Nissan's Electric Car to Launch in Late 2010 in the U.S.

FRANKLIN, TN – Nissan anticipates selling its new all-electric car in the U.S. in late 2010. Initial production of the vehicle will begin in Japan, but may expand to other areas where the vehicle will be purchased. Similar in size to the Sentra or Versa, the five-passenger vehicle will be able to run 100 miles on a lithium ion battery pack.

The initial model will take about four to eight hours to fully charge at a residence, which Nissan plans to cut down to four hours in 2012.

Eventually, the company plans to make the car and its batteries in Smyrna, Tenn., and the Chattanooga area is in line for electric refueling infrastructure for the new vehicle, said Mark Perry, director of product planning and strategy for Nissan North America, as reported by the Chattanooga Times. Oregon and Sonoma County, Calif., may also be among the first areas the vehicle will be made available for purchase.

As far as energy costs, the pure electric vehicle is estimated to be about $1,350 lower annually than for a conventional car.

With Nissan's USA headquarters located in Franklin, Tenn., plans for recharging infrastructure will start in the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin area. The automaker will work to gain infrastructure in Knoxville and Chattanooga and eventually into North Carolina.