2014 Nissan LEAF Passes New Sales Milestone

Just more than three years after introducing the auto industry's first modern-day, mass-produced electric vehicle, that car's global sales total has topped 100,000 units with the recent delivery of a 2014 Nissan LEAF.

The car was purchased by Brett Garner, a dentist from Fareham, England, and you can be sure that Dr. Garner will be able to spend a lot more time filling teeth and a lot less of it filling up fuel tanks. After all, the 2014 Nissan LEAF is EPA-certified to deliver an all-electric, zero-emissions driving range of 75 miles, with travel coming at a rate of 129 MPGe city/102 MPGe highway/115 MPGe combined. And Garner won't have to worry about keeping his bank account filled to pay for the car's expenses.

“I have chosen my Nissan LEAF because I am very interested in its running costs," he said. “The cost of ownership such as maintenance, insurance and charging also convinced my wife. She had the experience of driving 500 miles in a borrowed LEAF and the low cost was remarkable. So she was converted and insisted that we had a LEAF."

Nor has Garner had to compromise elsewhere because of his preference for electric driving.

“The Nissan LEAF is perfect for everyday commuting, and there is no problem with charging it," he continued. "It is ideal for the family as it is quiet and not tiring even on longer journeys, because there is no vibration. Above all, it is a fun to drive car!"

Best of all, you don't have to be a dentist—or a doctor—to afford a 2014 Nissan LEAF. Its MSRP does start at $28,980, but after the U.S. government's $7,500 tax incentive, the net cost of the car drops to a more affordable $21,480 in this country.

The fact that a dentist bought the 100,000th LEAF is fitting, too, since the car relies so much on word-of-mouth for its success.

As explained by Erik Gottfried, Nissan's director of EV Sales and Marketing: "With LEAF, we see a high level of organic growth and viral sales where LEAF owners become our best evangelists and salespeople. With electric vehicles, many folks presume a 100 percent electric vehicle won't meet their needs until they chat with a neighbor, co-worker or family friend who loves their LEAF and explain its practicality, and then it goes on their consideration list."