GM responds to Nissan Leaf "Gas Powered Everything" ad [w/video]

Nissan's latest Leaf-related ad asks: "What would the world be like if gas powered everything?"

Well, according to the spot, a middle-aged man would wake up for work to the burning whistle of his gas-powered alarm clock, and with a few fierce tugs at his coffee maker's rip cord, he'd manage to fire up the gas-gulping machine. That same man, while at the office, would walk up to a miniature gas pump to refuel his laptop computer.

Oh, and the owner of a Chevrolet Volt, while standing at the gas pump refueling his plug-in hybrid, would watch in envy as another man across the street unplugs his Nissan Leaf and drives off.

Well, as you may have guessed, some General Motors execs aren't too thrilled that Nissan has taken a public shot at the Volt. Autoevolution says that in a "rare, but delicious unofficial reply on Twitter," GM's Executive Director of Product and Technology Communications, Jason Laird, tweeted:

"A carmaker poking gentle fun at our product ignores tow trucks they need and rental cars they recommend as backup to their product."

On the other hand, GM spokesman Rob Peterson, called the commercial "cute," but says that it's "misleading and damaging to the electric vehicle movement," according to Autoevolution.

Hit the jump to watch Nissan's now-controversial "Gas Powered Everything" clip.

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