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Moving the broader passenger vehicle market from gasoline-powered cars to electric ones will require making EVs practical enough for everyday drivers.

That means resolving issues such as limited driving ranges and lengthy charging times \\u2014 where automakers have made great strides in recent years \\u2014 but it also means making EVs more affordable.

Nissan, which helped usher in the electric-car era with its Leaf more than a decade ago, has reportedly slashed the starting price of the newest Leaf model by thousands of dollars compared to the 2021 version \\u2014 and can now claim the title of the nation\\u2019s most affordable EV.

Electrek reports that the 2022 Leaf features a starting suggested retail price of $27,400, down more than $4,000 compared to the 2021 model. That doesn\\u2019t include things like taxes, license fees or destination fees, but it also doesn\\u2019t include a full federal tax credit for EVs, which Nissan still qualifies for. That would drop the starting price below $20,000, with potentially more savings available through state or local incentives.

The new Leaf comes in five models that start anywhere from $27,400 to $37,400; the extra money is the difference between a range of nearly 150 miles and a range for more than 200.

The Mini Electric, often cited as the market\\u2019s cheapest EV, starts at just under $30,000, while Tesla\\u2019s mass-market electric sedan, the Model 3, starts at more than $40,000.\\xa0

Nissan also plans to bolster its EV lineup in the U.S. later this year. The Ariya mid-size SUV will reportedly feature a range of up to 300 miles.

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