I love love love my little Nissan Leaf.  Sure, it's not a Tesla.  But I got a used 2015 model for $7000, 20,000 miles on the odometer.  I have an extra dryer outlet in my garage.  I just plug the car in every three nights or so (it has a timer, so it starts charging at about 2 a.m.).  I haven't noticed any change in my electric bill.  I haven't bought any gasoline since last January.

(July 26, 2017 at 10:32 am)drfuzzy Wrote: I love love love my little Nissan Leaf.  Sure, it's not a Tesla.  But I got a used 2015 model for $7000, 20,000 miles on the odometer.  I have an extra dryer outlet in my garage.  I just plug the car in every three nights or so (it has a timer, so it starts charging at about 2 a.m.).  I haven't noticed any change in my electric bill.  I haven't bought any gasoline since last January.

Wow, that's a great deal. 2014-2015 models with the quick charger are running about 9000-11000 here. There was a glut of 2013's that came off lease awhile ago in that range.

(July 25, 2017 at 9:58 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: I'm seriously considering buying a plug-in EV very soon.  The price of late-model Leafs is pretty compelling.  Environmental considerations aside - which are nonetheless important - the total cost of ownership is ridiculously low even if I depreciate it to zero in 5-6 years.  Electricity is ~.08/kWh.  Our current second vehicle is 20 years old and has 180K miles on it and I'd really rather not put any more into repairing it, including what it currently needs.

It seems a no-brainer.

Anyone drive one?  What do you like about it?  What do you dislike?

I have an ez-go it's great for putting around the yard or checking the mail or even zipping over to the neighbor (about 1/2 a mile away) also does well in the sand. even though it is just rear wheel drive. Battery and battery maintainance is a joke if you listen to the manufacturer (they want to completely dischage the batteries. before recharng them.) this destroys the batteries. I work with/consult with a 'space age' (literally) battery company the lead engineers tell me NEVER copletely dischage a battery. the only people who tell you to discharge the battery copletely are those trying to sell you a battery and those who bought the myth that complete discharge is better.

Batteries work on a life cycle of complete discharges and recharges. it is the action of completely discharging that counts as one charge cycle. there maybe 2000 (about 5 years) built in charge and discharge cycles built in a battery (2000electron exchanges between anode and cathode) before the material can n longer facilitate such an exchange.) at which point you by a 10,000$$$$ battery.

Now if you never let the battery fall below 80% you can potentially stretch out a battery's life 10 to 15 years, but there in lies the problem, you have to plan stops and minor recharges or you need to be able to take a 10K hit in the seat every 3 to 5 years.

a. I'm not looking to purchase a golf cart.
b. There's an enormous difference between lead-acid batteries typically used in golf carts and lithium ion batteries used in electric cars.
c. It does not cost 10K to replace the battery in a Leaf. Not even close.

I drove a petrol/electric hybrid about two years ago, driving around town was great, no problems at all, the issue was when I wanted to drive on the motorways (something I do a lot in my job), I would get on the slip road, put my foot down, the engine would scream but the car slooowly built up speed. Once I got to 70 mph it was fine, but the engine had never heard the word acceleration!

(July 26, 2017 at 2:27 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: a. I'm not looking to purchase a golf cart.
b. There's an enormous difference between lead-acid batteries typically used in golf carts and lithium ion batteries used in electric cars.
c. It does not cost 10K to replace the battery in a Leaf.  Not even close.

Also - as I said in my OP, I'm perfectly fine with amortizing the car down to $0 in 5-6 years so frankly, so long as the battery isn't degraded at purchase, I really don't see an issue with battery life.

(July 26, 2017 at 2:20 pm)Drich Wrote:

(July 25, 2017 at 9:58 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote:

---

I'm seriously considering buying a plug-in EV very soon.  The price of late-model Leafs is pretty compelling.  Environmental considerations aside - which are nonetheless important - the total cost of ownership is ridiculously low even if I depreciate it to zero in 5-6 years.  Electricity is ~.08/kWh.  Our current second vehicle is 20 years old and has 180K miles on it and I'd really rather not put any more into repairing it, including what it currently needs.

It seems a no-brainer.

Anyone drive one?  What do you like about it?  What do you dislike?

---

I have an ez-go it's great for putting around the yard or checking the mail or even zipping over to the neighbor (about 1/2 a mile away) also does well in the sand. even though it is just rear wheel drive. Battery and battery maintainance is a joke if you listen to the manufacturer (they want to completely dischage the batteries. before recharng them.) this destroys the batteries. I work with/consult with a 'space age' (literally) battery company the lead engineers tell me NEVER copletely dischage a battery. the only people who tell you to discharge the battery copletely are those trying to sell you a battery and those who bought the myth that complete discharge is better.

Batteries work on a life cycle of complete discharges and recharges. it is the action of completely discharging that counts as one charge cycle. there maybe 2000 (about 5 years) built in charge and discharge cycles built in a battery (2000electron exchanges between anode and cathode) before the material can n longer facilitate such an exchange.) at which point you by a 10,000$$$$ battery.

Now if you never let the battery fall below 80% you can potentially stretch out a battery's life 10 to 15 years, but there in lies the problem, you have to plan stops and minor recharges or you need to be able to take a 10K hit in the seat every 3 to 5 years.

The Nissan Leaf battery is under 100,000 mile warranty.  I'm ok with that.   https://www.nissanusa.com/electric-cars/...e/battery/
The Nissan EV specialist told me that it's best to keep the battery between 20 - 80% charge.  Never discharge it completely.  But when you top it up too often, it can start using the "headroom" it holds for the regenerative braking function to overcharge, which could actually damage the battery over time.

(July 26, 2017 at 4:14 pm)drfuzzy Wrote: The Nissan Leaf is under 100,000 mile warranty.  I'm ok with that.   https://www.nissanusa.com/electric-cars/...e/battery/
The Nissan EV specialist told me that it's best to keep the battery between 20 - 80% charge.  Never discharge it completely.  But when you top it up too often, it can start using the "headroom" it holds for the regenerative braking function to overcharge, which could actually damage the battery over time.

That's pretty standard with most batteries. It's not good to always keep them charged or charging

It looks like the new battery would actually cost $5499 plus tax. That's a damn expensive battery.

If you can afford it, go ahead and buy that which will be more lenient on the environment.

I have never owned a car; they are too expensive, especially when there are other things upon which I would prefer to spend my money.