Discussion
...Apologies if this thread is a bit "What Car", but I've been reading the piece in Auto Express on the new Nissan Leaf and I've got to say that the excuses for not buying an EV seem to be diminishing all the time. Looks are subjective but I think the new model looks sharp, there's plenty enough boot space, its not too expensive, has decent real world performance and it seems to be a genuine mainstream alternative to a Golf, Astra, Focus etc now.
As white goods, to do the family running around duties, it ticks a lot of boxes.
...so, a question to people like me, who run ICE family hatches, would you consider something like a Leaf, as your next car?
As white goods, to do the family running around duties, it ticks a lot of boxes.
...so, a question to people like me, who run ICE family hatches, would you consider something like a Leaf, as your next car?
The Pulsar is whole lot cheaper if you're really keen on buying a bland, dynamically poor Nissan.
They start at around £13k.
I'd consider a plug in hybrid for my next car but at the moment I think electric cars are in the same phase as early smart phones. Quite good but not really there yet. I watch loads of EV related vids on youtube and there are still enough issues around range, charging and battery management to put me off.
I think they need a good few years more evolution to work for me.
They start at around £13k.
I'd consider a plug in hybrid for my next car but at the moment I think electric cars are in the same phase as early smart phones. Quite good but not really there yet. I watch loads of EV related vids on youtube and there are still enough issues around range, charging and battery management to put me off.
I think they need a good few years more evolution to work for me.
Edited by Blaster72 on Saturday 20th January 11:45
I haven't driven a leaf, but would say just go and drive one. I replaced my 1.6tdi octavia with an i3 (range extender) and the i3 is much better and costs no more overall.
Quicker, smoother, good torque, instant power, quiet, relaxing to drive. Pre-heating in winter is just about the best thing ever!
As I say, just try one. I think you will be either sold straight away, or not. As we are talking white goods vehicles, I am pretty confident you will like it a lot.
Quicker, smoother, good torque, instant power, quiet, relaxing to drive. Pre-heating in winter is just about the best thing ever!
As I say, just try one. I think you will be either sold straight away, or not. As we are talking white goods vehicles, I am pretty confident you will like it a lot.
Regarding cost, I have a smart meter and my energy provider put me on a virtual economy 7 tariff.
I do 20k miles a year so charge every day. Plug in when I get home, car starts charging at midnight. Charge costs less than £3. Roughly, £500 to cover 20k miles!! You need to factor that into the actual cost.
Sorry, one more thing. Wife has an xc60. If we didn't have 2 cars I wouldn't have got the i3.
I do 20k miles a year so charge every day. Plug in when I get home, car starts charging at midnight. Charge costs less than £3. Roughly, £500 to cover 20k miles!! You need to factor that into the actual cost.
Sorry, one more thing. Wife has an xc60. If we didn't have 2 cars I wouldn't have got the i3.
Edited by covmutley on Saturday 20th January 11:57
Last summer I stopped at Clackett Lane services on the M25 in Kent, and there were two leafs (leaves?) occupying the two charging points in the public car park. The owners were both sitting on a nearby fence looking at thier cars.
50 minutes later, having had a bit of dinner, a coffee and read most of August's CAR magazine, I came back out to my car and both Nissans were still sitting there charging.
Frankly you can keep the things.
50 minutes later, having had a bit of dinner, a coffee and read most of August's CAR magazine, I came back out to my car and both Nissans were still sitting there charging.
Frankly you can keep the things.
They’re clearly getting better all the time and are the future. As more people buy them the technology will get better and the infrastructure will improve. Meaning more people will buy them...
Would I buy one? If I liked the car and it worked for my circumstances, then yes. The same way I’d buy any other car.
Would I buy one? If I liked the car and it worked for my circumstances, then yes. The same way I’d buy any other car.
corozin said:
Last summer I stopped at Clackett Lane services on the M25 in Kent, and there were two leafs (leaves?) occupying the two charging points in the public car park. The owners were both sitting on a nearby fence looking at thier cars.
50 minutes later, having had a bit of dinner, a coffee and read most of August's CAR magazine, I came back out to my car and both Nissans were still sitting there charging.
Frankly you can keep the things.
50 minutes later, having had a bit of dinner, a coffee and read most of August's CAR magazine, I came back out to my car and both Nissans were still sitting there charging.
Frankly you can keep the things.
Will wait for hydrogen fuel cell powered cars to become mainstream. Electric cars are a relatively ineffective stop-gap till then.
corozin said:
Last summer I stopped at Clackett Lane services on the M25 in Kent, and there were two leafs (leaves?) occupying the two charging points in the public car park. The owners were both sitting on a nearby fence looking at thier cars.
50 minutes later, having had a bit of dinner, a coffee and read most of August's CAR magazine, I came back out to my car and both Nissans were still sitting there charging.
Frankly you can keep the things.
No they weren't, the chargers stop after 30mins. Also a Leaf would be full well before 50mins. Don't make things up.50 minutes later, having had a bit of dinner, a coffee and read most of August's CAR magazine, I came back out to my car and both Nissans were still sitting there charging.
Frankly you can keep the things.
Tim bo said:
Will wait for hydrogen fuel cell powered cars to become mainstream. Electric cars are a relatively ineffective stop-gap till then.
jjwilde said:
Oh dear another person does not understand why hydrogen will never happen. Still quoting a 2011 top gear episode that even James May has said he got wrong.
I don't watch Top Gear so I have no idea what James May said.
I take these every day on my commute. They become more prevalent on London's streets every month.
Hyundai, Toyota and Honda have hydrogen fuel cell cars on the market, and are investing heavily in the tech.
___________________________
"Japan wants the Tokyo Olympics of 2020 to run on hydrogen. Planners envisage fleets of hydrogen-fuelled cars whisking athletes from the village to the venues. They are even pondering the practicalities of a hydrogen-burning Olympic flame to promote one of Japan Inc’s boldest gambles: that hydrogen, not batteries, will become the automotive power source of the future.
Toyota and Honda both have fuel-cell vehicles on the road, betting that despite the greater complexity and cost of the hydrogen technology, its superior energy density compared with batteries will ultimately give it a decisive advantage in range."
https://www.ft.com/content/98080634-a1d6-11e7-8d56...
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As well as the fact that they still draw electricity to charge, the majority of which is fossil-fuel sourced and will be for decades to come, Electric cars will always have a time-delay to charge, rendering them always second best to any tech which can repower/refuel near-instantaneously.
Electric cars are recognised as a stop gap for these reasons.
Edited by Tim bo on Saturday 20th January 14:09
cjs racing. said:
At best, I have to park on the opposite side of a main road from my house, at worst I have to park 1 street away.
How are EV'S ever going to work for people like myself?
So given my circumstances, it's a big fat no from me.
Diesel cars don't work for everyoneHow are EV'S ever going to work for people like myself?
So given my circumstances, it's a big fat no from me.
Petrol cars don't work for everyone
Cars don't work for everyone
Trains don't work for everyone
Cycling doesn't work for everyone
It is therefore not surprising that electric cars don't work for everyone
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