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Driving an EV cross-country, planting trees in all 48 states

National Drive Electric Week kicks off on September 12, but Brian Kent is starting his celebration early in an incredibly green way. On August 24, he sets off in his Nissan Leaf from Albion, NY, on an odyssey to visit the 48 contiguous US states and plant a tree in each one. Along the way, he's stopping off for the EV festival's party in Jeffersontown, KY. Kent calls the 26,000-mile drive the Negative Carbon US Road Trip because in 40 years those 48 trees should trap about 10 times more CO2 than his Leaf produces on the journey. He's sponsored by Kampgrounds of America, and this modern Johnny Appleseed is sowing the plants at some of its 485 sites around North America. National Drive Electric Week currently has 146 events scheduled for this year, including several in Canada and one in Hong Kong. The annual celebration aims to get people interested in plug-in vehicles. One of the gatherings last year even had the world's largest ever parade of EVs, but the record was unofficially broken in Berlin this spring. Will we get a new record next month? Just in Time for National Drive Electric Week: A Cross-Country Trip to Raise Awareness of Plug-In Vehicles Brian Kent will log 26,000 miles in his electric car, planting one tree in 48 states along the way San Francisco, Calif., Aug. 18, 2015—Brian Kent, set to embark upon a cross-country trek in his electric car on Aug. 24, will participate in National Drive Electric Week by routing his 48-state, gasoline-free tour through the EV celebration's event in Jeffersontown, KY. Kent plans to launch his 26,000-mile journey from his home in Albion, NY, charging his Nissan LEAF in city centers and campgrounds alike and planting a tree in each state for his first annual Negative Carbon U.S. Road Trip. He will blog along the way. Volunteers and other plug-in vehicle supporters in more than 130 cities from Hilo, HI to South Portland, ME will stage ride-and-drives and related activities during National Drive Electric Week, Sept. 12-20, for the same reason that Kent is hitting the road: to raise awareness of plug-ins. "My goals are consistent with those of National Drive Electric Week," said the freelance writer. "Misperceptions are rife.

Nissan Xterra exits stage left [UPDATE]

Update: The original story said the 2016 Rogue switches to a camera-based blind spot warning system, rather than radar-based. The opposite is true, and the text is changed to reflect this. Nissan is announcing most its 2016 model-year changes, and you can say farewell to the Xterra after 15 years in the lineup. As previously rumored, the SUV is shuffling off without a replacement to join the similar recent fates of the Nissan Pathfinder hybrid and Volkswagen Touareg hybrid. The decision is easy to understand. The Japanese automaker's volume is up 4.6 percent through July in the US to 792,642 vehicles, but the Xterra moved just 8,114 examples in that time, down 25.1 percent from the same period in 2014. While the Xterra is leaving, Nissan has a lot in store for the 2016 model year. New additions to the lineup include the latest generations of the Maxima and Titan. Plus, the Altima and Sentra are being refreshed with reports suggesting both of them take design inspiration from the latest Murano. Nissan is also keeping the Rogue fresh, even though it was just redesigned for 2014. The SL Premium package gets forward emergency braking. Siri Eyes Free is added to the SV Premium package and SL, and body-colored mirrors with integrated turn signals come on the S appearance package. Finally, the blind spot warning system is now radar-based, rather than using a camera. You can read the full list of changes for each model in the press release below, but some of the highlights include: 370Z Coupe and 370Z Nismo are available with a Bose stereo with active noise cancellation and active sound enhancement. The Frontier gets a moonroof on the Crew Cab SV GT-R wears 20-spoke Rays wheels rather than the previous 10-spoke design Juke has standard Siri Eyes Free NV Cargo has added side-impact airbags NV Passenger gets a standard 5.8-inch infotainments system on the SL trim Pathfinder has an optional cold package on the SV with heated front seats, steering wheel, and side mirrors Versa Note SV now gets convenience package standard, which includes a 5.0-inch infotainment system, RearView Monitor, and Divide-N-Hide rear floor. The 2016 Nissan lineup: Charting the changes Nissan is a brand on the move. And on a roll. The past two years have seen the back-to-back introductions of the segment-busting 2014 Rogue and 2015 Murano, which helped drive Nissan to record 2014 calendar year sales of 1,269,565 (+12.2%) in the United States.

Recharge Wrap-up: Nissan Murano Hybrid in China, FCA hearts E15

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has approved the use of E15 in its 2016 model year vehicles. The Renewable Fuels Association is pleased with the automaker's choice to cover the higher ethanol blend in its warranty statements, describing it as a positive signal for the future growth of E15. "FCA's decision to join GM and Ford provides clear evidence that the tide on E15 has turned," says RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. "The automaker's decision not to embrace E15 had been a major point of concern and tension for the last three years." Read more from the RFA. Skoda's head of purchasing, Dieter Seemann, discusses sourcing EV components in a new interview. He says the biggest challenge is seeking out future suppliers for electric motor and connected vehicle components. "We have to really understand what happens in this business to identify the right partners to have in five to eight years from now," says Seemann. "Many of these are suppliers completely new to us." He says Skoda purchases 50 to 55 percent of its parts directly, while chassis and powertrain parts are shared among other Volkswagen Group brands. Read the full interview at Automotive News Europe. Nissan is helping the European Commission develop a pedestrian alert system for electric vehicles. Called Electric Vehicle Alert for Detection and Emergency Response (eVADER), the project aims to develop technology that provides audible cues to alert pedestrians to oncoming vehicles without contributing to noise pollution. Nissan created a system for the Leaf that uses a camera to recognize pedestrians and cyclists and direct a sound in their direction. This work will help the EU shape its laws moving forward. Read more at Electric Cars Report. The Nissan Murano Hybrid has gone on sale in China. The Murano Hybrid is powered by a supercharged 2.5-liter engine and an electric motor with lithium-ion battery. The hybrid uses Nissan's All Mode 4x4-i all-wheel-drive system, and is equipped with a host of safety technology. The new Murano helps Nissan cater to China's growing demand for SUVs, and is also part of the "Young Nissan" strategy. Read more at Green Car Congress, or in the press release below. Nissan introduces the all-new Murano to China SHANGHAI, China(August 8, 2015) – Nissan today announced that the all-new Murano, including the hybrid version, is officially available for sale from its joint venture in China, Dongfeng Nissan Passenger vehicle company (DFL-PV).

Should you buy an EV?

Gas prices are hitting the skids and EVs are following suit; nearly every model in today's market has experienced a double-digit decline in sales – with the always notable exception of the Tesla Model S. Some EVs are in the last year of their generation while others have been half-heartedly designed and engineered to fulfill federal government quotas. The two non-Tesla front runners, the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, are in the unfortunate position of offering customers "2015" vehicles that were designed with 2011 in mind. Yet there's plenty of love in the air. Nissan has built over 180,000 Leafs worldwide, and chances are you will be seeing a second electric vehicle accompanying the Leaf when the new generation is released in the coming months. The Chevy Volt now offers the highest customer satisfaction out of any car or truck sold in North America. Forget the luxury cars, the sports cars, the family trucksters, and even the rolling flagship that guides Tesla's jaw dropping valuation on Wall Street. You want happy with your EV? The brand that's rocking the segment right now is Chevy. It's been doing so for a while. The EV market is poised to become a lot more sophisticated over the next 18 months with the three leading manufacturers – Tesla, General Motors, and Nissan – launching five brand new models along with no fewer than 16 other manufacturers making many of their bread and butter cars available as plug-in hybrids. So, if you want to keep your money as far away from the Arab dictatorships and Russian mafia as Mercury is from Pluto, and enjoy your commute, we're more than ready to do our part! So let's begin with the most important question. What's Your Range? How much driving do you generally do in a day? If the answer to that question is 50 miles or fewer, an all-electric vehicle like the Nissan Leaf may be the best ingredient for your driving recipe. This is especially true if you have a second vehicle you can use for the occasional longer drive or are willing to rent for the weekend. But here's a little surprise for you. The upcoming Chevy Volt was designed to be driven in all-electric mode for over 50 miles. Fifty-three, to be exact. Plus, the Volt's battery has experienced a lot fewer deterioration issues than the Nissan Leaf's due in part to the Volt's liquid-cooled battery, which also uses a lot less of its capacity than the air-cooled Leaf's does.

Nissan dealer: 2016 Leaf will have 110-mile battery option

Leave it to a local dealer in Indiana to spill the beans about the beans about the changes to the upcoming 2016 Nissan Leaf. Maybe. There's a dealer near Indianapolis called Andy Mohr Avon Nissan near Indianapolis and its website says that the new Leaf will come with two battery packs. The dealer says that the 2016 Leaf will come with two different battery trim levels. You can choose a car with the same pack as the 2015 Leaf has (and, thus, still get 84 miles of official range) or you can opt for the higher trim level, which will give you, "as much as 25 percent increased capacity, delivering a driving range of as much as 110 miles." Now, let's take all of this with some grains of salt and combine it with previous rumors. First, this does not seem to be any sort of information about a second-gen Leaf. We've heard plenty of rumors that the 2016 Leaf will have a 30-kWh battery pack that can go over 100 miles, but this is sort of a version 1.5 Leaf, since this longer range will be available in an updated current model and not yet the next-gen model. Nissan's Paige Presley, from Nissan's EV and technology communications, said simply that she, "can't comment on future products." We spoke with Joe Kline, the internet manager at Andy Mohr Avon Nissan, and he said that it was likely that the information about the two battery packs came directly from Nissan but he wasn't 100 percent sure. Kline said that the Andy Morh Avon Nissan dealership probably sold around 10 Leafs in the past year, mostly because the infrastructure isn't as built out as it could be in central Indiana. "They're not quite up to par with the charging stations around here," he said. With the longer-range version, the dealership's website says, "the new Leaf can find a home in even more garages." Related Video: Featured Gallery 2015 Nissan Leaf View 12 Photos News Source: Andy Mohr Avon Nissan via Green Car Reports Green Rumormill Nissan Electric

Fast & Furious Nissan 350Z offered for big money

Fans of the Fast & Furious film franchise will want to check out this latest listing. It may be located all the way over the pond in the UK, but it could be worth the trouble for the rare privilege of owning one of the stars of Tokyo Drift. It just won't come cheap. The vehicle in question is a 2002 Nissan 350Z tuned by Veilside for use in the third F&F film. It's got a Version 3 widebody kit and twin APS turbochargers that bring output up to 430 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. All that muscle is handled by a Nismo two-way differential and twin-plate clutch. It's got a roll cage, NOS tank, center-lock modular alloys, racing buckets... the works. It's the car that Takashi drove in the movie, and was imported to the UK by its current owner. With 9,800 miles on the odometer, it's currently listed at Cheshire Classic Cars for a hair under GBP150,000 – or about $235k at current exchange rates. Now if that strikes you as quite a handsome sum, you may be right - especially considering that the Toyota Supra from the first movie just sold a few months ago for $185k. That's a hefty $50,000 difference, which could account for a pretty sweet garage to display it in or a whole lot of extra tires after you smoke these ones bald. True, the pink Supra it may not have aged as well as this sinister-looking black Datsun, but then that Toyota is the one that the late star of the franchise Paul Walker drove himself. So as far as investments go, Walker's Supra is bound to appreciate in value better than the Drift King's Z. Related Video:

Nissan says these are the five best European EV drives

If you want to combine the beauty of Europe with the beauty of silent, electric motoring, Nissan has a travel guide for you. The makers of the Leaf and e-NV200 took both vehicles on five road trips in the UK and on The Continent, then worked up a home video of the adventure. All the highlights are in the video above. From shortest to lengthiest, the jaunts are Dundry to Bristol in England, Versailles to Paris in France, Sitges to Barcelona in Spain, Malmo, Sweden to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Rieti to Rome in Italy. Every one of them is indeed a gorgeous way to spend a day, but in view of the Leaf's 135-kilometer range and the e-NV200's 170-km range you'll want to take your time on those trips to get the most out of them. That UK drive is 5.8 miles, less than 10 kilometers. The French route is 23.3 km, the Spanish route is 36.9 km, the oversea excursion from Denmark to Sweden eats up 44 km, and Italy chews through 87.4 km of range. We'd suggest renting a Tesla Model S and using the widespread Supercharger network to go the distance in Europe, but we understand why Nissan didn't include that option in their own promotional video. Nissan chose four of the locales for deeper purposes, as well: Bristol recently opened 100 EV charging stations, Paris will soon host a UN climate change summit, Nissan builds the e-NV200 in Barcelona, and crossing the 4.9-mile Oresund Bridge meant to test cold-weather hardiness. Rome was because, well, why not? Related Video:

Recharge Wrap-up: Custom Nissan Leaf video, Shell's Arctic oil plans

A video shows a customized Nissan Leaf. An owner in Japan slapped a pretty spiffy body kit on his EV, along with some Forgiato custom wheels and brakes. There's no telling what effects these modifications have on the car's aerodynamics or driving range, but it definitely gives the leaf a unique and sporty look. Check it out in the video above, and read more at Ecomento. Shell has big plans to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean. With 13 percent of the world's undiscovered oil resting beneath those frigid waters, the company sees this new frontier as promising, despite the challenges involved in exploiting it. So far, Shell has spent $7 billion on Arctic operations without having extracted any oil yet. Of course, the idea of Arctic drilling has loads of opposition from concerned individual and organizations concerned with the environmental hazards of extracting oil in the icy north. Read in-depth about Shell's plans at Bloomberg. Ford has won the Altair Enlighten Award for its lightweight technology in the F-150. The award program honors automotive innovations in weight reduction. Ford was recognized for shaving 700 pounds off of the F-150 while improving performance and safety. "It's encouraging to see Ford implementing a holistic lightweighting strategy, which resulted in impressive weight savings that were incredibly significant to the judging panel," says Altair's Vice President of Global Automotive, Dave Mason. General Motors was the runner-up, with its weight savings in the Cadillac ATS and CTS. Read more at PitchEngine. The Diesel Technology Forum has outlined environmental improvements in heavy-duty vehicles at a rulemaking hearing in front of the EPA and NHTSA. Between 2010 and 2014, clean diesel technology reduced carbon emissions equal to that of 2.4 coal-fired power plants, and NOx emissions equal to 158 coal plants. New rules would help further improve the environmental performance of diesel engines. "Advances in diesel engine technology will continue to contribute to the overall efficiency gains of vehicles under this proposed rule," says Diesel Technology Forum Executive Director Allen Schaeffer. "As a result we expect diesel technology to remain the primary power-plant for commercial trucks into the foreseeable future." Read more in the press release below. Clean Diesel Power Key Part of Achieving Future Truck Efficiency Gains, EPA Officials Told -- Diesel Technology Forum CHICAGO, Aug.

Nissan delays GT-R LM Nismo's return to WEC after poor Le Mans showing

After a catastrophic run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June and a widely publicized review of the program, Nissan is delaying the GT-R LM Nismo prototype's next showing in the World Endurance Championship season. The team will continue testing and working out the car's crippling issues. "We know people will be disappointed, but be assured that nobody is more disappointed than us," Shoichi Miyatani, the president of Nismo, said in a statement. "We are racers and we want to compete, but we also want to be competitive. That is why we have chosen to continue our test program and prepare the GT-R LM Nismo for the strong competition we face in the World Endurance Championship. When you innovate, you don't give up at the first hurdle. We are committed to overcoming this challenge." The big issue for the GT-R at Le Mans was its Energy Recovery System. Its failure meant the racer was forced to rely on engine power alone, hobbling the program significantly. "We have many areas to work on – not least ensuring that we have the best ERS option available to us. The team is pushing hard on track, in the wind tunnel and at Nismo's various facilities around the world to deliver the long list of improvements we know that we need," Ben Bowlby, Nissan LM P1 technical director, said in a statement. The GT-R was met with skepticism upon its debut, thanks to the way it eschewed the hallmarks of most successful racers. Not only was the engine in front – a rarity in the past four or so decades of prototypes – but it also sent its power to the front wheels. And it was a lot – 1,250 hp to be precise, with 700 hp coming from electric motors alone. Despite this frankly absurd output, the competition from Porsche, Audi, and Toyota easily bested the GT-R LM Nismos. Scroll down for the official press release from Nissan. Nissan to address technical issues of LM P1 car before returning to World Endurance Championship Nissan GT-R LM NISMO to remain in test program before re-joining World Endurance Championship LONDON – Nissan today announced that it will delay its return to the LM P1 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship and instead focus on technical issues that challenged its race team during the Le Mans 24 Hours. Issues with the energy recovery system (ERS) meant that Nissan had to run at the Le Mans 24 Hours on engine power alone.

US collectors lift Nissan GT-R Skyline values

Collector cars are seen as such a safe place to "put" money that mainstream financial outlets regularly run stories on best practices. Air-cooled Porsche prices are so high you need a SpaceX rocket to explore their upper limits, and Ferrari is in the unheard of position of trying to convince investors to throw money at its IPO instead of its early cars. Classic and Performance Car reports that the R32 Nissan GT-R is getting caught up in the riptide, with values for 25-year-old examples out of Japan having doubled in the last ten months. The cause leads to the United States, because collectors here can finally import the second-generation GT-R legally now that 25 years has elapsed. As a classic car rep says in the CPC article, though, the trend only applies to "really clean examples," ones with low miles. Road & Track spoke to a couple of companies importing them into States now, and they report that prices have tripled in some cases, and special editions like the R32 GT-R Nismo have gone beyond that. If you're not looking for unicorns or Newfoundland Ponies, however, the folks in the business say you can find a reasonably priced examples. Because they were performance cars popular with the modding crowd, akin to our last-gen Toyota Supra and Mazda RX-7, there's a wide range of wear and tear. The inventory list for importer Montu Motors shows a couple of unsold GT-Rs for mid-twenties money. Chris Bishop at Japanese Classics thinks the present spike is down to early adopters; once they skim the cream and more model years can be imported, "prices will level off, and then go down."