Nissan Leaf
 

I realized that while we have been discussing the Nissan Leaf a lot around here, we do not have a dedicated thread! So, I'm starting one.

The first three Leafs have been delivered here in the USA:

World's First Nissan LEAF Owner Counters Electric Car Myths, Says Chevy Volt Wasn't a Consideration | PluginCars.com
[youtube]atvB5t3DXxw[/youtube]

The owner of the first Leaf has been driving it for the 4-5 days and he is reporting / blogging on the Leaf forum, apparently. Plugin Cars has encapsulated his reports:

First Nissan LEAF Experiences: Highway Driving Provides 60 Miles of Range | PluginCars.com

Let's put it this way: he's got a big EV grin! He loves driving it, and he is not going slow. But, he is not getting the range he expected, either.


Nissan Delivers to World's Second LEAF Owner, and So On | PluginCars.com
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5191099_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7172792_n.jpg
Do you think those kids will ever drive anything but EV's?

1st Nissan Leaf delivered to Phoenix is purchased

The fourth Leaf is delivered!

Why Leaf, Not Volt? Here's What One Of The First Leaf Owners Says - Green Car Reports

You know, if I had to buy a new car. This one would probably be it.

The fourth Nissan Leaf was delivered to Portland OR:

[youtube]Wu7GEnYjJwM[/youtube]

The fifth Nissan Leaf was delivered to Seattle WA:

[youtube]N0qEUOMj6ZU[/youtube]

Is this routine, yet?

Not in my opinion...

Getting EV1 flashback,

Handpicked delivery,

spread around the country,

Promo photos

Minimal advertising

I'm going on record now as saying there will be a "safety recall" on these in around 2 years.

You know, I made the exact same argument at diyelectriccar and they told me how crazy I was, and how much Nissan had tied up into it, and how EVERYONE is coming out with an EV, there's no stopping us now, etc. I still believe that they will come out with a recall, as you do, but sometime before the big rollout in 2011 (When Oklahoma will supposedly have access, where I live). In addition, they will claim that there was just no demand for the car.....

Nissan is selling these cars.

The EV1 was never sold, only leased so no one who drove an EV1 ever owned it, the Leaf is being sold outright, same with the Volt.
Even if people had them bursting in to flames it would still be up to the owner to choose to give them back if they were faced with a recall.

The only problem I see so far is that they are falling behind on delivery, but I'm sure that is mostly due to each car being hand inspected before it goes out, but it still seems a bit fishy.

I've often wondered if you could prop a bigger pack in the car.

But then again unlike the 1st owner I could likely get the 100miles or more range. He likely just drives pedal to the medal the whole way down the freeway.

My sister-in-law is getting a Leaf (sometime next summer?) and I hope to be able to try ecodriving it!

That should be cool. Let us know how it goes!