The Nissan Leaf->ke3484 may be a hot item these days but Nissan->ke62 is trying to keep expectations at a minimum knowing that profit for the model will only begin to squeeze in somewhere around the third year - and that's on the assumption that it maintains a healthy sales diet in that time frame.

According to Brian Carolin, Nissan's U.S. sales and marketing head, "Over the course of the vehicle life, it is profitable – in year three." The long wait for profit for the Leaf really comes as no surprise to a lot of us, especially given that the car - apparently, it comes with a battery that costs $18,000 - isn't exactly light on the pockets. Overall, the Leaf will come with a price tag of somewhere in the neighborhood of $33,000 and is likewise eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

So, now that we know how long it's going to take Nissan to climb back into the black, we're a little more apprehensive to say that the Leaf will be a cash-cow for Nissan. Three years, if you haven't checked yet, is a pretty long time.

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