Nissan is in the midst of working on expanding the environmental benefits of some of its vehicles by using pure electric batteries with no direct emissions – its efforts appear to be paying off. Of approximately 19,000 pre-orders and rising, 14,000 are from the United States, and 90 percent are conquest sales, meaning that Nissan has "stolen" potential sales or swayed loyal buyers from other auto brands. The automaker's conquest is "almost without comparison" and "few vehicles can capably convert loyal buyers over with this level of authority."

Even though the first year production of the Leaf is already sold out, not everyone is on the pure electric bandwagon, which is leading Nissan to consider developing extended range vehicles in the future. 

EV skeptics have stressed concerns about electric vehicles' range and ability to be driven on long road trips. While there is a growing infrastructure in certain cities around the world, and EV's like the Nissan Leaf can travel up to 100 miles with a full charge (under optimum conditions), Nissan's Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing, Brian Carolin, mentioned that "extended range vehicles could eventually join the pure battery electric Leaf in the marque's stable." 

The Chevrolet Volt, another one of the featured EV's of 2011, runs 40 miles on an emission-free electric charge, but then travels hundreds of additional miles on a range-extending gas generator via a single tank of gas. At the Automotive News Green Car Conference last week, General Motors' Director of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Development Micky Bly noted that his company's approach to EV's was "to make sure they could be primary vehicles" and that "the Volt is intended to be a vehicle that can operate emissions-free most of the time yet still be able to handle road trips when needed." Nissan may develop a similar range-extending model like this in order to supply vehicles that the masses will be able to feel comfortable with. 

Those who have submitted pre-orders for the Leaf have paid a refundable $99 at this point, but some believe as more money and risk is involved closer to purchase/lease time, the numbers of these pre-orders may change.