Chris Woodyard

USA TODAY

NEW YORK -- Nissan is making free charging more available and easier for owners of its electric Leaf.

It is expanding its "No Charge to Charge" program, which provides two years of no-cost public charging with the purchase or lease of a Leaf. It available in 25 U.S. markets, home to 80% of Leaf sales.

Drivers will be issued credit-card-like EZ-Charge cards. Offering free charging is like offering free gas and the costs add up quick, but Nissan sees it a key inducement to help sell its electric car.

"Public charging is an important way to provide added range confidence to EV buyers and persuade more shoppers to join the more than 110,000 LEAF drivers around the world," says Nissan's Fred Diaz.

Nissan made the announcement in conjunction with the New York Auto Show.