Lease: 2013 Nissan Leaf, Down payment $3,600, $99 a month. PM

if one is considering the leaf, it would seem safer to lease than buy. considering the costs are dropping as the technology matures, the cost of a new car has already dropped significantly this year.

ie, if you OWN the car, your resale value just took a big hit. much safer leasing it to protect from that drop in value.

would not participant in a lease based on a social experiment.

somehow I think my electric company will end up taking all my saving plus more.

Quote from desinerd : That, and spark plugs, timing belt, gaskets, hoses, coolant, filters. So about $200 per year, but you were close. Not to mention the $1200 you save in fuel every year, compared to Corolla.

Well if you're counting the once in a decade engine overhaul stuff, then you'll have to include the battery cost then.

Leaf uses coolant also.

What is it with all of the posts that sound like Chinese proverbs?

$3 to charge these. Do your research people, a standard commuter car for those who dont live ridiculous distances from work. A lease on one of these is a no brainer.

Quote from cptbarkey : would not participant in a lease based on a social experiment.

What do you mean social experiment?

Quote from b534202 : Well if you're counting the once in a decade engine overhaul stuff, then you'll have to include the battery cost then. Leaf uses coolant also.

Decade? Really?

Quote from backspace : somehow I think my electric company will end up taking all my saving plus more.

Electric companies should get smarter. If they simply lower their rates to dirt cheap, it would get people hook on EVs. Then once there's enough EVs out there, slowly raise rates. Similar to what the oil industry did a few time. I recall in 2001/2002 a gallon of gas was about $1. They killed the development of alternative fuel vehicle.

Then after people are hook, development would improve greatly (cheaper, longer range, etc.). And those who are already comfortable with EVs will remain a customer.

http://evearlyadopter.blogspot.com/
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So, per month, gas would be costing me about $203. Electricity is costing me about $30. I am, therefore, saving about $173 per month, just on fuel (not including the savings on maintenance).

Compared to a Nissan Juke the Leaf is cheaper: http://cleantechnica.com/2013/04/...mparisons/

Another success story. Saving $3k per year on gas. https://docs.google.com/a/google....NIZ3M/edit