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The Leaf can go 100 miles per Nissan, give or take depending on how and where you drive, so it really can't go far before it needs a recharge that takes significant time. Yuo can charge the car on a simple 120V outlet, but it takes much longer than the high voltage outlet you can install in your home. Until you can quickly recharge an electric car like you can quickly refill a gas one, it will be limited in its usability. The Chevy Volt overcomes this with an onboard generator powered by gas - after 40 miles, the gas generator kicks on and charges the electric car so you can keep driving indefinitely. Its a good compromise to get an electric car that is not as tethered to the home charging station (or access to any power outlet).
for now a pure electric car is a novelty. we dont have the proper infrastructure yet for a practical pure electric car. i hope one day we will though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lux Hauler
What do you mean by that?
I think that answer is pretty obvious?
Electric car technology has come a long way, but its far from being able to be used by the masses. I haven't studied the Leaf very much, but 100 miles is GETTING CLOSE to practical, but still far from it.
The problem with electric cars, as mentioned above, is that they cannot be refilled (recharged) quickly. A gas car, refilling in 10 minutes or so (usually less) has more or less unlimited range.
Here in CA, we have "electric vehicle charging stations" scattered about, but they are far from everywhere.
There are any number of people for whom the Leaf, or the Volt would be a good fit. We have very cheap electricity in our town (about 8.5 cent/KWH) and many, or most of us drive 20-40 miles per day. During a block party last year I queried my neighbors about their driving (12 retirees, 6 working folks). One of the guys that works goes to Denver airport once or twice a month (55 miles each way) so without a charging point in their parking garage it wouldn't work for him.
One lady, and the above guy, commute to Denver regularly but they almost always use a van pool that picks up on the Interstate about 12 miles from our houses. The rest of us just do rinky dink trips around our town and the surrounding area. On the occassions that we go to Denver it's to the theatre or an "event". Oddly enough any event I've ever been to happens to have electricity at it. It may not be a 220/440V connection for more efficient charging, but there is 110 everywhere.
BTW, virtually every family in the US is a two-car family so one for around town and one for over the road trips is not impossible
Oddly enough any event I've ever been to happens to have electricity at it. It may not be a 220/440V connection for more efficient charging, but there is 110 everywhere.
You're nuts if you think I'm inviting you over and letting you charge our car at my house!
Unless electricity is free, I don't see people letting their friends charge cars at their houses.
Electric car technology has come a long way, but its far from being able to be used by the masses. I haven't studied the Leaf very much, but 100 miles is GETTING CLOSE to practical, but still far from it.
The problem with electric cars, as mentioned above, is that they cannot be refilled (recharged) quickly. A gas car, refilling in 10 minutes or so (usually less) has more or less unlimited range.
Here in CA, we have "electric vehicle charging stations" scattered about, but they are far from everywhere.
No the answer is not obvious. What infrastructure? Honestly do you think you could drive more than 100 miles without there being an electrical outlet? We are talking typical 120/240 line here... Are you afraid the grid will collapse or something? If you can power an air conditioner over night then I think your question is answered.
No: i do not think i could drive for 100 miles and not find an outlet.
But: the idea that people plan on driving for 100 miles then STOPPING for an extended period of time is insane.
YES: I do drive a lot, and want to be able to drive wherever I want, whenever I want to.
The leaf will have a charging time of 16 hours on 100 volt. What If i drive from LA to AZ (like i do monthly)? Stop 4 times for 16 hours? Seriously? 220 volt makes charging 8 hours. No better. Thats still an overnight charge. Nissan has built a "fast charge" option, but its not a 100% charge .. and it is STILL 30 minutes.
This is a novelty car, for people who can drive 100 mile round trips and then let their car sit overnight. While this appeals to SOME people, it is FAR FROM ideal.
Let me also say, that i think electricity will save the auto industry. But until you can "fast charge" a car that has a 400 mile range, in 10 minutes or so, its not going to work.
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