<div id="readability-page-1"><div> The spectacle of a grown man rapidly losing cognitive function is a sad thing, particularly when it’s taking place in real time, one frantic, all-caps social media post after another, amidst the rising temperature of the most witless, malicious US foreign policy scandal to unfold in recent memory.* There, got that out of my system, now let’s turn to the latest news about EVs, featuring yet another award for the all new 2026 Nissan LEAF. *This scandal and these social media posts. If you have any thoughts to add, drop a note in the comment thread. <h3>EVs Just Keep Getting Better, Tax Credits Or Not</h3> The news about EVs in the US has been mixed this year, to say the least. The zero emission movement suffered a crushing blow over the summer when US President Donald Trump signed a new federal tax bill into law. The new law prematurely killed a $7,500 tax credit for new EVs (and $4,000 for used), with the expiration date set for this past September 30. As predicted, sales surged ahead of the September deadline only to crash in October. However, the seeds of recovery have already been planted. Though some automakers have cut back their near-term EV manufacturing plans, GM and Ford are among the automakers adopting new LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery technology as part of a renewed focus on reducing costs in the years to come. Both companies are also excited about the affordability potential of new LMR (lithium manganese rich) batteries, too. Just one year ago, Nissan also indicated a strong interest in LFP batteries. However, in May of this year, the company scuttled plans for a new LFP battery factory in Japan, adding to concerns that the automaker is teetering on the brink. <h3>Nissan Rises From The LFP Ashes</h3> Teetering or not, earlier this week, Nissan earned props for itself, and for the entire vehicle electrification movement, when the company announced that its 2026 LEAF electric SUV made the cut for North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, in the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year award program. The ultimate NACTOY winners won’t be announced until mid-January at the Detroit Auto Show, but in the meantime, Nissan is taking full advantage of the publicity. “The North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year™ awards are judged by an independent panel of 50 automotive journalists from the U.S. and Canada. Evaluation criteria include innovation, design, safety, driver satisfaction and overall value,” Nissan observed in a press statement. Nissan also enthused at length about the 2026 Sentra, an ICE vehicle that earned a Top 3 Finalist slot in the Car of the Year category. However, the real achievement is getting an EV into one of the Top 3 slots, in a competition that does not distinguish between battery power and internal combustion engines. “The third-generation LEAF redefines what value means for a new model in the electric vehicle segment,” Nissan emphasized, noting that the starting point of $29,990 for the S+ grade is “the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the US.” Nissan also took the opportunity to tout the LEAF’s EPA-estimated range of 303 for combined highway-urban driving and its DC fast charging speed of 35 minutes to go from 10% to 80%. <h3>Nissan Is Still Alive &amp; Kicking</h3> Although things looked gloomy for Nissan overall at the end of last year, this year the company’s EV sales in the US started off on the right foot. In January, CleanTechnica noted a significant sales spurt for both the LEAF and the ARIYA. The launch of the sleek, stylish 2026 LEAF in June promised more to come. If the awards cycle is any indicator, Nissan has a winner on its hands. Prior to earning its Top 3 NACTOY slot, the 2026 LEAF also pulled a trifecta in the new “Buzz Awards” hosted by several publications under the umbrella of Valnet Auto Group. The hat trick followed recognition from Wards Auto in September, when the 2026 LEAF garnered a slot in the firm’s “10 Best Engines &amp; Propulsion Systems” award program. “The advanced 3-in-1 next-generation electric powertrain integrates the motor, inverter and reducer into a single compact unit. This design reduces weight and size, improves energy efficiency and enhances driving dynamics,” Nissan explains. CleanTechnica also weighed in with some first-hand observations from a sneak peek hosted by Nissan in September. “Driving the new Nissan LEAF, we found it to be extremely capable and well mannered on everything from city streets, to high speeds on freeways, to aggressive sprints through backcountry corkscrews,” reported CleanTechnica’s Kyle Field (see lots more details, with photos, about the LEAF drive here). <h3>The 800-Pound EV Maker In The Room</h3> Of course, no story about the US electric vehicle market is complete without a mention of Tesla. Unlike normal automakers, whose CEOs are familiar names almost exclusively within automotive circles, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has inserted himself into every corner of the global conversation, venturing far beyond nuts and bolts into politics, gender identity, and gaming, among other topics, always emerging on the side of white supremacy and fascism if not outright Nazism. Right-wing extremism has been a feature, not a bug, of Musk’s public persona over recent years, though with little or no impact on sales of Tesla EVs until last year, when his effect on the company’s brand reputation finally became impossible to ignore. Last year’s sales dropoff gathered speed during the run-up to Election Day 2024, when Musk devoted a reported $277 million to help push US President Donald Trump into office. The bleeding has continued into this year, highlighted by Musk’s new role as Deconstructor-in-Chief of the US government as head of Trump’s “DOGE” office. With all this in mind, it’s little wonder that CarBuzz has tapped Tesla as the “most avoided EV brand in the world.” Citing a recent survey by the Global EV Alliance, CarBuzz journalist Lou Cataldo noted that in years past, when ICE vehicles ruled the roost, brand loyalty was a significant choice factor. In the new world of EVs, though, new patterns of car buyer choice are emerging. “One particular trend has emerged: prospecting buyers avoiding certain brands for political reasons. In this part of the survey, Tesla has emerged as the most frequently mentioned brand, with 41% of respondents saying they would avoid the brand due to politics,” Cataldo wrote. “It’s not hard to make a connection to Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, who has become a highly controversial figure in recent years,” Cataldo added. Ya don’t say. By way of comparison, if you can name the CEO of Nissan off the top of your head, run right out and buy yourself a cigar (that would be Ivan Espinosa, appointed to the position in March). Bonus points if you can name the chairperson of the company’s Americas division (Chritian Meunier, appointed in March). Photo (cropped): Nissan is banking on the all new 2026 Nissan LEAF to pump up its EV sales in the US, riding a wave of publicity from the car’s inclusion as a Top 3 Finalist in the North American Utility Vehicle of the Year award program (credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica). </div></div>

The article discusses President Trump's cognitive decline and its impact on EV tax credits, which were prematurely ended, affecting sales. Despite this, Nissan's 2026 LEAF electric SUV is nominated for the North American Utility Vehicle of the Year award, showcasing its strong EV sales and innovative powertrain design.

President Trump’s Brain Is Officially Fried, But EVs Just Keep Getting Better