[NeilBlanchard]

The Leaf is a new platform and it is significantly larger than the Versa. It is definitely not a subcompact. We have fit 5 tall adults into the Leaf.

Even if you compare it to the Prius (which is a very close match for size) then the 90K miles would still cost you $6,120 in gasoline (50MPG at $3.40/gallon).

The 2013 Leaf S is $21,300 after the tax rebate, which is similar to the Prius.

I'm using approximate cost at the dealer: minor service every 5K at $75-90, intermediate service every 15K at $250-275, and major service every 30K at $450-500 = (12 x 75) + (3 x 250) + (3 x 450) = $3,000-3,405.

10 years at 20K miles per year comparison between the Prius and the Leaf:

The Prius will burn about 4,000 gallons of gasoline, and lets take a guesstimate of a lifetime average of $4.50 gallon, so that's $18,000 for gasoline. Regular service is 28 minor, 6 intermediate, and 6 major services, and I'll use the upper end of the estimates. So that is $2,520 for minor, $1,650 for intermediate, and $3,000 for major services; totaling $7,170 for service. The overall total cost is $25,170.

The Leaf would use (at most) 340Wh/mile for a total of 68,000kWh. At the average (in the US) cost of 12cents/kWh that totals $8,160 for electricity. My sister-in-law has had her Leaf for about a year now, and there is no regular maintenance until the transmission lubricant change at 150K miles or 15 year, which ever comes first. So, I'll say $250? That makes the overall total cost is $8,410.

The Leaf saves $16,760 over 200,000 miles vs the Prius.

At 15K miles per year, the Prius would burn 3,000 gallons x $4.50/gal = $13,500. Services is (20 x 90) + (5 x 275) + (4 x 500) = $5,175
Total is $18,675.

Same distance for the Leaf, it would use 51,000kWh x 12cents/kWh = $6,120 plus the $250, for a total of $6,370.

The Leaf saves $12,305 over 150,000 miles over the Prius.

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IF you spend $2,500 on a down payment for solar PV panels, and you lower your annual electric bill from $1,500 down to $696; saving $5,540 over the 10 years while paying for ALL the electricity to drive however far you want. This cost includes all the electricity used for a small ranch house including A/C and hot water, with two people living there for 10 years!

So if you count half of that for their Leaf and i MiEV, and they drive about 15K miles a year between the two cars: $348 per YEAR = 2.32 cents per mile. The total cost to drive an EV for 150,000 miles is $3,480 for electricity, and $250 (per car) for maintenance for a total of $3,730. You save $14,945 vs driving a Prius the same 150K miles.

You also are saving $8,040 on you electric bill over the same 10 years. That total savings is $22,985 in the 10 years of driving and electric bills.