Nissan encourages Leaf drivers to feel like a family, but they may be a bit too spread out just yet. 08/02/2011
Much in the way that Jeep owners always throw up a friendly salute when they pass each other on the road, Nissan is trying to promote a unique way for electric car drivers to say hello to one another. Nissan recently launched a publicity campaign on Facebook, which encouraged Leaf owners to submit their ideas for a 'Leaf Wave.' The automaker recently announced that it would be extended the deadline for idea submissions another five days to August 6.
When Stephen Colbert found out about the campaign, he came up with his own 'wave,' which was an elaborate and time-consuming dance of hand and arm motions, before reminding drivers that their hands should remain on the wheel at all times when they are driving. His biting mockery comes from the fact that only about 3,875 of Nissan's new car have been sold in the U.S. since it was introduced to the market last December, USA Today reports. The odds of two Leaf drivers running into each other on the road are so slim that perhaps the promotional contest was a bit preemptive on Nissan's part.
The Leaf is the only all-electric vehicle that is currently available commercially in the U.S., but the little eco-friendly subcompact car will soon be joined by Mitsubishi's i-MiEV. The Japanese car, which will be called the 'i' when it hits select western states in November, will start just under $28,000. Engadget reports that the car will reach eastern dealerships by March of next year, and since the new car is entirely electric, buyers will be eligible for a federal rebate up to $7,500. This discount is also available to drivers who purchase the Leaf, which starts around $25,000.