The Nissan Leaf is making positive strides this week in Tennessee. The first Leaf to drive from Knoxville to Nashville made that accomplishment on Monday. Stephen Smith, the executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy made the trip, recharging at a Cracker Barrel restaurant mid way.

Starting in 2012, the Leaf will be manufactured in Smyrna, Tennessee. Nissan has recently been in a hiring frenzy in hopes of getting over 1,000 new employees ready to begin production of the electric vehicle.