Looking to drive more consumers to consider electric vehicles, a nonprofit group has launched a group-buy program to bring down the price of a Nissan Leaf.

The "Rev Up Wisconsin" program was launched this week by Wisconsin Clean Cities in partnership with two electric utilities in Madison and two Madison Nissan dealerships.

The group-buy program is modeled on similar ones that have been offered in Minnesota and Colorado, said Lorrie Lisek, executive director of Wisconsin Clean Cities.

Were hoping its going to be a huge success here, as it was in other parts of the country, said Lisek.

The base sticker price of a Nissan Leaf is about just under $30,000, and a federal tax credit offers a rebate of $7,500. The group-buy incentive, available through Sept. 30, will offer additional savings of $8,200.

Nissan has reported lower sales of Leafs this year, with year-to-date sales declining 37% from 2015. Overall sales of hybrids and EVs have declined in recent years with falling gas prices and consumers shifting their buying preferences from cars to sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks.

Wisconsin Clean Cities is a nonprofit organization that promotes cleaner air through changes in transportation technologies. It works with trucking fleets to reduce idling of diesel-powered equipment and to expand the network of alternative fueling stations in the state.

The Madison utilities will help conduct outreach at events in the weeks ahead, including National Electric Drive week starting Sept. 10.

The power companies are each promoting electric vehicles in different ways. Madison Gas & Electric, with funding through the federal stimulus program, has opened 27 charging stations around the state capital in recent years.

Separately, Alliant Energy Corp. is expanding a program that offers rebates for charging stations for electric vehicles. The utility announced earlier this year that it was providing discounts for home charging stations, and is now expanding that by offering employers discounts to install charging stations, said Annemarie Newman, a utility spokeswoman.

The utility announced Wednesday that its offering employers rebates of $1,000 to $1,500 if they install electric vehicle charging stations for use by their employees.

The ability to charge at work seems to add an additional level of comfort and security in getting as many commute miles on the all-electric fuel as possible, Newman said. "Thats why we`re focused on expanding the ability to charge at home and at work thats where these rebates are directed."