In December, Nissan will start shipping its all-electric Leaf
from its factory in Japan to buyers in the United States, but
by 2012, both the car and its batteries will be produced in
Tennessee. Nissan recently broke ground for the factory that
will produce lithium-ion batteries for the Leaf.
The United States makes up 5% of the world's population and accounts for 25% of total energy use.
In 2007, about 58% of the petroleum consumed in the U.S. was imported from foreign countries--primarily Canada, Saudia Arabia, Venezuela, Mexico and Nigeria. (Source: EIA)
Public policies such as appliance and vehicle efficiency standards and building codes are responsible for at least 20% of the improvement in the US's energy intensity--energy use per unit of GDP. (Source: Institute for 21st Century Energy)
Electricity generation accounts for about 40% of total U.S. energy consumption. (Source: Institute for 21st Century Energy)
Estimated energy demand is charted to grow by almost 50% in the next 20 years.
