Well done! I just purchased a 2016 LEAF two months back. Your assessment is correct, perfect “runabout” vehicle for local commuting and grocery getting. Having driven ICE vehicles, exclusively, for nearly forty years, a few things surprised me about my LEAF: 1) It’s fast! Not Tesla fast, but very briskly accelerates up to about 35 mph. 2) Operating cost is very low. I installed a Level 2 charger at home, so my charger app measures input energy accurately. I zoom all around town and barely average a dollar per day in energy costs. 3) Good features: even my base model has auto climate control and a climate timer, so the vehicle is toasty warm when I get in. This feature only works when vehicle is plugged in, so it takes the energy from the charger, not the main battery. 4) There’s a huge LEAF DIY community. These vehicles have been around since 2011; so there’s a good knowledge base, if you’d like to tear into one and tinker. 5) Here in the US, even my used 2016 LEAF qualified for a 30% Federal rebate. This is applicable at time of purchase, no need to wait for your taxes; this must be done via a dealer. Here in Washington State, you pay ZERO state sales tax on EV’s!
I have a PHEV that only gives 20 miles of pure electric range (25-ish on super hot Summer days) and I can charge at home & the office. So it really knocks down the gasoline cost while eliminating range anxiety for long haul trips. That said, I am considering getting a used EV for the daily drives & retaining the PHEV for long trips. I think you covered all the important points. Good idea emphasizing the importance of charging at home for people considering an EV.
My issue with the Nissan Leaf I had was in the winter that 120km range dropped to 35km in -25°C weather. I barely got home one day and had to keep the heat off to do it. I was near frozen. I couldn’t do it again. I drove my wife’s car on cold days and got rid of it that next spring.
Minus 25°C! Who do you think you are - Scott of the Antarctic?!?!?! What the hell are you doing living in a place that gets that cold!? Only pulling your leg ;-) An interesting fact about the Nissan Leaf battery pack is there is no thermal management, however when it reachers a temperature you're experiencing, there's actually a heater in the pack to warm the battery. I'm confidently saying that - would be happy to be challenged on this........
Spotted an older Leaf in the car park at Jerry's last night, that's three I've spotted around town so far. The newer ones are less distinctive unfortunately, so I likely don't notice them.
Whoever purchases this vehicle has to know its limitations: short range plus slow charge. And I mean AC charging at home. The Nissan LEAF untill 2017 has 3.3 kW internal charger. Very seldom it was equipped with optional 6.6 kW. It make a difference when several errands has to be done per day with at least 2 hours stop at home in the middle of the day to top off the battery. In case of 3.3 kW the range is what the owner can get charged overnight plus maybe some stops at some scarce CHADEMO DC public chargers. On the other hand 6.6 kW can quickly give a boost to the battery in 2 hours - a 75-80% charge of a 30 kW-hour battery. And by the way, the car being very reliable, most commonly, the internal AC charger breaks. In that case the only way to charge is CHADEMO until the AC charger gets replaced. There are, mostly in California, shops able to replace that AC charger.
Good points; guess I’m lucky my 2016 came with the 6.6 kWh charger. I have seen TH-cam videos of folks replacing the internal charger themselves; it’s involved, but not impossible.
The overly loud thumpy music when you are driving is irritating, I keep having to turn the volume down to not be deafened, but then up to hear your quiet talking. Please cut it out or turn it down.
Well done! I just purchased a 2016 LEAF two months back. Your assessment is correct, perfect “runabout” vehicle for local commuting and grocery getting. Having driven ICE vehicles, exclusively, for nearly forty years, a few things surprised me about my LEAF:
1) It’s fast! Not Tesla fast, but very briskly accelerates up to about 35 mph.
2) Operating cost is very low. I installed a Level 2 charger at home, so my charger app measures input energy accurately. I zoom all around town and barely average a dollar per day in energy costs.
3) Good features: even my base model has auto climate control and a climate timer, so the vehicle is toasty warm when I get in. This feature only works when vehicle is plugged in, so it takes the energy from the charger, not the main battery.
4) There’s a huge LEAF DIY community. These vehicles have been around since 2011; so there’s a good knowledge base, if you’d like to tear into one and tinker.
5) Here in the US, even my used 2016 LEAF qualified for a 30% Federal rebate. This is applicable at time of purchase, no need to wait for your taxes; this must be done via a dealer. Here in Washington State, you pay ZERO state sales tax on EV’s!
I have a PHEV that only gives 20 miles of pure electric range (25-ish on super hot Summer days) and I can charge at home & the office. So it really knocks down the gasoline cost while eliminating range anxiety for long haul trips.
That said, I am considering getting a used EV for the daily drives & retaining the PHEV for long trips.
I think you covered all the important points. Good idea emphasizing the importance of charging at home for people considering an EV.
My issue with the Nissan Leaf I had was in the winter that 120km range dropped to 35km in -25°C weather. I barely got home one day and had to keep the heat off to do it. I was near frozen. I couldn’t do it again. I drove my wife’s car on cold days and got rid of it that next spring.
Minus 25°C! Who do you think you are - Scott of the Antarctic?!?!?! What the hell are you doing living in a place that gets that cold!? Only pulling your leg ;-)
An interesting fact about the Nissan Leaf battery pack is there is no thermal management, however when it reachers a temperature you're experiencing, there's actually a heater in the pack to warm the battery.
I'm confidently saying that - would be happy to be challenged on this........
Most people overestimate the amount of daily range that would satisfy their needs.
Spotted an older Leaf in the car park at Jerry's last night, that's three I've spotted around town so far. The newer ones are less distinctive unfortunately, so I likely don't notice them.
Whoever purchases this vehicle has to know its limitations: short range plus slow charge. And I mean AC charging at home. The Nissan LEAF untill 2017 has 3.3 kW internal charger. Very seldom it was equipped with optional 6.6 kW. It make a difference when several errands has to be done per day with at least 2 hours stop at home in the middle of the day to top off the battery. In case of 3.3 kW the range is what the owner can get charged overnight plus maybe some stops at some scarce CHADEMO DC public chargers. On the other hand 6.6 kW can quickly give a boost to the battery in 2 hours - a 75-80% charge of a 30 kW-hour battery.
And by the way, the car being very reliable, most commonly, the internal AC charger breaks. In that case the only way to charge is CHADEMO until the AC charger gets replaced. There are, mostly in California, shops able to replace that AC charger.
Good points; guess I’m lucky my 2016 came with the 6.6 kWh charger. I have seen TH-cam videos of folks replacing the internal charger themselves; it’s involved, but not impossible.
The overly loud thumpy music when you are driving is irritating, I keep having to turn the volume down to not be deafened, but then up to hear your quiet talking. Please cut it out or turn it down.