Comparing Nissan Leaf and GM’s Chevrolet Volt electric cars

Comparing Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt electric cars

A comparison between the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf, two competing electric cars for the masses that will go on sale later this year:

Nissan Leaf

Vehicle type: Fully electric, four-door hatchback

Base price: $32,780

Lease deal: $349 per month, 36 months, $1995 down.

Battery size: 24 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion

Battery warranty: Eight years or 100,000 miles

Range: Up to 100 miles

Charging time: 8 hours at 220-volt outlet

On sale: December

Chevrolet Volt:

Vehicle type: Electric four-door sedan with engine to generate power after battery runs down

Base price: $41,000

Lease deal: $350 per month, 36 months, $2,500 down

Battery size: 16 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion

Battery warranty: Eight years or 100,000 miles

Range: Up to 40 miles on battery. Then gas motor kicks in to generate power for another 300 miles.

Charging time: Four hours at 220-volt outlet

On sale: November

____

Source: Automakers, Associated Press research