Leaf 7 Day Test Drive - Questions.
Discussion
I've booked mine for 13th December but have a few questions and also maybe issues which are maybe typical for some owners.
1. Commute is 120 miles so need to charge during day.
2. Work will not let me charge there during the day. Car parking is limited and Office manager isn't keen having an extension lead plugged into the office supply. Its due a test in 6 months, tested every 3 years.
3. Nearest charge point is at Sheffield Utd ground. Left messagee for Contact on Zap Map. Says charge point is a 43KW 63A 3 phase AC with Type 2 Mennekes connector . Is this ok to charge a Leaf and how long? Also there may be a parking charge.
4. Dealer has charging point but limited access so would have to go there in lunchtime and do 30 mins charge if I can.
5. Various charging points on way home (some with small detours) but will need to apply for Ecotricity card if want a rapid charge. Left message at dealers so can supply reg. number for card.
6. I was planning on a trip to IKEA Nottingham which is approx. 60 miles and charge there so will need Ecotricity card. Lets hope it arrives in time :-)
Thanks for reading.
1. Commute is 120 miles so need to charge during day.
2. Work will not let me charge there during the day. Car parking is limited and Office manager isn't keen having an extension lead plugged into the office supply. Its due a test in 6 months, tested every 3 years.
3. Nearest charge point is at Sheffield Utd ground. Left messagee for Contact on Zap Map. Says charge point is a 43KW 63A 3 phase AC with Type 2 Mennekes connector . Is this ok to charge a Leaf and how long? Also there may be a parking charge.
4. Dealer has charging point but limited access so would have to go there in lunchtime and do 30 mins charge if I can.
5. Various charging points on way home (some with small detours) but will need to apply for Ecotricity card if want a rapid charge. Left message at dealers so can supply reg. number for card.
6. I was planning on a trip to IKEA Nottingham which is approx. 60 miles and charge there so will need Ecotricity card. Lets hope it arrives in time :-)
Thanks for reading.
It does sound like I'm doing nothing but stress about it doesn't it? :-)
Its not quite as bad as that.
The only real issue is charging while I am at work.
If the nearest charging point (which is next to where I park on the road each day anyway) isn't too expensive to use (ie. parking charge) and its suitable for charging a Leaf then its happy days. Fully charged range should be fine.
Once I get the Ecotricity card then fast charging at service stations, IKEA etc.. will be quick and free.
Its not quite as bad as that.
The only real issue is charging while I am at work.
If the nearest charging point (which is next to where I park on the road each day anyway) isn't too expensive to use (ie. parking charge) and its suitable for charging a Leaf then its happy days. Fully charged range should be fine.
Once I get the Ecotricity card then fast charging at service stations, IKEA etc.. will be quick and free.
Ej74 said:
Read my thread over in this section
The range with my heavy foot was non-existent fantasy at best !
Dealer avoid and fob me off and didn't provide the charging card - the range and associated anxiety put me off (as well as having an indicated range of 77 miles and then running out of juice on my driveway after a 25 mile journey only)
V3 Leaf is expected to have a long range
Cheers Ej74.The range with my heavy foot was non-existent fantasy at best !
Dealer avoid and fob me off and didn't provide the charging card - the range and associated anxiety put me off (as well as having an indicated range of 77 miles and then running out of juice on my driveway after a 25 mile journey only)
V3 Leaf is expected to have a long range
Friend had one for a week and was really impressed but he was ok charging it at home and then at work. Think his max. commute is about 50 miles.
johnnyreggae said:
I've just been looking into this as I fancied a free car for a week (!) but based on various Googled user threads the average range in cold weather without using the heating or lights seems to be 60 miles - its then very slow to recharge - maybe 8-12 hours
Twice a week I have to do a 60 mile return journey - even if there were charging at the halfway point I might not get home - or have recharged enough to do it again the next day - that is no way to live so I'm going to pass
If any other manufacturer would like me to try this journey for a week do get in touch !
As someone else has noted maybe this is not the car for you
I'm coming to that conclusion.Twice a week I have to do a 60 mile return journey - even if there were charging at the halfway point I might not get home - or have recharged enough to do it again the next day - that is no way to live so I'm going to pass
If any other manufacturer would like me to try this journey for a week do get in touch !
As someone else has noted maybe this is not the car for you
60 miles will barely get me one way!
First part of journey will be ok, A roads fairly slow average speeds
Middle is the A1 which you need to do 60+ Not to get mixed up with the trucks
Last part slow A roads and hilly city driving which is he worse type of conditions for an EV.
I'm going to look at driving 40 miles, leave at free charge point for the day if possible and then getting the train for the rest of the journey.
I do this maybe once a week anyway. Takes a little longer door to door but avoids the stress of driving into Sheffield and trying to find a free parking space.
Cost is about the same but of course not as cheap as using the Leaf.
Wish the Ampera was cheaper :-)
c2mike said:
If you plan to do trips longer than 50 miles regularly, make sure you get a Leaf with a heat pump (Acenta or Tekna). It will make a big difference to the range in Winter. Also the Tekna has heated front seats and steering wheel (much lower power drain than the cabin heater).
If you need to regularly rely on re-charging en-route, best option is a 50kW DC fast charge - E.g. from Ecotricity.
Downsides are that they may not be free forever and the charging rate slows after 80% charge - so it is best for adding another ~40 miles range.
AC charging on the Leaf is a lot slower. 3.3kW is standard, 6.6kW is optional. If you really need fast AC charging, get a Zoe.
Not sure which version I will get on the Test Drive. Friend got the Tekna version from the same dealer. I have to speak to them re. Ecotricity card so will ask then.If you need to regularly rely on re-charging en-route, best option is a 50kW DC fast charge - E.g. from Ecotricity.
Downsides are that they may not be free forever and the charging rate slows after 80% charge - so it is best for adding another ~40 miles range.
AC charging on the Leaf is a lot slower. 3.3kW is standard, 6.6kW is optional. If you really need fast AC charging, get a Zoe.
Hopefully the rapid charge will be free at least to the end of my test drive period :-)
TX - Thanks :-)
Amateurish said:
I don't think the Leaf would work for you. A 60 mile commute is just too far. In the cold weather, your Leaf's range will be about 60 miles. Add in a delay or a diversion and you just won't make it. The fact that you can't charge at work just makes it even less practical.
My i3 has a very similar range to the Leaf, and I have a 60 mile commute. Yesterday, I had a delay and a small diversion. When you are sat in the car in a traffic jam in the cold, you are just eating range. Anyway, my battery ran out about 10 miles from home. Luckily, I had the Rex to finish the journey.
In hindsight would you have still bought the I3?My i3 has a very similar range to the Leaf, and I have a 60 mile commute. Yesterday, I had a delay and a small diversion. When you are sat in the car in a traffic jam in the cold, you are just eating range. Anyway, my battery ran out about 10 miles from home. Luckily, I had the Rex to finish the journey.
Any other similar sized electric cars that can realistically do 80 miles on one charge on a cold day?
Spoken to the guy from npower who looks after the charging point nearest to where I work.
I can charge and park for free which is good news.
It will take maybe 6 hours to charge.
He seems to think 60 miles is doable in a Leaf with maybe 75-80 mile max. range in this weather and a gentle right foot.
I am going to try it. I have the rapid charger points on the M1 to top up if its obvious that it won't manage the 60 miles in one go.
I will report back :-)
I can charge and park for free which is good news.
It will take maybe 6 hours to charge.
He seems to think 60 miles is doable in a Leaf with maybe 75-80 mile max. range in this weather and a gentle right foot.
I am going to try it. I have the rapid charger points on the M1 to top up if its obvious that it won't manage the 60 miles in one go.
I will report back :-)
Amateurish said:
It's the benefit of the Rex - 99% of my miles have been electric. I couldn't rely on a pure electric i3.
Check out the Zoe, I think that has the longest range of the current crop of EVs (except the Model S).
Sorry missed that about the Rex.Check out the Zoe, I think that has the longest range of the current crop of EVs (except the Model S).
Definitely a life saver.
Love the looks and the tech in the Ampera but its still quite expensive and only 4 seats. I have 3 kids.
Amateurish said:
Why are you considering a Leaf? Is it a company car, and you want the tax savings? Is it the fuel savings you are after? Or do you just want an EV?
TBH partly curiosity to see if its practical for my use and then reducing my commuting costs is the main priority.Rough back of fag packet calcs I will get my money back about 18 months after purchase. This is selling my present car and buying a 2nd hand Leaf.
Good point.
Looked at the Zoe website.
Their Selections finance option would be approx. £225 per month for 12k miles.
Excess mileage only 4.5ppm so an extra 8k miles would be £360, total £255 pcm.
So about the same as my existing car costs to commute.
However add in depreciation and repairs etc.. my existing car would cost more.
Also I would be able to sell my existing car to free up some cash.
Forgot about charging costs at home.
£2 per charge? adding £40 pcm.
Looked at the Zoe website.
Their Selections finance option would be approx. £225 per month for 12k miles.
Excess mileage only 4.5ppm so an extra 8k miles would be £360, total £255 pcm.
So about the same as my existing car costs to commute.
However add in depreciation and repairs etc.. my existing car would cost more.
Also I would be able to sell my existing car to free up some cash.
Forgot about charging costs at home.
£2 per charge? adding £40 pcm.
RossP said:
I have a battery only i3 and a commute of 42 miles. We also have a charger at work. This works for me and I've done nearly 10,000 miles in it so far.
Although I appreciate the efforts you are going to, I don't think it's going to work for you. What if the charger you want to use during the day is in use or unavailable?
Also, as others have said you may well be on the limit of range when it's cold just on one leg.
If I was you I'd buy something else.
If an EV isn't suitable I will just keep my current car.Although I appreciate the efforts you are going to, I don't think it's going to work for you. What if the charger you want to use during the day is in use or unavailable?
Also, as others have said you may well be on the limit of range when it's cold just on one leg.
If I was you I'd buy something else.
It costs peanuts to run (55mpg, £20 tax, £180 insurance, lastest service £160).
An EV potentially could have massively cut my commuting costs.
The guy I spoke to re. the charging point says he's only had 2 other people ring up about it. Think its been there maybe 12-18 months? So hopefully for that week it will be free.
Fallback is the Nissan dealer who are approx. 2 miles away.
TimJMS said:
For you, the entire issue is about having destination charging at both ends. If you have to interrupt your journeys for charging then that IMO should be a deal breaker. You probably won't mind for the first week, but two, three or four years? No way.
I agree. The novelty will keep me upbeat for that 5 days (probably only 4 as I leave early to pick up my youngest from school on a Thursday and there's no way I can be late) but if I have to do that for 3-4 years it will become tiresome.Also the guy I spoke to re. the charge point would not be happy with it being used by one person as thet personal charge point for any length of time.
I will use it for that wee, hopefully enjoy it and then in 3-5 years it may be possible to achieve 120 miles a day in a reasonable priced EV on one charge in any weather :-)
HTP99 said:
I'm in Renault sales and it's my day off today, I have got the ZOE for the first time.
People at work were questioning me taking it for my day off; what if there is an issue and you have to drive far? etc. I don't live my life guided by "what ifs"!
I left work with a 97% charge and live 12.5 miles away however when I left last night the car was showing I had a 62 mile range, after arriving home in the dark and cold so heater and lights on, it was showing 65 so I guess I have a smoother and more efficient driving style than the previous user.
I have a few errands to run today; dump run, pop to Homebase, pop to see my daughter etc, doesn't sound like much, however it is amazing how the miles rack up, it'll be interesting to see how the car performs and the range when I get back to work tomorrow morning; I have no way of topping up the battery either.
Keep us updated.People at work were questioning me taking it for my day off; what if there is an issue and you have to drive far? etc. I don't live my life guided by "what ifs"!
I left work with a 97% charge and live 12.5 miles away however when I left last night the car was showing I had a 62 mile range, after arriving home in the dark and cold so heater and lights on, it was showing 65 so I guess I have a smoother and more efficient driving style than the previous user.
I have a few errands to run today; dump run, pop to Homebase, pop to see my daughter etc, doesn't sound like much, however it is amazing how the miles rack up, it'll be interesting to see how the car performs and the range when I get back to work tomorrow morning; I have no way of topping up the battery either.
Intersting about the range actually going up after you had driven it.
Sounds like its very sensitive to driving style.
On my commute home I use the A1 between Worksop and Newark. Last night I was running on fumes so instead of 75-80 I kept to the speed of the HGVs, basically slipstreamed one nearly the whole way (but not too close). Reset my computer and it was showing 89mpg!
Thats in a S40 1.6d which normally averages 54mpg.
Thats probably the way I will have to drive the Leaf. Good job its only for a week :-)
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