To followup on some of the comments, I already own a Prius, and I regularly get 50mpg on every tank. The primary motivation for getting the Leaf is that it qualifies for the HOV sticker so I can save 200 hours each year from my commute. I was also enthusiastic about buying an electric vehicle because I like the idea that we can eventually lessen our national dependence upon oil. The money is really not much of an issue, though when you sit down to do the math, it really depends on the structure of your electric rate plan. I estimate that I would end up spending at least twice as much to run the Leaf as the Prius.
The combination of PG&E rates, AV's estimate for a dumb charger, and the particulars of my house have made me think that it's simply not worth the hassle. Finding an electrical contractor in this area is not particularly satisfying - I've had two of them screw up work in the past, and they charge an arm and a leg to do shoddy work. The lack of definitive information is definitely not helping - nobody seems capable of giving a definitive answer to the question of whether E9A is required for EV owners. E9A would be horrible for my electric bill. Having done the math on what it would cost me to run the car, I realized that the fuel cost would be about double what the Prius cost me for fuel unless I charge it at work (luckily I can).
Another issue is the poor warranty on the vehicle regarding the gradual degradation of the batteries. If the car has a 70 mile range after five years, it's going to be quite inconvenient - like a three year old cellphone.
The good news is that I went to look at the Honda Civic GX CNG car, and I found it to be quite hassle-free. I canceled my AV installation today, and as soon as I locate the right Honda Civic, I'll be canceling my Leaf order. It's bizarre now that the delivery is so close, but I'm completely disgusted with PG&E+electrical contractors. Even the Honda salesman was more competent.