Nissan Leaf

[P-hack]

take a look, charging stations have been popping up all over. (the leaf actually displays them on the map w/gps and directions), plus plenty of android/iphone/website options. And probably there is at least 120v somewhere for a 1.5kw topoff at your friends/families house, or install a 240v outlet for 'em if you plan on frequenting them.

https://na.chargepoint.com/charge_point

[P-hack]

wanted to note there is a fair bit of push to have employers make chargers available too,
Government seeks to spur employers to install charging stations for electric cars | Online Athens

what is funny in the comments with folks complaining about coal and etc, when georgia is ranked #19 with %36 renewables (though mostly ethanol, which isn't so hot) http://energy.gov/maps/renewable-ene...oduction-state, really the northwest has the best combination of wind/hydro/population density it seems, the others have a huge biomass component (down on the farm I recon).

[redpoint5]

I created a spreadsheet that calculates the total cost of vehicle ownership. It can handle both EV and fossil fueled vehicles and can compare them side by side.

Total Cost of Ownership Spreadsheet

I've also attached it in this thread.

It has values entered from the example I gave above, but you can plug in your own values.

Let me know if the link doesn't work, or if you have suggestions or features I should add.

[P-hack]

The battery is really the known unknown here. The leaf battery has a 96 mo, 100k mile warranty for at least 80% capacity, so you shouldn't have to sweat it for the first 8 years at 12k mi/year. A replacement is $5.5k, but plenty of other hacks available (play the replace the weakest cells game, or carry extra cells somewhere to augment the pack). They already have eniger kits to add 40 miles to a leaf (and a diy version can't be too horrible). And really that is the only thing likely to go south (where south is slightly reduced range), and it is way more reliable than an ICE (manufacturers routinely give an extra 3 years and 40k miles on electric drivetrain parts). So having actually thought about it, I'm not at all concerned, this thing should just keep going and going (knock on wood).

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Hypermiler1995

I live in redneckville, so I'm not sure where the closest charging station is!
The closest E-85 is probably 100+mi away

I was shocked to find 6 Tesla charging stations in Detroit Oregon. The town is in the foothills of the mountains and has a population of 209 people. A trip report from a guy talked about charging in Centrailia WA, Woodburn OR, Black Butte OR... all very small and rural towns.



Site of new Detroit chargers. Take a look around; that is the entire town.
https://goo.gl/maps/Myj6o

[P-hack]

It was real eye opening when I started looking for public charging, it has really taken off. I suppose it makes sense, electricity is pretty much everywhere, and kiosks are relatively inexpensive, largely a one time cost.

they probably add them like you would a cell tower, to bridge a gap (i.e. it is about 200 squiggly miles to the dalles). They have them strung along rout 5 too so you could drive your model S from san diego to calgary (funny nothing south of mexicali...)

[NeilBlanchard]

The Massachusetts Turnpike is scheduled to have (at least one?) CHAdeMO EVSE at each service area, in each direction, next year. This will make it possible to drive from Boston to Albany.

There is also PlugShare.com which can be filtered to show all EVSE's, or just home, or commercial, or CHAdeMO, or Supercharger, or free stations, or any combination of these. Their website includes a trip planner.

I intend to start doing 1 stop quick charging trips, and then build up from there; as I learn which stations are dependable, and how to best work things.

[NeilBlanchard]

I want to point out that there are costs other than money that are involved with owning and driving a car, and EV's are way ahead on those; climate change and pollution being the main costs.

Once you have an EV, you can then take full advantage of a solar PV array. You then would be able to essentially drive for zero energy cost, and nearly zero maintenance cost.

[user removed]

Our lunch outing today cost me 68 cents in fuel, about the same as the daily property taxes on the Fiesta. Property taxes and insurance on a Leaf is $1k a year here, minimum. Compare that to the 29 gallons of gas I used in December. Watched a Colorado (Chevy ad) tonight. At $21k thats 70@$300 Sentras, starting to think about the Sentra as a monetary unit .

I think the Leaf is a great car, cudos to neil for grabbing one. Cudos as well to getting one used for a deep discount.

I just like what Pop said about me buying the Sentra, "It's what you do son". Give me the occasional tired owner abandoned but not badly abused old car. Saves the wifes Sorento every time we leave it in the garage. Keeps me as active as I need to be.

Pushing 7k miles and has not missed a beat after the plug change miracle. In the last 10 years my driving has dropped almost 75%.

regards
mech

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

Give me the occasional tired owner abandoned but not badly abused old car. Saves the wifes Sorento every time we leave it in the garage.

Out of curiosity, what were you driving when you met your wife?

... and your $300 car makes me a little ashamed to spend $355 on capacitors as a battery replacement. I just like to tinker and learn!