Anyone drive a plug-in electric car?

[Drich]

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.

a. Maybe you should first because the strengths and weakness are similar

b.I was actually refering to the  next gen batteries not lithium ion but Chemistry, performance, cost and safety characteristics vary across LIB types. Handheld electronics mostly use LIBs based on lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO
2), which offers high energy density, but presents safety risks, especially when damaged. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO
4), lithium ion manganese oxide battery ( LMO) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNiMnCoO
2 or NMC) offer lower energy density, but longer lives and inherent safety. Such batteries are widely used for electric tools, medical equipment and other roles. NMC in particular is a leading contender for automotive applications. Lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (LiNiCoAlO
2 or NCA) and lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12 or LTO) are specialty designs aimed at particular niche roles. The newer lithium–sulfur batteries promise the highest performance-to-weight ratio.
Ad if you click on the lik below and read these batteries are recomended to be 'topped off' anytime there is less than a 4.5% reduction of charge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_battery

c.Nissan leaf being the cheapest is 5500 for the battery pack, 1500 core (if yours is good you get this back if not and you burn yours completely out like I was warning you don't get this back which means if your battery will not charge to at least 70% after a completed charge cycle your out of luck) 350 in labor and shop supply. 250 backwards compatibility kit. That's 8500.00 sport.. Not to mention hazardous disposal fee now that the core is fried.


http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1092...-chemistry

And if you read the whole article Nissan is doing this 5500 battery at a loss. which the battery warranty will be 5 years or 70% of capacity after a full charge cycle. That is the best case senerio.

I have worked in electric vehicles for 5 years now and I have to patents related to this field. The battery technology simply is not ready yet for good safe dependable quick charging cars. Tesla comes close but how they do it is over battery the car. And if you don't think there is 10,000 of battery in a tesla you seriously do not need to be driving one of these cars. (12 to 60K depending on what failed in your battery and how long you've owned your car and what battery you are replacing) http://www.plugincars.com/tesla-model-s-...25571.html

These cars are for douche bags who could walk to work or just as easy catch a train. the first time you fire up your car's Heater will tell that story for you. (not that A/C does you favors) city miles only unless there is a charging station at your rest stops.

[drfuzzy]

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.

a. Maybe you should first because the strengths and weakness are similar

b.I was actually refering to the  next gen batteries not lithium ion but Chemistry, performance, cost and safety characteristics vary across LIB types. Handheld electronics mostly use LIBs based on lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO
2), which offers high energy density, but presents safety risks, especially when damaged. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO
4), lithium ion manganese oxide battery ( LMO) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNiMnCoO
2 or NMC) offer lower energy density, but longer lives and inherent safety. Such batteries are widely used for electric tools, medical equipment and other roles. NMC in particular is a leading contender for automotive applications. Lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (LiNiCoAlO
2 or NCA) and lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12 or LTO) are specialty designs aimed at particular niche roles. The newer lithium–sulfur batteries promise the highest performance-to-weight ratio.
Ad if you click on the lik below and read these batteries are recomended to be 'topped off' anytime there is less than a 4.5% reduction of charge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_battery

c.Nissan leaf being the cheapest is 5500 for the battery pack, 1500 core (if yours is good you get this back if not and you burn yours completely out like I was warning you don't get this back which means if your battery will not charge to at least 70% after a completed charge cycle your out of luck) 350 in labor and shop supply. 250 backwards compatibility kit. That's 8500.00 sport.. Not to mention hazardous disposal fee now that the core is fried.


http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1092...-chemistry

And if you read the whole article Nissan is doing this 5500 battery at a loss. which the battery warranty will be 5 years or 70% of capacity after a full charge cycle. That is the best case senerio.

I have worked in electric vehicles for 5 years now and I have to patents related to this field. The battery technology simply is not ready yet for good safe dependable quick charging cars. Tesla comes close but how they do it is over battery the car. And if you don't think there is 10,000 of battery in a tesla you seriously do not need to be driving one of these cars. (12 to 60K depending on what failed in your battery and how long you've owned your car and what battery you are replacing) http://www.plugincars.com/tesla-model-s-...25571.html

These cars are for douche bags who could walk to work or just as easy catch a train. the first time you fire up your car's Heater will tell that story for you. (not that A/C does you favors) city miles only unless there is a charging station at your rest stops.

Well, well, well.  Dripshit strikes again.  I had to see this post, because I thought that there was a chance that he would act like a decent human being for once.  Maybe say something like, "I wouldn't have bought one, but I hope you like it.  And since I'm such an expert on these batteries, if you should have any trouble, let me know.  I probably have contacts in your area that might be able to help out."  Something like that.
   But NOOOOOO.   Dripshit can only belittle and insult.  THIS post MIGHT have been appropriate IF:  the person buying the car was your son, you had given money for the purchase, and you had expressly forbidden him to buy an electric car.  Otherwise, bravo.  You have shown ultimate Master-level douchebag asshole behavior yet again.  
 
So impressive.  Such a fabulous example of xtian love.   May your gawd bless and keep you at least a continent away from me.  Asshole.

[Jackalope]

Yeah, I went out of my way to not read it, and quite frankly, if the man told me the sky was blue, I'd check - if I cared. That's about how much his opinion on the matter means to me.

If I wanted to hear from people who wouldn't and haven't owned one, well, I'd have started a different thread, now wouldn't I?

[Jackalope]

8 weeks and about 2000 miles later, we live the Leaf so much that it's become our primary driver for any trip less than about 50-60 miles (that leaves a generous cushion for unplanned detours.  That covers all of the greater metropolitan area and then some, and at least 90% of our trips. Considering our former primary car is newer and better equipped, that seems notable.

At current gas prices, that results in a $130/month savings in gas, with about a $30 increase in our electric bill compared to last year.  That covers about half the payment.

If we compare the cost of running both cars to our old primary and secondary (Taurus wagon and Explorer) the difference is even greater. Both cars were so much older than repairs were starting to get expensive.

[drfuzzy]

I LOVE my Leaf!!!!!   I don't like taking it on the highway much . . . it just EATS up range . . . but that's not its primary use.   For in-city driving, it's a beautiful little money-saver.  I plug it in about every third night, and I haven't even noticed a change in my electric bill.

[Joods]

We need a secondary vehicle. How many people does it seat?

[Jackalope]

We need a secondary vehicle. How many people does it seat?

Four adults easily. Nissan claims 5. It's surprisingly roomy for a compact.

[drfuzzy]

We need a secondary vehicle. How many people does it seat?

It seats 4 comfortably.  Maybe five if three in the back are little but I don't think there is a middle seat belt.
I bought mine used.  It's pretty easy to find a 2015 Leaf (15,000 miles on the odometer) for around $8000 in my area.
I was also lucky - I had an extra 240v line in my garage (for a clothes dryer).  So I did not install a charging station, I spent about $169 for a 240V charging cord.
You CAN charge them using a regular wall outlet - the charging cord is included - a lot of folks just plug the car in every night.
No oil changes.  No gas.  No tune-ups.  And in my area there are lots of free charging stations, in parks, at grocery stores, etc.
My only real gripe about the car so far is that there is also no spare tire - only a fill kit.  I bashed one of my back tires, that fill kit was useless.

I love my little electric car though.

-- Fuzz

[Jackalope]

I was also lucky - I had an extra 240v line in my garage (for a clothes dryer).  So I did not install a charging station, I spent about $169 for a 240V charging cord.
You CAN charge them using a regular wall outlet - the charging cord is included - a lot of folks just plug the car in every night.

I didn't have a 240v outlet near enough so I had a circuit run to the carport (~$350) and bought a 20ft charging cable (~$200).

You can charge it with a standard outlet using the trickle charger cable that comes with it, but it's a lot slower of course, and if you use all of the range, it will take as long as 21 hours to fully charge vs about 6-7 with the charger I bought. In practice, a normal commute day meant I charged it for about 12 hours and it had plenty of capacity. Charging via 240v gives a lot more flexibility and usable range.