Carlos Ghosn Interview On Nissan Leaf Price Cut, EV Sales (Video)

March 13th, 2013 by Zachary Shahan

Here’s a great video from Mr. Energy Czar. He gives a nice intro on EV sales and the transition from gasoline-powered cars to EVs, and then he features an excellent interview with Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of Renault and Nissan.

One of the most interesting comments, I thought, was the emphasis that the $6,000 price cut for the U.S. Nissan Leaf comes from the establishment of the new U.S. factory (which cuts wage, transport, and currency costs), not from artificial company subsidy of the Leaf.

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Tags: carlos ghosn, Nissan, Nissan Leaf, no post, renault

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

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socko

where’s the rest of the interview?
- http://xeeme.com/MrEnergyCzar MrEnergyCzar
  
  Here’s the complete interview link: http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/2117135666001/
jstack6

The TV image looks so old fashioned because the screen frame is old looking. It’s just a cartoon frame ,why not make it OLED looking and up to date.

Back to the LEAF it get better and lower in cost each year. If gas was not subsidies like it is sold in Europe at $10-12 a gallon ,EVeryone will drive an efficient Electric that is over 80% efficient compared to an old gas car that is only 15% efficient and make deadly pollution like carbon mon-oxide and di-oxide !
- Otis11
  
  The high cost of fuel in Europe is due to high taxes on gas, not because the US subsidizes fuel in the US. Now we don’t tax it as much as some could argue it should be (for road costs, pollution costs, carbon costs, etc) But these are unaccounted for externalities, not subsidies. There is an important difference, especially in the perception it gives to the reader.
  - Fletche
    
    Either way. Tax gas consumption(one thing gov’t is for) to reduce over-consumption. Use these funds to develop/market cleaner transportation technologies. If you don’t like the gas tax……buy less. You have a choice.
    - Otis11
      
      Well yes, but also no. The government does absolutely have the right to tax gas, and I believe that tax should be raised as the “cost” of gas is not currently being reflected in it’s market “price”.
      
      But I would argue, the government is stepping out of it’s bounds and picking “winners-and-losers” when it funds outside tech developments (Not talking about the national labs nor some of the other public-private partnerships). By attempting this the government actually introduces more market forces that introduce inefficiencies in the free market system, instead of correcting the externalities like it would with the gasoline tax.
      
      Besides, it’s not even necessary. The pure economics of the matter say that if you actually charge the true price of fossil fuels, current renewables are absolutely economical in their own right, without any subsidies. Simply show the end consumer the costs of subsidized fossil fuels and the mass market will make the switch VERY rapidly.
  - Bob_Wallace
    
    Three oil wars and maintaining a significant military presence in the Middle East constitutes unrecognized US subsidy for oil.
    
    In addition, oil companies get some pretty sweet lease deals on public lands.
    
    I don’t think we should make a big effort to limit the meaning of “subsidy”. That let’s the fossil fuel industry get away with too much.
    
    We could talk about “direct subsidies” and “indirect subsidies”. I think people would start to better understand what oil and coal actually cost us if we switch away from the term “externalities” and to “indirect subsidies”.
    - Otis11
      
      Ok, fair enough – my point was that none of these externalities or subsidies decrease the cost of gas for the US market. The US is subsidizing the Global Market and we as consumers pay the global rate for these fuels. The reason gasoline is higher in other places is either taxation to account for externalities or other associated public goods or simply a lack of infrastructure, not direct subsidies.
      
      I do agree, however, than we do “subsidize” them quite heavily. (For lack of a better term)
- http://xeeme.com/MrEnergyCzar MrEnergyCzar
  
  The modern TV screen is a great idea. thanks.