What is the economic practicality of fully electric cars like the Leaf or the Chevy Volt? I don't have the detailed specs on the Leaf but I do for the Volt so here is my analysis. Assume that the Volt actually sells for its predicted $40,000 price and gets 40 miles on a single charge of its 16 KW hour battery. I live in northern Westchester and work in White Plains. If I use the Volt to commute the 20 miles to work each day, I will just about exhaust the battery on a round trip. In a year I will have commuted 10,000 miles (200 miles per week, 50 weeks a year). At my current Con Edison rate, each KW hour costs me nearly $0.21. Over a year I will use 4000 KWH at a cost of $840. The CU Auto issue describes a number of automobiles suitable for the same commute in the $20,000 price range. Most of these get at least 25 mpg on regular gasoline. With one of these cars, the yearly commute will consume 400 gallons. At the current gas price in this area of $3 per gallon, the annual cost is $1200. The Volt will save $360 per year in fuel cost over a conventional car. However the Volt costs $20,000 more. It will take 55 years of driving to make up the difference. But the finance cost of the additional $20,000 at 3% per year comes to $600. Running the Volt, even in fully electric mode will cost $240 MORE per year than an average gasoline fueled compact. In addition, the electricity "fuel" for the Volt does not come pollution free. In the northeast electricity is generated largely from coal or oil fired power stations which emit CO2 or from atomic energy installations that produce radioactive waste. So why would anyone buy the Volt other than to establish dubious green credentials or stick it to the Arabs. OK, I can see the practicality if gasoline rises to $10/gallon and electric charges drop or stay the same. But neither scenario is likely in the near future. So who will buy the Volt? What am I missing here?

Good job, Nissan. This is going to be a huge market hit of years to come. I will definately buy this cool car!