Looking for a practical alternative fuel car? In December 2010, the Nissan Leaf will be available in select markets in the United States. The popularity of hybrids, deisel powered cars and other alternatives to gasoline has increased in recent years. Is it finally time for a cost effective all electric car? Will it be practical for the average consumer?

The benefits are many. Imagine skipping the gas station ? permanently. Most hybrid and electric cars, including the Volt, can use gasoline when the car runs out of electric power. The Leaf doesn’t. This car runs on electricity only. You’ll never pull up to the pump again. You could be blissfully unaware of the current sky high gas prices. There is a downside, though, and historically it’s been a big enough problem to keep electric cars from becoming commonplace. When the battery runs out of juice, you can?t switch over to gas. In the past, limited range has kept electric cars from being practical. At last the problem has been addressed sufficiently for most drivers. The Leaf can go 100 miles on a charge. That?s more than enough for most people. Very few drivers travel more than 100 miles in a day on a regular basis. You would charge your car battery at night when electricity prices are lower anyway. So now you?re paying for electricity instead of gas, right? How cost effective is that? Charging the Leaf would cost about $2.80 at average electricity rates. That?s right ? that’s less expensive than the price of one gallon of gas.

Imagine skipping the gas station ? permanently. Most hybrid and electric cars, including the Chevy Volt, can use gasoline when the electric power is depleted. The Leaf never uses gasoline. It doesn’t even have a gas tank. It’s a strictly electric powered car. You?ll never go to the gas station. You could be blissfully unaware of the current sky high gas prices. There is a downside, though, and historically it’s been a big enough problem to keep electric cars from becoming commonplace. When the battery dies, you need a recharging station and enough time to recharge. This limits the range that electric cars can travel, which has inhibited their practicality. The Leaf can go 100 miles on a charge. That?s more than enough for most people. Very few drivers travel more than 100 miles in a day on a regular basis. You would charge your car battery at night when electricity prices are lower anyway. So now you?re paying for electricity instead of gas, right? How cost effective is that? Charging the Leaf would cost about $2.80 at average electricity rates. That?s right ? less than a gallon of gasoline.

One major challenge comes in on long drives. If you were driving from one state to another, you would need to charge your battery along the way. Nissan has added a navigation system that will show you charging stations along the way. The Leaf’s battery can be charged up to 80% capacity in about half an hour at a quick charge station. That?s practical for long trips. You can charge your car while you stop for a meal. If there are enough electric cars on the road it would be wise for restaurants and hotels to install quick charge stations.

Long drives have posed a challenge that until now has been insurmountable by many drivers. During a long drive like a family vacation or a trip to a different state, a driver would have to stop along the way to charge the battery, which used to take hours if you could find a charging station. The Leaf’s navigation system can show you the locations of charging stations on your route. The Leaf’s battery can be charged up to 80% capacity in about half an hour at a quick charge station. That’s sufficient to make long trips practical. Drivers could stop for lunch and charge the car at the same time. If there are enough electric cars on the road it would be wise for restaurants and hotels to install quick charge stations.

Most drivers should find this electric car practical in spite of the few remaining challenges.

Written by Hannah Valez Nissan Riverside San Bernardino Nissan Dealer

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