With ongoing consumer concerns about battery longevity in hot climates, not to mention an all-new 2013 Leaf electric car just around the corner, NIssan has dropped the price of leasing a 2012 model.

According to The Washington Post, Nissan started September with enough 2012 Leafs in its inventory to keep dealers supplied with cars for 114 days.

That’s nearly 4 months of supply, almost twice the ideal auto industry target of 60 days’ supply.

As a consequence, Nissan has dropped the headline price of a 36-month lease on the 2012 Leaf from $249 per month with $2,999 down to $219 per month with $2,999 down.

That makes the Leaf $30 cheaper to lease per month than its closest plug-in rival, the 2012 Chevrolet Volt.

A reduction in lease pricing isn’t the only incentive being used to get more people buying 2012 Leafs, however.

In addition, the newspaper reports, the average discount available on a 2012 Nissan Leaf has risen from $850 in January this year to $3,250, before any state and federal purchase incentives have been applied.

For those worried about the long term life of the Leaf’s 24 kilowatt-hour battery pack, especially with regard to premature range loss in hotter states, leasing a Leaf could provide a less risky way to go electric than an outright purchase.

2012 Nissan Leaf

Despite lower leases, however, the majority of Leaf sales in the U.S. -- around 70 percent -- are outright purchases.

Are you tempted by the new, lower lease deals to buy a Nissan Leaf, or are you worried about battery life?

Or perhaps you’re planning on waiting for the 2013 Leaf.

Whatever your thoughts, let us know then in the Comments below.

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