Nissan Leaf
Government Teat-sucker
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Virginia Beach
I take it from your post that you aren't thrilled with the Leaf? Why not?
Now keep in mind that I am under the impression that this car will travel about 100 miles on a charge and costs about half what the GM Volt costs. Is that accurate?
Now keep in mind that I am under the impression that this car will travel about 100 miles on a charge and costs about half what the GM Volt costs. Is that accurate?
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Joined: Sep 2010
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I didn't even know this car existed. Info for anyone interested LINK: Nissan LEAF Electric Car 
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
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From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
It turns out that he did not buy it. He tried, but so many were pre-sold that he backed out. They wanted a huge deposit with no specific delivery date.
What's wrong with it? I don't know, I'm not familiar with the technology. Every electric car so far is quite different. From what i've read, the Leaf may well be the best of the bunch. But I think that there have to be some problems re-charging when traveling. Who knows, maybe they have an agreement with Hyatt or Best Western to supply re-charging stations. (?)
What's wrong with it? I don't know, I'm not familiar with the technology. Every electric car so far is quite different. From what i've read, the Leaf may well be the best of the bunch. But I think that there have to be some problems re-charging when traveling. Who knows, maybe they have an agreement with Hyatt or Best Western to supply re-charging stations. (?)
Government Teat-sucker
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,748
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach
What's wrong with it? I don't know, I'm not familiar with the technology. Every electric car so far is quite different. From what i've read, the Leaf may well be the best of the bunch. But I think that there have to be some problems re-charging when traveling. Who knows, maybe they have an agreement with Hyatt or Best Western to supply re-charging stations. (?)
I would like to know how much charging your car would cost... would it be like running the A/C on high with the door open, or would it be a little cheaper than having a water heater that's set too hot? Maybe it would only cost as much as, say, three loads of laundry? If that's the case, it isn't costly at all.
The biggest appeal for me is the fact that the Chevy Volt costs about $45,000 and only goes 45 miles on a charge, and the Leaf (the first time I saw an ad for it was when Fox News did a piece on the annual car show in Detroit) supposedly would go 100 miles on a charge and only cost a bit over $20,000. Why is it that the largest car maker in the world needs to charge twice as much for a car that oes half as much? If Nissan has achieved this, it's a testament to the free market, IMHO.
OK, my numbers were a bit off, but still quite a disparity between the two cars.
Volt
Leaf- about $32,000 (without the tax credit):
Leaf
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
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From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
According to my son, they want about $35K for the Leaf. He agrees that the estimated range is 72 to 138 miles, depending on conditions and driving style. But this is clearly not a "road trip" type vehicle. Drive it to work or go out to play but little beyond that.
Oh, he also said that some time next year, incentives will kick in that will lower the cost to $26-27K.
Oh, he also said that some time next year, incentives will kick in that will lower the cost to $26-27K.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Scio, OR
The Leaf is all electric. So you have to have a charging station to use it. That pretty much limits it's range, unless we someday reach the point where there are charging stations everywhere. Even then, you're only going to get 70-140 miles between 8 hour charges.
The Volt, isn't all electric. It has a gas engine. And even though GM doesn't want to admit to it, it is essentially a very expensive government subsidized hybrid. It apparently gets about 35-40 MPG after it's 40 minutes of battery run out.
The Volt, isn't all electric. It has a gas engine. And even though GM doesn't want to admit to it, it is essentially a very expensive government subsidized hybrid. It apparently gets about 35-40 MPG after it's 40 minutes of battery run out.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Running Springs CA
Really much less limiting than a dedicated CNG Crown Vic. I have to hand it to Nissan for developing the first all-electric that appears to be a real car. The Ford TH!INK is a glorified golf cart.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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The Leaf is all electric. So you have to have a charging station to use it. That pretty much limits it's range, unless we someday reach the point where there are charging stations everywhere. Even then, you're only going to get 70-140 miles between 8 hour charges.
The Volt, isn't all electric. It has a gas engine. And even though GM doesn't want to admit to it, it is essentially a very expensive government subsidized hybrid. It apparently gets about 35-40 MPG after it's 40 minutes of battery run out.
The Volt, isn't all electric. It has a gas engine. And even though GM doesn't want to admit to it, it is essentially a very expensive government subsidized hybrid. It apparently gets about 35-40 MPG after it's 40 minutes of battery run out.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,180
Likes: 669
From: Scio, OR
If they could come up with a reasonably priced battery swap system, I could see that working. I don't really see how the charging stations would work.
From what I read on the Leaf web site, you need a 220v charging station in your garage and it takes 8 hours to get a full charge. There is also apparently a 440v quick charging method. But if it takes 8 hours to get a full charge at 220v, it have to take at least 4 hours to get a full charge at 440v. So you get maybe 2 hours driving, and then at least 4 hours charging. Great for like you said, around town commuting. But really not feasible for the road trip.
And.... according to Nissan's web site, the 220v charging station uses a 40 amp circuit. So, assuming the worse case scenario, 220v, 40 amp, full 8 hour charge every day. That's 8,800 watts per hour for 8 hours is 70,400 watt/hours per day or 70 (approx) kW/hours per day or 1400 KW/hours for a 20 day work month (5 days a week, 4 weeks). How much do you pay per kW/h for electricity?
From what I read on the Leaf web site, you need a 220v charging station in your garage and it takes 8 hours to get a full charge. There is also apparently a 440v quick charging method. But if it takes 8 hours to get a full charge at 220v, it have to take at least 4 hours to get a full charge at 440v. So you get maybe 2 hours driving, and then at least 4 hours charging. Great for like you said, around town commuting. But really not feasible for the road trip.
And.... according to Nissan's web site, the 220v charging station uses a 40 amp circuit. So, assuming the worse case scenario, 220v, 40 amp, full 8 hour charge every day. That's 8,800 watts per hour for 8 hours is 70,400 watt/hours per day or 70 (approx) kW/hours per day or 1400 KW/hours for a 20 day work month (5 days a week, 4 weeks). How much do you pay per kW/h for electricity?
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If they could come up with a reasonably priced battery swap system, I could see that working. I don't really see how the charging stations would work.
From what I read on the Leaf web site, you need a 220v charging station in your garage and it takes 8 hours to get a full charge. There is also apparently a 440v quick charging method. But if it takes 8 hours to get a full charge at 220v, it have to take at least 4 hours to get a full charge at 440v. So you get maybe 2 hours driving, and then at least 4 hours charging. Great for like you said, around town commuting. But really not feasible for the road trip.
And.... according to Nissan's web site, the 220v charging station uses a 40 amp circuit. So, assuming the worse case scenario, 220v, 40 amp, full 8 hour charge every day. That's 8,800 watts per hour for 8 hours is 70,400 watt/hours per day or 70 (approx) kW/hours per day or 1400 KW/hours for a 20 day work month (5 days a week, 4 weeks). How much do you pay per kW/h for electricity?
From what I read on the Leaf web site, you need a 220v charging station in your garage and it takes 8 hours to get a full charge. There is also apparently a 440v quick charging method. But if it takes 8 hours to get a full charge at 220v, it have to take at least 4 hours to get a full charge at 440v. So you get maybe 2 hours driving, and then at least 4 hours charging. Great for like you said, around town commuting. But really not feasible for the road trip.
And.... according to Nissan's web site, the 220v charging station uses a 40 amp circuit. So, assuming the worse case scenario, 220v, 40 amp, full 8 hour charge every day. That's 8,800 watts per hour for 8 hours is 70,400 watt/hours per day or 70 (approx) kW/hours per day or 1400 KW/hours for a 20 day work month (5 days a week, 4 weeks). How much do you pay per kW/h for electricity?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
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From: Lafayette, IN
If they could come up with a reasonably priced battery swap system, I could see that working. I don't really see how the charging stations would work.
From what I read on the Leaf web site, you need a 220v charging station in your garage and it takes 8 hours to get a full charge. There is also apparently a 440v quick charging method. But if it takes 8 hours to get a full charge at 220v, it have to take at least 4 hours to get a full charge at 440v. So you get maybe 2 hours driving, and then at least 4 hours charging. Great for like you said, around town commuting. But really not feasible for the road trip.
And.... according to Nissan's web site, the 220v charging station uses a 40 amp circuit. So, assuming the worse case scenario, 220v, 40 amp, full 8 hour charge every day. That's 8,800 watts per hour for 8 hours is 70,400 watt/hours per day or 70 (approx) kW/hours per day or 1400 KW/hours for a 20 day work month (5 days a week, 4 weeks). How much do you pay per kW/h for electricity?
From what I read on the Leaf web site, you need a 220v charging station in your garage and it takes 8 hours to get a full charge. There is also apparently a 440v quick charging method. But if it takes 8 hours to get a full charge at 220v, it have to take at least 4 hours to get a full charge at 440v. So you get maybe 2 hours driving, and then at least 4 hours charging. Great for like you said, around town commuting. But really not feasible for the road trip.
And.... according to Nissan's web site, the 220v charging station uses a 40 amp circuit. So, assuming the worse case scenario, 220v, 40 amp, full 8 hour charge every day. That's 8,800 watts per hour for 8 hours is 70,400 watt/hours per day or 70 (approx) kW/hours per day or 1400 KW/hours for a 20 day work month (5 days a week, 4 weeks). How much do you pay per kW/h for electricity?
Here's a link: Average Energy Prices in Chicago-Gary-Kenosha Area - June 2010 That says the average is 13.2 cents per as a nationwide average, so if you use 1400 kWh a month for your car, that translates to an extra $185 per month for one vehicle. No thanks.
Jason
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Joined: Sep 2010
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I'll take you for your word on the math Jason, but you do agree people should have a choice, right? We would be a stronger Nation if we stopped importing oil and kept our money here, self sufficient. As it is now, we can't keep up with our own demand. This is a weakness to our National Security.