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Ground Breaks for Nissan Leaf Plant as Consumers Get Charged Up for Electric Cars, Reports Edmunds' GreenCarAdvisor.com

Edmunds' Inside Line recently spent some time behind the wheel of a near-production prototype of the all-electric 2011 Nissan Leaf and reports that it is not only unexpectedly spacious, smooth and refined, but also "implausibly good fun to drive."

This early review has shoppers and enthusiasts buzzing on Edmunds.com. Some wonder if Nissan has a potential game changer on its hands. Others are concerned sales may be hampered by the car's limited range - not to mention competition from that other upcoming eco-darling, the plug-in hybrid 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

So-called "range anxiety" appears to be the biggest worry for would-be EV drivers, but Leaf proponents point out that the driving habits of the vast majority of people place them comfortably within the Leaf's estimated 100-mile range.

"Given that the Volt solves the range issue with its internal-combustion engine that provides juice if the batteries are depleted, you might think most consumers would prefer it to the Leaf. Not so, from what we can tell," reported Edmunds.com's Customer Support Manager Mark Holthoff.

"The Volt seems to cost about $10K (or 30 percent) more than the Leaf," said a consumer, concluding, "If I were buying one of these two, I'd go for the Leaf, hands down."

Others point out the Leaf "is vastly more simple," meaning "no oil changes, no oil/gas/air filters, and many fewer moving parts than on a gas-powered vehicle."

Even Volt enthusiasts are quick to offer "kudos to Nissan for focusing their first electric car on everyday folks in terms of pricing and usability."

About Edmunds.com, Inc. (http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/index.html)

Edmunds.com Inc. publishes four Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.edmunds.com, makes car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and otherwise on the go. InsideLine.com is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.insideline.com, features the wireless Web's highest quality car photos and videos. CarSpace is the most established automotive social networking Web site. AutoObserver.com provides insightful automotive industry commentary and analysis. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter @edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/edmunds.

Edmunds.com Corporate Communications
Jeannine Fallon/Chintan Talati
Media Hotline: 310-309-4900
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