In just over one year I will turn 70 at which time I will retire and possibly give up my Chevy Suburban and I am looking for a used Nissan Leaf as a second car.
I will never go into debt, I only pay cash, so I am looking for a used car somewhere around three years old which appears can be purchased for $10k.
We live in the Columbus, Ohio metro area so it does get cold in winter and hot in summer. I like my heat (wife demands heat) and air conditioning so anything I purchase will have both.
I found
ChargePoint which leads me to believe there are a good number of charging stations away from home. The map feature is pretty neat and once I purchase my Leaf, if I purchase a Leaf, I plan to get the app.
Just so everyone knows at 70 I don't give a damn about status and could care less where the Leaf stands among the electric car crowd as long as it works for me.
If you have experience with a Leaf I would like to ask some questions.
1. What typical range do you get if a nice day where you don't have to have heat or air?
2. Very super hot day 100 Deg F and must have air on full blast. What does air do to real life range?
3. Very cold day, 10 degrees below zero and my wife loves the heat. What does heat do to real life range?
4. Charging at home issues? How long does it take typically for a full charge?
5. ChargePoint has a map showing all the charging stations with many at shopping malls but I have never seen one. Maybe I just wasn't looking but I think I would have noticed.
6. If you need an on the road charge how long does it typically take? Of course it has to cost more than the cost of electric so how much do these charging stations typically charge?
Being retired nearly all our trips will be < 40 miles round trip. Shopping, doctors offices, hospitals, church, children and grandchildren are all within range of a 40 mile round trip and if we have something farther there's always the wife's Honda.
And what brought me here is I was thinking of getting a road worthy golf cart which is now legal in Ohio but... someone suggested a Nissan Leaf and I think that would be a whole lot better choice.
Thank you all for any input on your personal experiences.