US Government Purchases a Fleet of the Electric Vehicles Leaf

The Leaf was part of a 116-car fleet chosen by the U.S. government and handed out to twenty government agencies, including the Departments of Energy and Defense, as part of their new Electric Vehicle Pilot Program.

Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration Martha Johnson said the program is "the next big step" in adopting smarter, more advanced automotive technology and puts the government closer to its goal of putting 1 million advanced vehicles on American roads by 2015.

The relatively small grouping of electric vehicles is expected to save a whopping 29,000 gallons of gas, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 260 tons, and save an impressive $109,000 in taxpayer dollars per year.

And the U.S. government isn’t alone in its desire to go green while saving money. Consumers are also anxious to grab the gas savings for themselves and reduce their carbon footprint.

The Nissan Leaf has gained a lot of attention prior to its nationwide release. The first models are making their way to select U.S. dealerships.

One local dealer, Route 22 Nissan in Hillside, NJ, is preparing for the increasing crowds in their showroom.

"The Leaf is already a popular option for car buyers," says Route 22 Nissan manager Joe Gorr. "Never before has there been such a stylish, affordable all-electric model with so many great option packages on the American market. We’re excited to share it with the public."

The Route 22 Nissan website even features an interactive guide to all the features and benefits of the electric vehicle and includes information about the Nissan LEAF Education Initiative, which helps parents teach kids about their impact on the environment.

"We wanted to give customers the option to learn all about Nissan’s first 100% electric car right from home so they can be better informed when they come in for a test drive," says Gorr.

Customers who want to test drive the Leaf can even make reservations on the information page at www.route22nissan.com. Lines are already forming to try out the revolutionary vehicle, so interested buyers should log on today.

At Route 22 Nissan in West Hillside, New Jersey, customers love the no pressure sales experience. As one of the premiere New Jersey Nissan dealers, our mission is to treat every visitor like an honored guest in our home. To the great Nissan customers we serve, it is much more than a mission statement. Our customers quickly learn that "Being an honored guest in our home" means being treated with respect and not having to negotiate or visit multiple Nissan dealers to get the price you deserve.

In the Americas, 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 and was recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 and 2011.

www.nissanusa.com