Nissan Leaf - attribution Tom Raftery

It’s official: starting this December, Nissan dealerships in select U.S markets will start selling the all-electric Leaf, the first mass-produced, zero-emission vehicle, at a starting price of $32,780. After $7,500 worth of federal tax credits, the price should drop to as low as $25,280. There are several states offering additional tax credits that could lower the cost of owning a Leaf even more – such as a $5,000 statewide tax rebate in California, a $5,000 tax credit in Georgia and a $1,500 tax credit in Oregon.

Nissan also announced a lease program for the Leaf that will put you in the drivers seat for $349 a month for three years.

Earlier today, Nissan announced pricing for the Leaf in Japan. Base price will be ¥3.76 million (roughly $40,700 USD) before any tax breaks. With the current ¥770,000 EV incentive in Japan, that price will drop to a bit over $33,000.

So why are the Leafs (Leaves?) more expensive in their home country than they are in America? The simple answer is that Nissan wants the Leaf to be competitive.

Additionally, Nissan will offer personal charging docks, which operate on a 220-volt supply. Nissan is providing these home-charging stations as part of a one-stop-shop process that includes a home assessment by a certified technician to ensure that your garage is plug-in ready. The average cost for the charging dock plus installation will be $2,200. But charging docks and installation are eligible for a 50% federal tax credit up to $2,000. So after the tax credit, the average cost for the charging dock would be $1100.

Starting April 20, interested customers who have signed up at nissanusa.com can put down a refundable $99 reservation fee. Official ordering doesn’t start until August with deliveries scheduled to start in December. The Leaf goes on sale nationwide by the end of 2011. See the official press release after the break.

[Via: Green Autoblog]