Nissan has announced that the island state of Hawaii accounts for over 300 of the 18,000+ reservation they have taken so far for the LEAF in the United States.
Now 300 reservations does not sound like a whole bunch, until you factor in that the population is only around 1.3 million people…meaning that if every state was as interested in the LEAF as Hawaiian’s are, Nissan would be well over 70,000 reservations right now.
There are several reasons for this large demand, with the most significant being that the largest of the eight main islands, “Hawaiʻi,” or the “Big Island” is only about 90 miles in width, so if you have somewhere to go in the state, you can get there in a LEAF.
Secondly, residents of the state are fairly well off. The most recent US Census of wealth among residents, put Hawaii 5th, with a median income of almost $70,000. (I hear many estate owners on the island have in house detectives with Ferraris)
Lastly, and possibly most annoying, is that not only do Hawaiians get to live in one of the nicest places on earth, their LEAFs start out at around US$20,780, thanks to the federal incentive of $7,500 and a state incentive of $4,500.
So there you have it. All the reasons to buy a LEAF in Hawaii.
Wait…nope that is not it either. One more just in!
Nissan and Hawaii just announced a partnership at the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo in Honolulu on Wednesday, that will bring the “deployment, operation and maintenance of a charging network” throughout the state. /wait, your state is how big and your getting infrastructure first too? I hate San Diegans a little less today.
The first LEAFs are schedule to arrive in Hawaii beginning in January.
![Will Ferrell Spotted Driving a Nissan LEAF [Video]](http://nissan-leaf.net/wp-content/themes/bigfoot/includes/timthumb.php?src=
http://nissan-leaf.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wf.png
&h=48&w=48&zc=1)
Don’t be fooled by the average income level. Think of the joke about Bill Gates walking into a bar, instantly making everyone in the bar on average a millionaire. For most people in Hawaii the wage rates are quite low. The average is skewed by a relatively small group.
Also the distances aren’t quite so short as you might expect. I don’t think a 100 mile range would get you around Maui or Oahu. Certainly not around the Big Island. (These islands are essentially volcanoes, and you can’t drive over the top of the volcano, so you have to go around the circumference of the islands — the 2PiR stuff).
But there are a couple of things going for electric cars in Hawaii. One is that gas prices are high. Two is that there aren’t that many roads. There is usually just one road around the island — not many different ways to to — so a few DC chargers should cover you pretty easily. Third is that it doesn’t get cold and it doesn’t get Phoenix hot.
DonC(Quote)
Don — The article said “median income” not average income. That means that 50% of the population (650,000) makes over $70,000 per year. Cost of living is higher.
Good point about distance. Not sure how the locals drive. It could be a big problem or no problem at all. This is the place to build infrastructure. If they get fast chargers (20 minutes) located at various points, Leaf makes sense.
I will cede Hawaii to Leaf…
However, rental cars should all be VOLTs as tourist like to drive all over in short periods of time.
Jimza Skeptic(Quote)
“I will cede Hawaii to Leaf…”–jimmyboy quote
Didn’t you mean “I will cede Hawaii to THE Leaf??
GeorgeS(Quote)
I’m just glad you did not post another picture of a blue LEAF.. but I could tolerate it was surrounded by a group of pretty women
You should have posted a video of the LEAF just driving around with the new Hawaii Five-0 theme song:
http://www.fancast.com/blogs/2010/tv-news/hawaii-five-o-debuts-new-theme-song/
Herm(Quote)
.
The good part is that you R going to have time to eat 2 Pies while waiting for your car to recharge as you drive around the edge of the island, enjoying looking at the people on the beach.
RB(Quote)
“Wait…nope that is not it either. One more just in!”
They are already giving propsective owners test drives. Yes, there are a few in the leaf forum from Hawai’i.
evnow(Quote)
Statik,
You are not serious with that new graphic at the top, right ?!
evnow(Quote)
i second that, evnow. Please tell me that’s going away.
kyle(Quote)
I agree with that, evnow. Who lay’s on their stomach to get a front view of a car? Post a Glacier Pearl LEAF with the shows the solar panel spoiler on it. I saw one he other day and it looks sharp.
Just curious, what is the distribution by state for LEAF reservations? US hit the 20,000 reservation mark a few weeks ago!!
James(Quote)
James,
did you order yet?? I have not been able to.
GSB
GeorgeS(Quote)
Just curious, anyone seen a breakdown of reservations by state posted anywhere?
Buzzzzzzzz(Quote)
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You could potentially count from here to get a sample …
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1114
or look at this map
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=us&ie=UTF8&view=map&msa=0&ll=33.137551,130.78125&spn=175.527524,74.53125&z=1&msid=100197148173302968854.00048f5b361777467c19e
evnow(Quote)
You missed out that petrol (gasoline) is priced the most out of ALL of the US states – probably because it has to be shipped back from the mainland … but then again, I imagine their electricty is also the most expensive in the US – as it probably uses imported coal… or do they have lots of hydro, nuclear and maybe geothermal elec?
mark smith(Quote)