Some in Tier 3 states can order LEAF by Fall 2011

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Nissan has announced in a press release and has just reiterated on its Facebook page that people who reserved a LEAF from a dozen so-called Tier 3 states, sometimes referrred to as the ‘Forgotten 36’, will be able to order a LEAF in Fall 2011.

Here’s what Nissan wrote to John Skinger, a Nissan LEAF reservations holder from Pennsylvania — which is not a Tier 1 or Tier 2 LEAF rollout state — earlier today on its Facebook page:

Nissan Leaf: Hi @John Skinger, we’re happy to let you know that part of our announcement includes ordering information for our patient reservationists in PA. Expect to order your LEAF come fall!”

The announcement that April 2010 reservations holders from the following Tier 3 states — Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, will be able to order their LEAF no later than the end of Fall 2011, comes on the heels of news of a substantial price increase for the 2012 LEAF (the 2011 LEAF is officially sold out).

The price of the entry-level LEAF (SV) goes up $2,420 to $35,200 and, for the upper trim level (SL), $3,500 to $37,250.

Standard cold weather package
You do get more with the price increases, including a standard cold-weather package and, for the upper trim LEAF, quick-charging, which was an extra $700 previously.

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On the other hand, the LEAF SL now costs almost as much as the Chevy Volt, which saw a slight price drop from the 2011 to 2012 entry level model from a bit over $41,000 to $39,995.

All prices are pre Federal Tax credit. The credit can be up to $7,500 — if you carry a big enough tax liability. That means you can get an upper level LEAF for about $30,000 out of pocket — if you’re in the right tax bracket (approximately $65,000 or above for single, $75,000 or above for dual income households).

State incentives might bring your out-of-pocket cost down further. For instance, here in Colorado, EV buyers are eligible for up to $6,000 in state tax credits.

All in all, a LEAF isn’t cheap, but, in the long run, if you calculate fuel savings and maintenance savings into the equation, you are likely to save significant amounts of money, assuming you can get the Federal Tax Credit and have additional state incentives that bring the LEAF’s price down further.

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