Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Nissan Leaf Electric Gets Equivalent of 99 Miles per Gallon, but...



Here is the window sticker that will be on the new Nissan Leaf EV.
Please note the range, 73 miles?!...I ask,

Would you pay $32, 780 USD for a car that gets almost one hundred miles per gallon, but has only a three-quarter gallon tank that takes seven hours to fill?

Compare that with a Chevy Cruze that gets sixty one miles to a gallon, has a range of more than five hundred miles and costs around $15,000.

Consider also the following, that 73 mile range drops to 47-61 miles in winter or stop and go traffic, making the "gas tank" effectively 1/2 gallon. Even with US federal incentives bringing the cost down to around $26K, (battery charger sold separately $2,200,00 USD) and according to Nissan, "Your home charging dock will need to be installed by a professional electrician. But first, we will assist you with a home assessment which will help identify what is needed to make your home Nissan LEAF ready", .this is not looking so good for my pocket...screw the environment.

Wait a minute, I think I mean save the environment...and my pocket book. In 5-10 years you will have to purchase a new battery at a cost of close to $18,000.00 and arrange for the environmental disposal of the old one.

What about the value of it as a used vehicle? I can't imagine considering a vehicle purchase if I know an $18,000.00 lump sum expense is looming in the next short year or three.

I am not an environmentally unfriendly guy...I have, unlike Al Gore and friends, made changes in my life to not only reduce my 'carbon footprint' (most of you know that I sold my car and cycle 90% of the time or more) but also to save my own resources. I do not buy carbon credits...that's retarded thinking.
In the last 18 months I have purchased only $80 in gasoline for my motorcycles for longer trips and use public transportation other times, so I do have a place to stand and speak.

Alternative technologies have their place...the decision is yours in the end. Do the right thing.


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