Both the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt went on sale in select markets late last year. Both models – one being a 100 percent electric vehicle, and the other an EV with extended-range capabilities – have been praised for bringing the EV revolution to the masses. As both EVs are slated to become available nationwide by 2012, let’s take a look at which one is more popular.
Total U.S. sales of these vehicles as of February 2011 are as follows:
- Nissan Leaf: 173
- Chevrolet Volt: 928
Both numbers are low, relatively speaking, as the two automakers are nowhere near maximum production output. General Motors has responded to this number, saying that “production volume will gradually increase each month throughout the year.” GM still aims to build 10,000 units this year.
For now, the Nissan Leaf is produced exclusively at the automaker’s Oppama, Japan plant, which has been temporarily shut down following last week’s devastating earthquake. It’s unclear whether this will have a direct affect on deliveries. Sites for future production of Nissan EVs include Smyrna, Tennessee, in the United States and Sunderland, England, in the UK.
Although Chevrolet New Orleans said the Volt seems to be winning the EV war in the U.S., the numbers above don’t reveal overall sales. Since the Leaf is the only one to be sold in markets outside of the U.S., worldwide sales of the two vehicles actually look like this:
- Nissan Leaf: 3,657
- Chevrolet Volt: 928
When taking into account the global numbers, the Leaf has been outselling the Volt by a rate of nearly four-to-one.
While these numbers are still far from the high-mileage Toyota Prius, which racked up 140,928 sales last year, it will be interesting to see what effect nationwide availability will have on these two promising EVs.
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When it comes to selecting a hybrid or electric vehicle, it’s important to remember one thing: both selections are doing their part to reduce emissions. The Chevy Volt does its part in the tight landscape of fuel economical vehicles. And with gas prices on the rise, now is a great time to look into these.
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