To say that consumers have been waiting on a hard and firm pricing for a replacement 24 kWh battery pack in the Nissan LEAF (or any plug-in really for that matter) would be an understatement.

"Resetting" The Range On Your LEAF - Now Reasonably Priced

Well, wonder no longer as $5,499 plus the turn-in of your old pack (which Nissan values at $1,000) nets you a new "2015 spec" battery replacement.

Using $6,499 as a full MSRP on the pack means Nissan is putting a price of $270/kWh on the cells.

That retail price per kWh would seem to prove the notion that automotive-specific/larger cell application, while costlier to develop at first, is now paying dividends in volume production.

Also as part of that replacement, Brian Brockman (Sr Manager) from Nissan says the new pack has the much anticipate new 2015 "lizard" battery, more able to take extreme heat.

"Changes in battery chemistry, however, have been made in an effort to make the battery more durable in extremely hot climates. (So, yes…this is what you’ve been calling the “lizard” battery.) We knew it was important to early buyers to purchase the latest technology. Holding the replacement program until this summer meant we would be offering just that."

The next most obvious question is "can you go down to your local Nissan and just purchase a battery pack outright without turning in your old one?" No, you can't.

This pricing announcement also speaks to expected pricing of the next generation LEAF, which is expected to be offered in two range packages; one being today's 84 mile version and another with approximately 150 miles of all-electric driving. A 150 mile EV starting at around $35,000 in two years time sounds decent to us.

Mr. Brockman posted an extended statement at MyNissanLEAF as well a little Q&A, which we have attached below: