Questions about the Nissan Leaf

[Cd]

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

If you must have an EV, why not a Volt? Then you have a gasser as a back up and still 30-50 miles of EV range. Plus they're probably the cheapest EV/PHEV out there without significant range issues like the Leaf has.

Of course there's always the first Prius Plugin, but that has pathetic range and is basically just a regular Prius.

Or heck, buy a Metro or Insight shell and build your own mini EV project, have the batteries be quick swappable so you can take them out and use them for other things when you aren't driving.

I'll have a better look at the Volt.
A co-worker of mine showed me her's, and I came away unimpressed, but if the price is right, I may jump for one.

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by Cd

I'll have a better look at the Volt.
A co-worker of mine showed me her's, and I came away unimpressed, but if the price is right, I may jump for one.

The best thing about the volt is it is zero compromise in my opinion. You drive it the same whether you're going 20 miles or 200 miles, and its comfortable.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by Cd

I'll have a better look at the Volt.
A co-worker of mine showed me her's, and I came away unimpressed, but if the price is right, I may jump for one.

It has typical Chevrolet reliability, but neither Honda nor Toyota have a comparable EV or PHEV in that price range outside of the Prius Plugin.

[oil pan 4]

Austin heat wouldn't kill the battery.
I do not recommend to someone who lives in a hot place.
It gets hot here but it cools off pretty good at night.

[Flakbadger]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

not worth it especially after having the $hit taxed out of you on the registration.

Given I only pay $200 a year on gas things like this are total BS

I feel you on this one. SIX--HUNDRED--FU****G--DOLLARS for registration, because yOu DoN't PaY gAs TaX wItH aN eLeCtRiC cAr.

I put almost 70,000 miles on my Yaris, and I guarantee you I didn't spend $600 in a 2-year period on gas tax in that, even when I was putting close to 20k miles on it a year.

The registration fees are criminal, especially since what is it, 95% of road damage I think? Is caused by SEMI trucks, NOT passenger cars. And I don't pay gas tax on my wife's car because it SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR WEEKS AT A TIME as it is.

In my case, however, I didn't really care about the registration cost because

1) My dad needed a commuter car (their only other option was a 1990's Ford F-250 lawn ornament that needs ~$2,000 in repairs)
2) I moved and no longer needed to drive the distances I had before
3) I was ready for a new car after ~8 years

So I sold my car to my dad for $2,000. Oregon gave me a $2,500 credit for buying an EV for the first time (haven't seen THAT check yet...). So the $16,000 '17 Leaf SV with 29k miles and all options became an $11,500 '17 Leaf SV with 29k miles and all options.

And when you add never having to change and dispose of engine oil or go to a gas station to the mix, it becomes an incredibly attractive option.

I charge my car at home overnight, and it's ready to go the next day.

I've taken trips from Keizer OR to Gresham OR, plugged into my parents' outside wall socket while I did yard work for a few hours, and then have driven home. No fuss, and what, like $5 total in electricity to travel ~130 miles. You really can't beat that.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Cd

I'll have a better look at the Volt.
A co-worker of mine showed me her's, and I came away unimpressed, but if the price is right, I may jump for one.

Volts are “usually “ quite reliable and there is now a modded/tuner/diy repair group to support fixing broken ones

Volt is great all around if you rarely drive outside it’s range but it’s certainly not a cavernous hatchback


Hmm in your range is
Smart Ed
Volt
Fiat 500e
Leaf
IMiev

If your expectations are very low a $2500 2012 leaf would be ok for a very short commute , I might even own one as a secondary town car if I could not pay registration fees or insurance


There is also “this thing” but you need to do your own repairs as well if your out of warranty . I have seen private party sales in the $6 area more fun, more reliable battery but less reliable other components

Ah well no perfect mouse trap

[Flakbadger]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

There is also “this thing”

That BMW is the butt-ugliest modern car I have ever seen, and I will never understand what they were thinking/smoking/drinking/injecting when they designed it.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Flakbadger

That BMW is the butt-ugliest modern car I have ever seen, and I will never understand what they were thinking/smoking/drinking/injecting when they designed it.

I find the iMiEV winner of the most hideous vehicle in the world, but it does seem BMW was trying hard for that title.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Cd

Thanks guys !
So from what I am reading, even a 'perfect' battery will last 8 to 10 years - or 100,000 miles.
( Whichever comes first )

Here in Texas heat, that's 8 years or less.

So to own the car for 20 years with nothing more than driving a few miles a week to the grocery store and back, it would still cost me around 12 thousand dollars, to as much as $18,000 if I buy one used with a tired battery that already is dying.
Correct ?

The warranty is 8 years so if the battery failed (dropped below 75% capacity) before the car is 8 years old Nissan would have to replace it. EV batteries rarely just fail completely. They lose capacity slowly over time. The better you treat the battery the longer it lasts. If you are really just driving a few miles to the grocery store an EV battery should last you a VERY long time and is a perfect application for a 1st generation EV like the Leaf.

The Leaf has 3 levels off charging. All Leaf's have Level 1 and 2. Level 3 was an option.

Level 1
110V with a J1772 plug. 1.3 kW charge rate. The car comes with a 110V cord to charge from a standard outlet

Level 2
220V with a J1772 plug. (3.3 KW or 6.6 kW charge rate depending on year and trim) You would need to install a 220V Level 2 charger at home or use a public charger.

Level 3
Also called DC Fast Charging. Nissan uses a CHAdeMO plug that charge at a rate of 50 - 100 kW. This is optional.

Where you can charge will depend on the plug on the charger. There are plenty of place like PlugShare that will give you a map of different charging stations, the company that owns the charger, the type of plug they have, and the price to charge.

This is a good buyer's guide for the 1st generation Nissan Leaf with the major differences: https://insideevs.com/news/325877/us...-buying-guide/

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Flakbadger

I feel you on this one. SIX--HUNDRED--FU****G--DOLLARS for registration, because yOu DoN't PaY gAs TaX wItH aN eLeCtRiC cAr.

In Oregon the registration for an electric car is $306 a year OR $86 if you enroll in Oregon's fee per mile program called OReGO. With OReGO you are billed 1.8 cents per mile traveled on public roads in Oregon. If you drive less than 12,222 miles per year it is cheaper to sign up for OReGO.

(I've been an OReGO member since the trial started and it works fine)