Nissan LEAF?
Oh yes!! Definitely! Imagine NEVER buying gas for your car ever again! That is music to my ears and I’m sure to my husband’s wallet. The vehicle drove beautifully and smooth and I amazed myself on how well I maneuvered the vehicle on the crazy streets of New York City.
Mark was amazed on how well I did on the road too. I told him it’s because when I drive, I imagine myself owning the road. LOL! Just kidding. In all seriousness, it’s because I’m used to driving in NYC. Having lived in the city for so many years (& driving to NYC from Upstate, NY), a person learns how to drive alongside the chaotic taxi drivers and the jaywalkers. Once you know, you don’t forget!
So be sure to catch the Nissan LEAF at Jacob Javits Center later tomorrow and enter to win some fun prizes and possibly a new vehicle too! HAVE FUN!
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lisa @NewYorkChica, Lisa @NewYorkChica. Lisa @NewYorkChica said: New Blog Post: The 100% Electric Nissan LEAF & The NYC Marathon: The 100% electric Nissan… http://goo.gl/fb/ojLfQ […]