WIRED just posted the closest look I've seen so far at the Nissan Leaf EV. Mostly it's a photo piece - they're still only giving road tests in the "mules" based on the Versa.
But I learned a few things from the photos, and asked the author a question that will be on the minds of anyone who wants to know something important about eco-driving this particular EV.
Worth Digging, if you're a digger:
Nissan's Leaf Ushers In the Electric Era
Nissan’s Leaf Ushers In the Electric Era
Here's the photo that caught my attention:
See the regen / power indicator at the top of the instrument display?
Looking at that, I'm most interested in the accelerator's "zero point" - the threshold between regen and power. Because if you're a serious eco-driver you want to be able to truly
coast at times, and intentionally avoid using regen.
Why? Because bleeding speed by coasting using no energy is more efficient than using regen and converting kinetic energy back into the pack (due to conversion losses, and the shortened distance of regen).
I asked the WIRED writer if he had any details on that. He checked with someone who knew, and the answer came back that the accelerator is similar to the Prius: there's a "neutral" zone where power flow is zero.
"It will take some practice, but you can coast."
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The writer also asked about the car's drag coefficient:
Quote:
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Nissan wouldn’t disclose the drag coefficient of the Leaf, but said it is “competitive with similar cars.” Whenever an automaker says that, they’re usually referring to the Toyota Prius (Cd 0.25) without actually saying Toyota Prius.
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Full article:
Nissan’s Leaf Ushers In the Electric Era | Autopia | Wired.com