Drove a Leaf today

[NeilBlanchard]

There are good LED headlights: Truck-Lite 27250C 7" Round LED Headlamp

Illuminati Motor Works 7 uses these, and they are excellent. I believe they also sell them at NAPA? I'm planning on using them in CarBEN EV5, as well.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

I can tell you this. It is quiet, comfortable and easy to drive.

That's something I've also read in a number of reviews. Some reviewers positively gush over how relaxing and luxurious it felt to drive such a quiet and smooth vehicle. (Particularly in the reviews by the non-gear-heads.)

One went so far as to say they think Nissan is missing out on a potential marketing angle: forget the "zero emissions" story. Sell it on its silky, delightful drive.

[DKaz]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

Property taxes on the almost 13 year old Maxima are a joke.

Wait, what? Property tax on a car? Like you have to pay taxes each year on a car, based on its value or something?

[user removed]

Originally Posted by DKaz

Wait, what? Property tax on a car? Like you have to pay taxes each year on a car, based on its value or something?

Even on my 41 year old 1971 Honda CB 350. Not much, say $12.50 a year but property taxes nonetheless.

regards
Mech

[cujet]

I'm a true gearhead, with professional race car building, and low volume production too.

I like the leaf, I like the way it drives, I like the technology. But, it came across as having an economy car look and feel. The interior was basic, and after a few years, would be as comforting as any aging econobox. Which is to say, not particularly appealing to someone willing to shell out big bucks for a small car.

My drive was short, about 10 miles, and covered both highway and back roads. It's acceleration seemed best between 20 and 50. It never felt underpowered. I very much like the feel of the instant throttle response, without any drama or downshifts.

The cornering power seemed a bit mild. I drive enthusiastically, and I was easily able to squeal the tires. I expected this. The car performs like it looks. That's OK. But if I were to own it, I'd eventually wish for more grip. It would go well with such a responsive electric motor.

The ride was also quite good. However, Florida roads are generally smooth.

Overall, it was a quiet ride, and quite pleasant.

[benfroggg]

You have to pay an annual tax every year here in Maine too-

They call it excise tax, as opposed to property tax. It used to be that it depreciated every year (and got cheap after 15 years or so). You used to pay $5 for something from the 1970's. Now, the law changed so that cars only "depreciate" 5 years as far as taxes are concerned. Regardless of mileage, condition, or market value, whatever the state's blue book said the car was worth when it was 5 years old is what you pay annually in addition to registration. So, my 89' volvo 740 costs me $110 or so a year in excise in addition to $40 registration fee, not to mention inspection.

It would be cost prohibitive for me to buy a leaf at this time in my life, but the same would be true of any new car. If I needed a new car, and had better income, I'd buy the leaf.

B

[sendler]

I was hot on building an electric motorcycle until I started doing some math based on the data from the Leaf. It is stated to get 99mpge. My electricity costs $.16/ KWhr out the plug. It is cheaper to put gas in any car that gets 50mpgUS at $3.50/ gallonUS than to charge the Leaf. Not to mention the high initial price and battery overhead down the road. I would need a full 7.2 KWhr battery for my bike to make the round trip at 68mph which costs over $3000. The Leaf also can't make my round trip commute of 78 miles at 68mph. I will stick with my CBR250R and 2001 Insight for now.

[drees]

Originally Posted by sendler

It is stated to get 99mpge. My electricity costs $.16/ KWhr out the plug. It is cheaper to put gas in any car that gets 50mpgUS at $3.50/ gallonUS than to charge the Leaf.

Uh, not sure how you're calculating that. The LEAF is EPA rated at 34 kWh / 100 mi.

So to drive 100 mi you use 34 kWh at $0.16 = $5.44.

2 gallons of gas cost you $7.

But I've found with my LEAF I'm doing better than EPA estimates (never had that happen in a gas car) and getting around 28 kWh / 100 mi or $4.48 / 100 mi.

Round-trip commute of 78 miles is pushing it real close at 68 mph, but if you can charge at work it wouldn't be an issue at all and you could then limit charges to 80% which should make the battery last a very, very, long time.

Not cheap - but then you don't pay the full price of gas at the pump, either.

[benfroggg]

2 things-
How did you find out how much your electricity is per kw? Here there is a threshold, below x you pay y. Above x you pay z, etc. So at my current usage it would be 17 cents per kw but if I was using considerably more, the price would be less per kw.

Second, all of this math is dependent on the current price of gasoline per gallon... a figure that is volatile and could easily again be $4+ a gallon. I'd say that'd make the leaf far more realistic.

As for the range issue, you would be pushing it under "normal" driving. If you were willing to hypermile and had the extra time to slow down a bit, you'd likely be able to make the trip without plugging in.
B

[Stubone]

Miles electric has a cost calculator that factors in the cost of the battery based on an estimate of it's life, if your comparing operating cost shouldn't that be a part of it.