Drove the 2011 nissan Leaf!!!

[maxmk8]

Pretty neat!

The car is completely silent, has good pick me up, but very touchy brakes, i am guessing due to the regenerative braking. Overall its a real car and drives like one.

Interior is pretty bland, like base corolla/sentra bland. But the dash is very futuristic cool. It fits normal sized adults in the front for sure, the back... well its economy sized car backseat, I fit at 6'4" but it wasn't what I call comfortable.

Exterior is absolutely hideous, and is probably the #1 reason why I would have 2nd thoughts about this car.

Claimed range is around 100miles, not sure it'll actually be that long. But my work commute is 15 miles 1 way, and I rarely drive more than 70 miles a day so it would work out pretty good.

Starting price is 32k - 7500 federal tax incentive and another 5000 in cali tax incentive. , so this thing could go as low as 19500

There are 3 charging options
1. Trickle charger- comes with every leaf and is stored inside the car, takes 20 hrs but you can do at any outlet, anywhere.
2. Home installed charger - about 8 hrs at a cost of $750
3. Rapid chargers, to be installed all over cali within the next few months. 30 min to 80% charge

Overall, I think its a great idea and it would make a fine 2nd car, that doesn't support the terrorists every time I go to work.

I can't wait to see the Ford Focus Electric since that car actually looks good

 

[driller]

Rapid chargers, to be installed all over cali within the next few months. 30 min to 80% charge

I've been reading about this. Looks like free 'fuel' to me.

Well, until they start charging you for the power anyways. :fart

 

[steve]

Cut and past from CFOT lol

 

[Meister]

I don't know if I could ever drive something called a 'Leaf'....

Doug

 

[billcu]

I like driving electric or hybred vehicles.

I've driven golf carts, and a couple of hybreds back when they could still run in electric mode only.

The maximum torque of electric motors at start up, feels so different than an engine.

I think they would be great around a city or shorter trips to work.

They are quiet too.

 

[LeoC2]

Why anyone would consider the Leaf over a Volt is beyond me. Look at the specs, the Volt has it over the leaf in every area.

 

[J]

Is THAT why you called me today, to brag about driving a Leaf!? I'm there with you on the outside, heck even the promotional picture is crappy "baby blue", haha.

 

[maxmk8]

I've been reading about this. Looks like free 'fuel' to me.

Well, until they start charging you for the power anyways. :fart

Free? No, hellofalot cheaper than gas, yes. And you don't support the saudis.

Why anyone would consider the Leaf over a Volt is beyond me. Look at the specs, the Volt has it over the leaf in every area.

The Volt is $42k a full 10k more than the leaf, its not all electric and it only goes 40 miles on the electricity. If you ask me the Leaf makes a hell of a lot more sense.

 

[tixer]

Thanks for the quickie-review! the dash layout looks particularly sharp.

I'm actually very interested in the Leaf. I think it'd be an excellent commuter/around town vehicle, and with those incentives, that price is tough to beat. I wonder if they could fit all of the "guts" into a Nissan Cube chassis instead, which for some reason, I've liked since well before it became available here in the US.

technologically, the Volt is a work of art, and I appreciate that. It's a fascinating vehicle, and I hope it sells well. but if I need range, I'm driving the Mark instead anyway.

 

[J]

For the price, I'd rather buy three or four Zero's...the electric motorcycles. Heck, I could have one at work and one at home, drive one to work and put it on the charger and drive the other one home.

 

[driller]

Free? No, hellofalot cheaper than gas, yes.

For now. They will soon start taxing you in different ways. Not to mention the gas tax will likely be supplemented by a mileage tax. I can also envision a 'universal user fee' meant to enable 'infrastructure' to be built where it would not be so otherwise convenient.

And you don't support the saudis.

That's about as lame of a feel good excuse as 'saving the planet'. :fart

Bottom line is the these vehicles would not see the light of day if it were not for government subsidies, tax incentives and consumer 'bribery' of some form or another.

 

[maxmk8]

For now. They will soon start taxing you in different ways. Not to mention the gas tax will likely be supplemented by a mileage tax. I can also envision a 'universal user fee' meant to enable 'infrastructure' to be built where it would not be so otherwise convenient.



That's about as lame of a feel good excuse as 'saving the planet'. :fart

Bottom line is the these vehicles would not see the light of day if it were not for government subsidies, tax incentives and consumer 'bribery' of some form or another.

I don't see why you're so dead set against these cars? This has nothing to do with "saving the planet" Although having less cancer causing pollutants floating in urban areas is a great thing.

 

[J]

I do my part on emitting less pollutants, especially when I drive my 67 chevy with a 4 barrel pulling my jetboat with a 350 and a 4 barrel.

 

[driller]

I don't see why you're so dead set against these cars? This has nothing to do with "saving the planet" Although having less cancer causing pollutants floating in urban areas is a great thing.

Actually, I find this thread humorous coming from a former Mark VIII driver and a 'vette owner.

We still love ya.

 

[KStromberg]

I would have to smoke a green leaf in order to want this "Leaf". Dude, man....the dash is soo cooooool. Hahahaha.

I do my part on emitting less pollutants, especially when I drive my 67 chevy with a 4 barrel pulling my jetboat with a 350 and a 4 barrel.

I do my part on emitting less pollutants when I eat less beans, drink less beer, and stay away from my mom's wonderful mashed potatoes. That will be my New Year's resolution this next year. Last year I was just joking.

 

[J]

MMMmmmm mashed potatoes!

 

[steve]

SPEED KILLS . . . BATTERIES
Yesterday we reported on how electric utilities are admitting they could have problems with electric cars. Today, Ward’s reports that those fast chargers for EVs are at the heart of the problem. Those are the 480-volt direct-current units that can recharge a car quickly. Nissan says they can recharge 80 percent of a LEAF’s batteries in 30 minutes. But they suck up a lot of juice, up to 50,000 watts per recharge. That places a tremendous load on the grid. And now General Motors says those fast chargers will reduce battery life, if used repeatedly. The Level III chargers will cost up anywhere from $45,000 to $64,000 installed. In many cases, the U.S. Energy Department is subsidizing the cost.

 

[maxmk8]

SPEED KILLS . . . BATTERIES
Yesterday we reported on how electric utilities are admitting they could have problems with electric cars. Today, Ward’s reports that those fast chargers for EVs are at the heart of the problem. Those are the 480-volt direct-current units that can recharge a car quickly. Nissan says they can recharge 80 percent of a LEAF’s batteries in 30 minutes. But they suck up a lot of juice, up to 50,000 watts per recharge. That places a tremendous load on the grid. And now General Motors says those fast chargers will reduce battery life, if used repeatedly. The Level III chargers will cost up anywhere from $45,000 to $64,000 installed. In many cases, the U.S. Energy Department is subsidizing the cost.

Copy and paste from CFOT.

Well Iphone charges to 80% in 30 min also, same tech as teh Leaf, Lithium Ion. Besides the batteries have a 8 year 100k mile warranty so who gives a F.

 

[steve]

Copy and paste from CFOT.

Well Iphone charges to 80% in 30 min also, same tech as teh Leaf, Lithium Ion. Besides the batteries have a 8 year 100k mile warranty so who gives a F.

lol

So power your leaf of your Iphone battery and see how far you get :fart

 

[driller]

480 volts DC? 50,000 watts? I wonder what the safety advocates would have to say.

Mmmmmm.... fried "leaf".... yummy. LOL