(Business Wire)  Nissan celebrated with Rishabh Mehandru of Portland, Oregon, as he purchased the 75,000^th Nissan LEAF in the United States. This is Mehandru’s second Nissan LEAF after leasing his first one two years ago in an effort to reduce the emissions he was putting into the air.

“I’m a runner, and when I ran outside I found that I was inhaling a lot of exhaust from the gas-powered cars that passed me on the roads,” said Mehandru. “I instantly became aware of the amount of fuel I was burning, and that’s when I first decided that I wanted to get an electric car.”

Mehandru, senior engineer at Intel, has a commute of about 30 miles and enjoys the spirited driving experience Nissan LEAF has to offer.

“When the lease was up on my first Nissan LEAF, I knew that I didn’t want any other car. I had to have another Nissan LEAF,” said Mehandru. “I love how quickly I can get up to speed on the highway—even my three-year-old son notices how zippy it is—and I like that I don’t have to stop for gas.”

Mehandru’s excitement for his electric car is contagious, and he recently convinced a friend to also purchase a Nissan LEAF.

“Rishabh’s enthusiasm for his LEAF is a perfect example of what we call the cul-de-sac effect,” said Brendan Jones, director, Nissan Electric Vehicle Sales and Infrastructure. “With more and more Nissan LEAF owners on the road, we see shoppers coming in already educated on LEAF’s benefits because they got to drive one that belongs to a friend or neighbor. It’s that kind of word-of-mouth that really drives Nissan LEAF sales.”

Clint Edwards, sales manager at Carr Nissan in Beaverton, Oregon, sold Mehandru his black 2015 Nissan LEAF SV. Edwards explained that many of the LEAF buyers today, like Mehandru, are current LEAF owners looking to upgrade to the latest model.

“We see a fairly even mix of new and returning customers, and it’s equally exciting to work with both groups,” said Edwards. “With new customers, I get to give them the show and educate them on all the benefits that LEAF has to offer. When we get returning LEAF customers, I get to show them the exciting features that have been added since they purchased their first electric car.”

With seating for up to five passengers, the all-electric Nissan LEAF boasts an EPA-estimated* driving range of 84 miles on a fully-charged battery and MPGe ratings of 126 city, 101 highway and 114 combined.

The starting price of a Nissan LEAF is about $22,000** after the available maximum $7,500 federal tax credit, and LEAF offers the benefits of lower running costs and less scheduled maintenance. LEAF offers a wide range of standard equipment plus a variety of available premium features such as leather seats, 17-inch alloy wheels and 7-speaker BOSE® energy efficient audio system.

About Nissan Motor Co.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan’s second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 244,500 employees globally, Nissan sold almost 5.2 million vehicles and generated revenue of 10.5 trillion yen (USD 105 billion) in fiscal 2013. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history with almost 50% share of the zero emission vehicle segment.

For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.

About Nissan North America

In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at NissanUSA.com and InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.

*2015 EPA Fuel Economy Estimate 126 city, 101 highway. Based on EPA formula of 33.7 kW/hour equal to one gallon of gasoline energy, EPA rated the LEAF® equivalent to 126 MPG measured as gasoline fuel efficiency in city driving, and 101 MPG in highway driving. Actual mileage may vary with driving conditions — use for comparison only. 2015 EPA range of 84 miles.

** 2015 Nissan LEAF as low as $21,510 net value after maximum federal tax credit of $7,500. MSRP $29,010. Dealer sets actual price. Prices and spec are subject to change without notice. Excludes tax, title, license and destination charges. The incentive referenced is for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute tax or legal advice. All persons considering use of available incentives should consult with their own tax or legal professional to determine eligibility, specific amount of incentives available, if any, and further details.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150320005575/en/