Comments on: Green Overdrive: The Nissan LEAF On the Road!

By: The Answer to Electric Vehicle Range Anxiety: Mobile Tech

The Answer to Electric Vehicle Range Anxiety: Mobile Tech — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:54:12 +0000

[...] be sold in the U.S. later this year. We’ve taken both cars for a spin (Volt test drive video, LEAF test drive video) and one of the things that stood out the most in my mind after getting closeups with the cars, is [...]

By: Roz

Roz — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:22:44 +0000

The price after incentives is low enough that the cost is very comparable to a gas powered car. If you bought a Nissan Versa your cost is about $15K. You annual gas spending is about $1800 (assuming $3.20/g, 18k m / yr). Your additional cost for the $7000 in financing is $1623 per year. It's almost there.

Couple of points: 1) 1/3 of the cost of the car is paid for by the government. That is not sustainable for the long run. 2) Nissan has admitted that they don't make much with this vehicle. That is not very good. We want a car industry that is profitable with electric powered cars - so that companies have an incentive in leading the shift to them.

I suppose we are going to need some significant steps forward in battery tech to get there - but this is a very good move in that direction - no doubt about that...

By: Gus

Gus — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:52:09 +0000

I'm very excited about electric cars but given PG&E's tiered pricing for electricity, the the marginal cost for many home owners in CA is extremely high. PG&E's upper tiers are over $0.40 kWh which is many times higher than the residential rates almost anywhere else. I'm wondering is an electric vehicle really cost effective at these rates?

The spokesman claimed $0.02/mile for electricity - what rate is he assuming? Typically, electricity costs are quoted (say on an appliance energy sticker) assuming around $0.11/kWH. If that's the case here, real costs may be 3-4x higher.

By: Mike Nemeth

Mike Nemeth — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:02:51 +0000

Looks like fun, I'm jealous. I'm leaning toward the Volt (if I were to go electric and dump the VW) because of its range. I can't imagine hitting the Grapevine and having to wait for an undetermined amount of time for a recharge.

By: jasonldunham

jasonldunham — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:51:04 +0000

Katie great video! I’m starting an electric vehicle blog called Beyond Oil: Leafs and Volts (http://jasonldunham.wordpress.com/)
and in my latest post I linked to your bio. I love earth2tech, not just the post but how the site is organized, very clean and user friendly.

By: hov5man

hov5man — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:22:36 +0000

I'm one of the 17000 likely to make a purchase. Actually driving a Honda Civic Hybrid but if I understand the new legislation just passed by CA, am likely to get the boot out of the hov lanes, which have saved my life in the last 4 years. This car is not as stylish as the Volt, lacks the range, but its practical looks are matched by a price tag that is at least 13K+ less.

And no offense, my fellow citizens, I still think the Japanese make better cars.

I have a round-trip of almost 75 miles, so lots of ga$-$saving but a little sweating re: range. Who knows, might plug it into my office if I can get a parking place within 30 feet of an outlet.

By: The Nissan LEAF: Connected by AT&T | Hector Alvarez

The Nissan LEAF: Connected by AT&T | Hector Alvarez — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:38:52 +0000

[...] Connected by AT&T During our test drive of Nissan’s all-electric LEAF this week (video clip) Nissan’s Director of Product Planing for North America, Mark Perry, told us that the car [...]

By: eideard

eideard — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:47:27 +0000

Delightful.

If my wife's ancient Volvo ever bought the big one, the Leaf is first in line for a replacement.

Her daily commute is 24 miles roundtrip. Same distance for our weekly shopping trip into town.

All pretty average figures - and perfectly sensible for an electric vehicle.

Now, if Toyota would bring their diesel Taco into the U.S., I might consider replacing my old pickup truck, as well.

By: Weekly Wrap 30/7 – Green links, tips and news | Solar Shop Australia - No.1 grid-connected solar energy retailer

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:52:38 +0000

[...] Nissan is about to release their electric car, the LEAF, yes… its called Nissan LEAF, on to the US marke. earth2tech has taken it for a test drive. Have a look at the video here… [...]

By: Green Overdrive: Test Driving the All-Electric Nissan LEAF!

Green Overdrive: Test Driving the All-Electric Nissan LEAF! — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:39:45 +0000

[...] this week’s episode of GigaOM TV’s Green Overdrive video show we test drive the all-electric Nissan LEAF, which will go on sale starting in December [...]