Nissan Leaf 2022 is now the cheapest EV in the US — and it's a game changer

Nissan Leaf 2022 is now the cheapest EV in the United states of america — and information technology's a game changer

(Paradigm credit: Nissan)

Update: Nissan just announced the entry-level Micra will too be getting an electric makeover . Plus it'll be made on the CMF-BEV platform which promises to reduce costs and ability consumption — which could make it cheaper than even the Leaf.

The Nissan Foliage has always been 1 of the cheaper EVs on the marketplace, but the 2022 model has merely taken things upwards a notch. Nissan has dropped the starting price to $27,400, making information technology the cheapest EV on sale in the U.S.

This news is a big deal, not just considering information technology'll help boost the leaf's existing popularity, but because of the effect it could take on the EV manufacture every bit a whole. In fact, cheap prices like this will help fix one of the electrical machine industry'southward biggest issues.

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At that place are several reasons why some people are hesitant to buy an EV over a gas-powered machine. A lot of focus is leveled on recharging infrastructure and range, though pricing is nevertheless a major concern. While there are plenty of EVs nether the $40,000 mark, as a general dominion they are yet more expensive than their gas equivalents.

Have the Nissan Micra, for instance. Newer models have the verbal same blueprint as the Leafage, and prices start at £xiv,340 here in the U.One thousand. Meanwhile, the cheapest Leaf is £25,995 — almost £12,000 more. Likewise, the Ford F-150 Lightning is going to proceed sale in the U.S. next yr for $39,974, while the gas-powered F-150 is over $10,000 cheaper at $29,990.

Of form, nigh of the cost delta between EVs and gas-powered cars stems from the fact lithium batteries are expensive, and that's a huge part of why EVs price equally much as they do. It's a problem that's just going to go better with fourth dimension, but for at present it means ownership a make new EV is a costly endeavour.

Lower EV prices are good for everyone

I'd previously argued that Tesla releasing a $25K hatchback would exist groovy for the EV industry, since it would likely set a new standard on what a cheap electrical car should be like. The idea existence that by releasing a car with all the standard Tesla features for such a low price, other automakers would have to follow suit in order to compete.

The Leaf S is still eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax rebate, which makes the cost a Leafage but under $20,000.

Nissan clearly decided it was time to lower the cost of entry right now, rather than await for Tesla to become at that place first. And it's not just the entry-level Nissan Leaf Southward that's enjoyed a cost cut, either. All Nissan Leafage variants have had even bigger price cuts, making the most expensive Foliage SL Plus just $37,400. That'due south $2,500 cheaper than the Tesla Model 3, for those keeping score.

Of grade, that doesn't fifty-fifty brainstorm to consider the federal revenue enhancement credits you might be able to claim. In fact, the U.Due south. Department of Energy nonetheless lists the Foliage as being eligible for the full $seven,500 federal tax rebate, which makes the cost of ownership a 2022 Leaf (minus taxes, licenses, and fees) but under $twenty,000.

This new price change means that the 2022 Foliage is cheaper than the Mini Electric, the previous 'cheapest' EV in the U.Southward. that starts at $29,900. In fact, the Mini Electric is looking like a pretty poor deal in comparison, since it only offers 114 miles of range on a single charge. Meanwhile, the 40kWh Foliage models offering an EPA range of 149 miles, and the 62kWh models offering 226 miles.

In other words, the Leaf is a much better deal, particularly now that Nissan has corrected a terrible mistake and made the 50kW CHAdeMO rapid charger a standard feature on its cheapest models. Only the 2022 Leaf does notwithstanding use a CHAdeMO charger, rather than the more common CCS, which means Nissan continues to exist the master holdout on the ailing charging standard in the U.South.

More is needed, but this is a great start

Don't get me wrong, $27,500 is withal a decent amount of money to spend, fifty-fifty if it is cheaper than some of the more than extravagant cars on the roads. But by lowering its prices in this way, Nissan has fabricated the 2022 Leaf a lot more appealing.

That's exactly what the EV industry needs, lower prices that requite people enough of an incentive to cull electric over gas. And if one visitor is willing to undercut the competition on price, you lot tin exist damn sure that the other EV makers will be taking notice. Information technology would non exist surprising if other electric auto companies made similar toll cuts over the coming months.

Plus, encouraging people to buy more than new electric cars will probable have an bear upon on the used car market as well. The used car industry is huge, and makes owning a motorcar a lot more than affordable than buying new every single fourth dimension. The but issue is that finding a good used EV tin exist difficult.

But by having more EVs on the road, it means those cars volition somewhen notice their way into used auto dealerships beyond the United States. Information technology's a movement that will in-turn make EVs even more attainable to a whole new market.

It's going to take time, but Nissan has just taken the first big step to making information technology happen. The Nissan Leaf 2022 is expected to arrive before the end of the year, though we don't know exactly when.

More: My favorite affair nigh driving an electric automobile isn't what y'all remember

Tom is the Tom'southward Guide'southward Automotive Editor, which ways he tin can usually be found knee deep in stats the latest and best electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. It's long mode from his days as editor of Gizmodo Great britain, when pretty much everything was on the table. He's ordinarily plant trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining that Ikea won't let him buy the stuff he really needs online.