Nissan hits 1 million EV sales 12 years after launching the LEAF
After launching the iconic LEAF compact electric car in December 2010, Nissan announced Tuesday that it finally surpassed 1 million in global EV sales.
Nissan surpasses 1 million global EV sales
More than 650,000 Nissan LEAF models have been sold since its launch over 12 years ago. For many years, the LEAF was the best-selling electric vehicle, and Nissan was viewed as a forerunner in the EV market.
Fast-forward over a decade and some change, and the industry has completely flipped. Nearly every major automaker has or is planning to release its own fully electric car. Many are already working on their second or third generations EVs.
The LEAF remained the best-selling EV (cumulatively) with a decent range and a comfortable interior until Tesla’s Model 3 topped it in early 2020.
Model 3 deliveries began in late 2017, becoming the best-selling EV in 2018 and 2019 before finally surpassing the LEAF in early 2022.
Meanwhile, Nissan has failed to update the compact EV in recent years as sales continue falling. Nissan again announced the 2024 LEAF would feature the outdated CHAdeMO charging, which should have been replaced years ago.
With more advanced, longer-range vehicles on the market, the LEAF has lost its touch as buyers move on.
Nissan announced it reached the 1 million global EV sales milestone Tuesday after launching its first mass-market EV over 12 years ago.
In comparison, Tesla has already delivered 888,000 vehicles through the first half of 2023 as it works to hit its guidance of 1.8 million EV deliveries this year alone.
The next chapter
After over a decade (and a few delays), Nissan finally released its second all-electric global EV and first electric SUV, the Nissan Ariya.
Although it was supposed to hit showrooms all the way back in 2021, Ariya sales finally began in the US in late 2022.
Through the first half of the year, Nisan’s electric SUV is already outselling the LEAF in the US. Ariya sales have totaled 5,195, while 4,234 LEAF models have been sold.
Starting at $43,190, the 2023 Ariya (63 kWh) offers up to 216 miles range. You can also opt for the bigger 87 kWh battery for up to 304 miles range for a starting MSRP of $47,190.
To boost sales and drive adoption in the US, Nissan was the first Japanese automaker to adopt Tesla’s NACS connector, giving EV buyers access to Tesla’s Supercharger network.
According to Nissan’s production schedule (via Automotive News), the automaker will begin building a pair of electric sedans at its Canton, MS, plant starting in 2026. A couple of electric crossovers will follow these over the following two years.
Nissan also launched its first mini EV in Japan, the Sakura. The automaker believes the Sakura “will be a game changer for the Japanese market and will make EVs much more accessible to customers in Japan.”
The Sakura starts at 2,333,100 yen (roughly $16.5K), offering up to 180 km (111 mi) WLTC Japan cycle range. Nissan says the mini EV has already gathered over 50,000 orders in Japan.
As part of its Nissan Ambition 2030 strategy, Nissan plans to launch 19 EV models by 2030. The automaker also aims to launch EVs with solid-state batteries developed in-house by 2028 capable of holding twice the energy of current lithium-ion batteries.
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The State of California is moving to ban the sale of Tesla cars amid claims that the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, have misled buyers about the self-driving capabilities of their cars. We’ve also got market-leading news out of Vietnam and a pricey, pricey lesson for one VW ID.Buzz buyer on today’s lesson-learning episode of Quick Charge!
We also ask what this might mean for the recent Uber/Lucid autonomous taxi tie-up and go through a full rundown of the fastest depreciating EVs on the market (and yes, there are four Tesla models in the top 10 … because the Cybertruck was too new to qualify).
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Sunrun is putting tens of thousands of home batteries to work in Puerto Rico as the island’s electric grid faces a summer of high temperatures and energy shortfalls.
The company says it’s now dispatching energy from over 37,000 residential batteries to help grid operator LUMA keep the lights on. That stored power is being used to prevent rolling blackouts when demand spikes and centralized power plants can’t keep up.
Sunrun’s emergency power contribution has grown more than tenfold since last summer. LUMA expects more than 75 energy shortfall events between now and October, with each dispatch sending electricity to the grid for four consecutive hours. During several recent evenings, Sunrun and other virtual power plant (VPP) operators provided enough energy to offset a 50-megawatt generation gap, LUMA said.
Sunrun CEO Mary Powell said Puerto Rico’s aging infrastructure and intense weather patterns make home battery support increasingly critical:
It’s going to be a very difficult summer, which is why Sunrun has ramped up our dispatch capabilities, using tens of thousands of home batteries to support the grid and people of Puerto Rico.
She added that distributed power plants like Sunrun’s serve the same role as natural gas peaker plants – offering fast, reliable power during high-demand moments – but with clean energy.
Sunrun customers enrolled in the VPP will get paid too. Each participating battery earns about $200 minimum for the season, and customers who allow more of their stored energy to go to the grid earn even more. Sunrun also earns revenue for operating the VPP.
Read more: The US’s largest virtual power plant now runs on 75,000 home batteries
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Volkswagen is advertising ID.4 leases starting at just $99 a month. It’s hard to find any car lease these days for under $100 a month, but for $45,000 electric SUV, it’s almost unheard of.
Volkswagen offers ID.4 leases as low as $99 a month
The Volkswagen ID.4 was the third top-selling EV in the US in January after the 2025 model year went back on sale.
Volkswagen’s electric SUV starts at $45,095 with an EPA-estimated driving range of 291 miles. It’s available in five different trims: Pro, AWD Pro, Pro S, AWD Pro S, and AWD Pro S Plus.
The base 2025 VW ID.4 Pro RWD is equipped with 282 hp from a single rear electric motor. Inside, it features a 12.9″ infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and Volkswagen’s new ID.Cockpit digital instrument display.
Upgrading to the AWD version will gain a tow hitch and an additional 53 hp, for a combined maximum of 335 hp. The added power comes at the cost of some range, with an EPA-estimated range of 263 miles.
Volkswagen was already offering 2025 ID.4 leases as low as $129 a month, but some dealers are listing it for even less this month.
A California dealership, Volkswagen of Garden Grove, has the 2025 ID.4 Pro RWD listed for lease at just $99 per month. The offer is for 24 months with $2,995 down. According to the dealer, the offer includes a $5,000 cash back bonus, good on a new ID.4 purchase or lease.
We thought the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 was a good deal with leases starting at just $179 per month, but for $99, now that’s a steal.
Looking for deals on the Volkswagen ID.4 near you? You can use our link to find and view offers on the 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 in your area (via a trusted affiliate link)
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