Nissan Delivers Southern California's First 100% Electric Nissan LEAF to San Diego Consumer

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of the world's first Nissan LEAF delivery, Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) is bringing sustainable mobility to Southern California with the region's first delivery of the all-electric Nissan LEAF. Thomas Franklin, a patent attorney with a specialization in clean energy, is taking delivery of his blue Nissan LEAF SL at Mossy Nissan Kearny Mesa. This groundbreaking moment represents the region's first delivery of an affordable, mass-market, all-electric car.

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Franklin, 43, is a native San Diegan who lives in the Village of La Jolla with his wife and three children. He is a partner who practices as a patent attorney in the San Diego office of Townsend and Townsend and Crew. He studied much of the technology in the Nissan LEAF as an electrical engineering student at San Diego State University before attending law school at University of San Diego. Today, many of his patent clients are innovators in the clean tech industry.

"Electricity is the new fuel for cars, and the Nissan LEAF has the potential to transform the automotive industry and the way people drive," said Carlos Tavares, chairman, Nissan Americas. "Starting today, Southern California drivers have the freedom to choose a future that produces zero tailpipe emissions, moves away from our dependence on fossil fuels, and represents the end of trips to the gas station. This Nissan LEAF delivery signifies the dawn of a movement that brings sustainable mobility to within our grasp."

The delivery of these first Nissan LEAFs also marks a milestone for The EV Project, a research and charging infrastructure deployment project funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and administered by electric-vehicle (EV) charging-company ECOtality. Franklin's Nissan LEAF is the first to participate in The EV Project, the largest EV infrastructure deployment project ever undertaken.

"It's an exciting day for the EV Project, ECOtality and the launch of our Blink network," said Jonathan Read, president and CEO, ECOtality, Inc. "We are pleased to be a part of the Nissan LEAF launch and we're looking forward to working together to bring these vehicles and charging to the mass market. These are the first of thousands of electric vehicles that are coming in the near futures, which will mark the long-term success of electric vehicles and Nissan's leadership in the market."  

In San Diego, Nissan has collaborated with San Diego Gas & Electric and the San Diego Association of Governments to foster the development of electric vehicle-friendly policies and an EV-charging infrastructure.

The San Diego delivery is part of more than a week of festivities, as Nissan delivers the first Nissan LEAF vehicles to each of its primary launch markets in Northern and Southern California, Arizona, Oregon, Seattle and Tennessee. Nissan also is donating $25,000 to the World Wildlife Fund to mark the occasion.

The initial Nissan LEAF deliveries will be followed by a second shipment of Nissan LEAF electric cars scheduled to arrive on Dec. 20, and destined for consumer driveways in time for the holidays. Nissan is on track for a nationwide launch of the Nissan LEAF by 2012, with Hawaii and Texas next to roll out in early 2011. In order to fulfill interest and meet demand in initial launch markets, Nissan plans to reopen reservations in the first half of 2011 as well as shift timing of additional markets until the second half of 2011.

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing.  Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010 and has been recognized as a 2010 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America, the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.

SOURCE Nissan North America, Inc.