It was clear from the beginning—presumably even to Nissan—that the improvements would not be enough to close the deal for most U.S. consumers. Not when EV buyers have better options like the 238-mile Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla’s long-range EVs.

CNN last week declared that 2018 will be “the year of the electric car.” This proclamation happens nearly every year—despite the fact that electric cars remain about 1 percent of the new-car market. CNN rightly states, “Americans (in 2018) will finally be able to buy reasonably affordable and widely available electric cars that can hold enough power to breeze through their daily routines with no worries.” Perhaps the news organization is pointing to the new breed of longer-range EVs. But other signs indicate that we are more likely to see steady growth rather than a quantum leap in EV adoption.

After years of promises dating back more than five years, Infiniti appears once again ready to introduce an all-electric luxury vehicle. Its previous Infiniti LE, which had become a fixture of major auto shows, was killed in 2014. Alfonsa Albaisa, Infiniti’s design chief, this week confirmed that the luxury marque will launch a standalone EV in 2019. Albaisa said it would be a new model—not a luxury version of the Nissan LEAF or an electric version of an existing gas-powered vehicle.

The 2018 Nissan LEAF will be officially revealed on September 6. That’s when current EV shoppers can fully evaluate the new LEAF—and how its design and technical specifications compare to an expanding selection of new battery-powered vehicles. Thanks to teaser images and leaked information emerging in recent weeks, we already have indications about key figures, including price, battery size, and motor output.