Dan Wilder Jr. displays the Nissan Leaf chargers installed at Wilder Auto Center. The chargers can fully power up the new electric cars in eight hours. Sequim Gazette photo by Amanda Winters

by AMANDA WINTERS
Sequim Gazette

Dan Wilder Jr. envisions a world where people don’t stop by the gas station to refuel their cars but rather pull up, plug in and charge.

Now, people owning the new Nissan Leaf electric car can do just that at Wilder Auto Center.

The dealership at 97 Deer Park Road is the first on the peninsula to have charging stations for the four-door electric hatchback released by Nissan on Dec. 10, 2010.

The Leaf is entirely electric, which means no gas and no oil change, and can run about 100 miles on a full charge, Wilder said.

“In our area, how often do we need to drive more than 100 miles?” he said, pointing out most people regularly make the 30-mile round trip between Port Angeles and Sequim.

The two charging stations, one inside the mechanic shop and one outside the shop, take eight hours to fully charge a Leaf, he said.

Home docks take 18 hours to fully charge a Leaf, said Jason Herbert, Wilder sales manager.

Rapid-chargers that take only 30 minutes to provide a full charge will be released soon.

The cars start at $32,780 and qualify for a federal tax incentive of up to $7,500, Herbert said.

Wilder said the Leaf cars can fit four adults comfortably, which is a change from other electric cars that tend to be quite small, and are completely silent.

They are available by reservation and, so far, four have been purchased on the peninsula, he said.

Reach Amanda Winters at awinters@sequimgazette.com.