Nissan Leaf Fast Facts

nerfer · Dec 14, 2010

fotomoto said: ↑

Here's some more fast facts I recently learned on the Nissan site:
:
[snip]
:
Cross-town commute on a hot day: 68 miles
Speed: Average 49 mph
Temperature: 110 degrees
Climate control: On

Winter, urban stop-and-go, traffic jam: 62 miles
Speed: Average 15 mph
Temperature: 14 degrees
Climate control: On

I don't see how these will sell in Texas. These are "normal" temps throughout the year that commuters in Austin and especially DFW can encounter. What about the folks in SF and driving up hills? Will it be explain up front that a possible 50% or more degradation in range over the next few years will be considered "normal" and thus won't qualify for warranty repair?
Click to expand...

Okay, your argument lost all credibility with me. I lived in the DFW area for 2 years, and anything above 100'F was unusual (although upper 90's is very common), and anything under 28'F was very unusual. So your claims of 14'F and 110'F as being "normal" are far from that. That might be the extremes for a few days on a rough year, certainly not typical. I never saw either temperature in my 2 years in Texas.

What I've read of actual driving experiences, not conjecture like yours, is that the 100 mile range is reasonable under reasonably good conditions. Add in climate control and some other variables, it will be reduced. So long-distance commuters should not buy this car. That still leaves 75% of the public.

hill said: ↑

Here's a fabulously friggin' fast fact for folks:

Programer Oliver Chalouhi is receiving the first Leaf, today, Nov 11, 2010. Up in the CA bay area of Redwood City.

Redwood City man to get first Nissan Leaf

The media and many Leaf enthusiasts are making the trek up there for the event.
Click to expand...

I think you meant Dec. 11, not Nov 11.

hill · Dec 14, 2010

nerfer said: ↑

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . snip
I think you meant Dec. 11, not Nov 11.
Click to expand...

. . . . . . . . . . . whoops! Thanks ... yep, not good w/ dates, names, birthdays, etc.
Ok here's another fun frivolous fanciful fast fact for folks:

Leaf #2 went to a . . . . . . COLORADO MAN?!?
9NEWS.com | Denver | Colorado's Online News Leader | Colorado man becomes 2nd owner of Nissan Leaf
HEY! That should have been MY leaf!

Seems Mr. Sneaky had the appropriate friend/Renter/family member living in San Diego, which enabled him to jump ahead of many in the premier roll out area. Way to go dude! But, it gets better. He'd DRIVING it back to Colorado, rather than having it trailered back there!

Like the adage that a bumble bee that can't fly ... but everyone forgot to tell the bumble bees that ... Thomas Franklin of Englewood Colorado is DRIVING his Leaf home ! ! 1

Rybold · Dec 15, 2010

daniel said: ↑

Why not compromise with an intermediate ratio? And of course the Leaf is not supposed to be a race car. So it does not require the extremes of speed or acceleration.
Click to expand...

Very good point.

daniel said: ↑

The trade-off is reliability: A transmission is one more thing to break down. The decision to include a transmission in the Tesla Roadster delayed its production for a year. And even without a transmission, it still has BOTH a top speed, and a zero to 60 time that would more than satisfy anybody but a speed maniac.
Click to expand...

I do completely understand what you are saying. At the same time, I know that electric motors can definitely lose strength/magnetism if used to climb hills (analogous to "pulling boat trailers") repeatedly. For most grades, I see this as no problem for the motor. But for anyone that has to climb a steep grade near their home or on a daily basis, I could see a reduction in the motor strength/magnetism over time (a lot shorter life span than a transmission - my 2004 Corolla has 160K miles right now and I have had zero problems with the car). HOWEVER, a transmission requires maintenance and transmission fluid and cooling (environmental waste). A motor does not. Perhaps just the permanent magnets could be replaced and the old magnets somehow recycled or re-magnetized.

fotomoto · Dec 16, 2010

nerfer said: ↑

Okay, your argument lost all credibility with me. I lived in the DFW area for 2 years, and anything above 100'F was unusual (although upper 90's is very common), and anything under 28'F was very unusual.
Click to expand...

As you may have notice (or maybe not), I did put normal in quotation marks. I should have been more clear and simply said those temps are not uncommon in Texas. DFW is hot but it's even hotter the further south you go. I'm on year number 48 living here.

Heat wave bakes Texas, Okla. - Weather - msnbc.com

HEAT WAVE statistics for Dallas-Fort Worth - Dallas Weather | Examiner.com

Dallas-Fort Worth heat wave of 1980 still seared into memories | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News

USA weather and forecast information on WeatherBug.com

But it's the flip side of the coin that I'd be more concerned about. 14f is a veritable heat wave in many northern states during their long winters.

Pulled from leaf.net, here's some findings from the Leaf buyer numero uno in the USA after less than a week's ownership (bold font is mine):

"On a separate occasion Olivier recalls starting the morning on a full battery with the dashboard reading 96 miles, but when he turned on climate control, it dropped to approximately 85 miles. â€œIf you want to cruise on the highway at 75+ mph, then you should not hope to get more than 50-60 miles of range, with light climate control."

CTpriusV · Dec 16, 2010

hill said: ↑

My next door neighbor had an '02 Prius. I remember that, "I don't see how these will sell ..." is what they said about the Prius back in 2002. Heck, that's what many in Texas (and many areas) said about the Ford Model 'T" back around 1910. But eventually, infrastructure (gas) developed ... mechanics developed ... roads developed. Now look how things are. The same will be with EV's. Ignorant people can be taught. It's only stupid people that can't be taught. The very nature of things technological, is to change. It's just another change. For those who find their selves scared ... wringing their hands because change is scary to some, remember ... batteries continue to get better and better ... and charging (yes folks ... even QUICK chargers) infrastructure continues to get closer and closer to each station.
(EV fear reminds me of my daughter when she was 4yrs old ... giving her courage to jump off a diving board for the first time ... first there's fear ... then it's over come ... then? ... it's FUN )
So, don't worry about, "... how they'll sell ..." - because the wait list is now so long, you won't be able to get on the WAIT list, for about a year. Yep ... they'll sell. First, sales will be to the "glass is half full" crowd. Eventually, even sales to the "glass is half empty" crowd.
Click to expand...

I'll second that, I own 2 Z06 Corvettes and never thought I'd own a battery car but there's a Prius in the driveway so I guess I was wrong

daniel · Dec 16, 2010

Rybold said: ↑

... Perhaps just the permanent magnets could be replaced and the old magnets somehow recycled or re-magnetized.
Click to expand...

I didn't think they used permanent magnets in this kind of motor. But I admit this is outside my field of knowledge.

Nissan Leaf Fast Facts

nerfer A young senior member

hill High Fiber Member

Rybold globally warmed member

fotomoto Senior Member

CTpriusV Junior Member

daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

About PriusChat

Quick Navigation

Like us on Facebook

Buy us a beer!

Useful Searches

Nissan Leaf Fast Facts

nerfer A young senior member

hill High Fiber Member

Rybold globally warmed member

fotomoto Senior Member

CTpriusV Junior Member

daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb