Tennessee Gets 1,500 Free Public Charging Stations for Nissan LEAF

For electric vehicles to become a widely-accepted segment of the auto industry, infrastructure to recharge them while on the go must be developed.

...and it's well under way.

WKRN in Nashville, TN reports that the Nissan LEAF, which is scheduled to hit the roads in December, will find 1,500 free public charging stations around Tennessee.

Sure, they're not quite the inductive charging pads that will be embedded in London's roads in the near future, but at least you'll have plenty of places to top off your Leaf's batteries.

WKRN says, "You'll find them at malls hopefully, rest areas, shopping areas," said Nissan LEAF product manger Paul Hawson.

Hawson goes on to say, "On a full charge, you'll be getting around 100 miles of range from this vehicle."

With 20,000 Nissan LEAFs already reserved, it may seem strange that Tennessee -- one of only five states to have the LEAF for sale at its launch -- would have such a large percentage of public charging stations.

What you don't know is that the Smyrna, TN (which is about 20 miles south of Nashville) Nissan plant will begin manufacturing the LEAF in 2012.

Makes more sense now doesn't it?

WKRN went on to say,

If you drive 12,000 miles a year and only re-charge your Leaf at home, expect to spend about $400 annually in electricity.

A 25 mile-per-gallon vehicle driven the same distance would require about $1,800 per year.

When Leaf drivers hit the road, in-car navigation will direct them to the nearest free electric charging station.

"We didn't want to put out such a forward thinking technology and not have it be convenient, not have it be a perfectly reasonable replacement for a car," Hawson said.

Do you have any plans to check out the LEAF at its launch? They will retail for about $33,000, but tax rebates will drop that price by about $10,000.

[Source: Nashvillest; Photo: traftery/Flickr]