View Single Post
Old 01-07-2010, 03:31 PM   #1 (permalink)
MetroMPG
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
WIRED in depth look (photos) at Nissan Leaf. Also: we'll be able to "coast" a Leaf

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."

---

The writer also asked about the car's drag coefficient:

Quote:
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.
Full article: Nissan’s Leaf Ushers In the Electric Era | Autopia | Wired.com

__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
Rokeby (01-07-2010)