Also, John let them off pretty easily on the power plant coal use and emissions situation. Sure, that's not Nissan's fault, but it is an issue. Also, wait until the power companies raise rates and demand subsidies for expanding their infrastructure to keep up with "demand" We just can't win for trying can we?
@rudyhassen I guess your calling for an end to the massive subsidies to oil and the special tax breaks that all taxpayers pay for also.I didn't see it mentioned.
A $7500 Tax Credit for each of 100,000 units annually? YIKES. Sure, the tax credit may be cancelled at any time, but I guess I should buy one here in Los Angeles and let the rest of the country pay a third of the cost for me. Thanks Guys!A $7500 Tax Credit for each of 100,000 units annually? YIKES. Sure, the tax credit may be cancelled at any time, but I guess I should buy one here in Los Angeles and let the rest of the country pay a third of the cost for me. Thanks Guys!
No, it wouldn't account for more than another 2%. I'll tell you why.
People simply do not want boring, ugly, inconvenient, complicated cars. End of. They don't care how superior the technology is.
Will the Volt catch on? It stands a slightly better chance. It may be complicated, but it has a serious styling advantage, head and shoulders above all of its rivals. It's a shame it's so expensive.
John I think Nissan needs to give you a long term leaf and your duty is to use it like an average american in the frozen north. Park it outside run a 120 volt extension cord out to it and only plug it in when you are at home. See what you really get for range and how long it takes to charge when it is under 20 degrees outside from Dec thru Feb. Using it this way will let interested people know before they buy.
If the performance (speed and range) is not there, if the technology does not improve strongly and quickly enough (improving range and charging), if people refuse to accept EVs on a large scale (enough to displace at least 1or 2 weaker models in a segment like Compact cars), then EVs will forever struggle as cars like the VOLT and Fisker Karma define what is next and not the LEAF or Tesla Model S.
John you should have asked about the meaning of ZERO EMISSION. In most States, Electricity is produced by coal and diesel. So in some way electric cars are not really ZERO EMISSION (yes I know that some states produce electricity with solar power, wind, wave, dams...).
@josh1303 Because unlike an EV1, it is a 4 seater family car, and unlike other 4 seater family cars like the Toyota Prius and Chevy Volt, it is a full electric car without a battery. I personally think the Chevy Cruze and Nissan Leaf will easily outsell the Volt, though.
@1bentley4ever You misspoke. The Prius and VOLT have Gas engines. The Leaf does not.
It'll be hard to sell EVs in the US. I don't know bout else where. Especially when the "my batteries died in the middle of nowhere" stories start rolling in.
@DocWolph I stand corrected. I meant to say without a gasoline engine instead of without a battery. In reality, a better platform would be a car like the VW Jetta TDI being a plug-in hybrid. Diesel is more efficient than gas and a gas engine lacks the low speed torque a diesel has. The Toyota Prius would be better if it was mated to a diesel engine instead of a gutless gas engine.
@1bentley4ever Apparently some European automakers, mainly BMW and Audi, are working on Diesel Hybrids. Car propelled only with Electric motors will come along before Battery-only EVs can make a dent. GEVs or EREVs (that is just so much marketing jargon) still feel like they are the better immediate to long term solution, at least until battery tech can match gasoline for energy stored.
@DocWolph What they need to work on is a car of very good performance (0-60 in 12 seconds is unacceptable for a car nowadays) that gets 150-200 miles to a charge and takes 5-10 minutes to fully charge. THEN EVs will really make a difference. If you are on a 300 mile road trip, you don't wanna have to stop for 4-8 hours ever 75 miles.
@1bentley4ever This car is built to be used by people that already have a car. Most early adopters of the leaf will have an ICE powered car in addition to their EV so the above mentioned are no needed right now because EVs are not designed for road trips and will not be capable of doing so for another decade in mass production at a reasonable price.
@flatblackstrat This is true. But for an EV to be a person's only car, they would need to have range on par with a car today running about 1/2 to 3/4 of a tank of gas.
@1bentley4ever Agreed, mostly. Your specs for EV practicality are easily done though charging faster than 30min to 80% will likely not change for decades. In RC, they use very similar batts to EVs and their charge times hover around 20-40min based on capacity and type. any faster and the batts can overheat, explode, or wear out faster. This however assumes that there are no great advances in the next 10-20 years. Iron Phosphate batts still seems promising.
@DocWolph Then in that case they need to work on embedding cooling material in the batteries themselves. Since Freon is illegal, there must be a different element to use.
@1bentley4ever Again, agreed. With EVs, cooling the motors, and even the batteries is still a problem that is not being addressed. Cooling the batteries might be done with a liquid cooling system with a pump powered by the charging system. The same coolant, simple radiator fluid, would also be used to cool the motor(s) and electronics. The batts don't need to be cold, just not overheated.
@DocWolph Cool batteries can sometimes hamper the creation of potential energy by freezing the cells. If they can make batteries cool under rapid charging and long draining energy cycles, then it is very possible to move forward with making 200 mile batteries that can take 5-10 minutes to fully charge.
@ndyt Actually it does count. Look at what your'e saying. You just said "is the ONLY pure EV car you can buy in the USA. You were referring to the Leaf and you said the ONLY pure EV car you can buy in the USA. YES YOU SAID ONLY! That is incorrect by a long shot. You can't just make the Tesla Roadster irrelevant just because it is expensive.
Why the hell do Americans always have to say "neeeeessaaaan"???
dunti21 5 months ago
I wonder if it can be charged outside in the rain with out a garage
salcedoautberto 1 year ago
@salcedoautberto yes it can. The J1772 plug is fully weatherproof
danwat1234 1 year ago
Also, John let them off pretty easily on the power plant coal use and emissions situation. Sure, that's not Nissan's fault, but it is an issue. Also, wait until the power companies raise rates and demand subsidies for expanding their infrastructure to keep up with "demand" We just can't win for trying can we?
rudyhassen 1 year ago
@rudyhassen I guess your calling for an end to the massive subsidies to oil and the special tax breaks that all taxpayers pay for also.I didn't see it mentioned.
1235dar 10 months ago
A $7500 Tax Credit for each of 100,000 units annually? YIKES. Sure, the tax credit may be cancelled at any time, but I guess I should buy one here in Los Angeles and let the rest of the country pay a third of the cost for me. Thanks Guys!A $7500 Tax Credit for each of 100,000 units annually? YIKES. Sure, the tax credit may be cancelled at any time, but I guess I should buy one here in Los Angeles and let the rest of the country pay a third of the cost for me. Thanks Guys!
rudyhassen 1 year ago
No, it wouldn't account for more than another 2%. I'll tell you why.
People simply do not want boring, ugly, inconvenient, complicated cars. End of. They don't care how superior the technology is.
Will the Volt catch on? It stands a slightly better chance. It may be complicated, but it has a serious styling advantage, head and shoulders above all of its rivals. It's a shame it's so expensive.
AmirGTR 1 year ago
John I think Nissan needs to give you a long term leaf and your duty is to use it like an average american in the frozen north. Park it outside run a 120 volt extension cord out to it and only plug it in when you are at home. See what you really get for range and how long it takes to charge when it is under 20 degrees outside from Dec thru Feb. Using it this way will let interested people know before they buy.
bigretardhalo 1 year ago
Nice suit John. I been waiting for this "deep dive" of the LEAF, ever since you visited the Nissan plant in TN.
malgacho 1 year ago
If the performance (speed and range) is not there, if the technology does not improve strongly and quickly enough (improving range and charging), if people refuse to accept EVs on a large scale (enough to displace at least 1or 2 weaker models in a segment like Compact cars), then EVs will forever struggle as cars like the VOLT and Fisker Karma define what is next and not the LEAF or Tesla Model S.
DocWolph 1 year ago
John you should have asked about the meaning of ZERO EMISSION. In most States, Electricity is produced by coal and diesel. So in some way electric cars are not really ZERO EMISSION (yes I know that some states produce electricity with solar power, wind, wave, dams...).
make2003 1 year ago
@make2003
I believe Nissan sees Zero Emissions as a goal, an ideal where mobility is sustainable. The LEAF is congruent with that vision.
malgacho 1 year ago
Good show, thanks!
ndyt 1 year ago
Why is the Leaf getting so much coverage ? I just dont get it. What makes this different than any other car.
josh1303 1 year ago
@josh1303 Because unlike an EV1, it is a 4 seater family car, and unlike other 4 seater family cars like the Toyota Prius and Chevy Volt, it is a full electric car without a battery. I personally think the Chevy Cruze and Nissan Leaf will easily outsell the Volt, though.
1bentley4ever 1 year ago
@1bentley4ever You misspoke. The Prius and VOLT have Gas engines. The Leaf does not.
It'll be hard to sell EVs in the US. I don't know bout else where. Especially when the "my batteries died in the middle of nowhere" stories start rolling in.
DocWolph 1 year ago
@DocWolph I stand corrected. I meant to say without a gasoline engine instead of without a battery. In reality, a better platform would be a car like the VW Jetta TDI being a plug-in hybrid. Diesel is more efficient than gas and a gas engine lacks the low speed torque a diesel has. The Toyota Prius would be better if it was mated to a diesel engine instead of a gutless gas engine.
1bentley4ever 1 year ago
@1bentley4ever Apparently some European automakers, mainly BMW and Audi, are working on Diesel Hybrids. Car propelled only with Electric motors will come along before Battery-only EVs can make a dent. GEVs or EREVs (that is just so much marketing jargon) still feel like they are the better immediate to long term solution, at least until battery tech can match gasoline for energy stored.
DocWolph 1 year ago
@DocWolph What they need to work on is a car of very good performance (0-60 in 12 seconds is unacceptable for a car nowadays) that gets 150-200 miles to a charge and takes 5-10 minutes to fully charge. THEN EVs will really make a difference. If you are on a 300 mile road trip, you don't wanna have to stop for 4-8 hours ever 75 miles.
1bentley4ever 1 year ago
@1bentley4ever This car is built to be used by people that already have a car. Most early adopters of the leaf will have an ICE powered car in addition to their EV so the above mentioned are no needed right now because EVs are not designed for road trips and will not be capable of doing so for another decade in mass production at a reasonable price.
flatblackstrat 1 year ago
@flatblackstrat This is true. But for an EV to be a person's only car, they would need to have range on par with a car today running about 1/2 to 3/4 of a tank of gas.
DocWolph 1 year ago
@flatblackstrat The Leaf does not then solve the answer to REPLACING an ICE car. It only supplements it.
1bentley4ever 1 year ago
@1bentley4ever Agreed, mostly. Your specs for EV practicality are easily done though charging faster than 30min to 80% will likely not change for decades. In RC, they use very similar batts to EVs and their charge times hover around 20-40min based on capacity and type. any faster and the batts can overheat, explode, or wear out faster. This however assumes that there are no great advances in the next 10-20 years. Iron Phosphate batts still seems promising.
DocWolph 1 year ago
@DocWolph Then in that case they need to work on embedding cooling material in the batteries themselves. Since Freon is illegal, there must be a different element to use.
1bentley4ever 1 year ago
@1bentley4ever Again, agreed. With EVs, cooling the motors, and even the batteries is still a problem that is not being addressed. Cooling the batteries might be done with a liquid cooling system with a pump powered by the charging system. The same coolant, simple radiator fluid, would also be used to cool the motor(s) and electronics. The batts don't need to be cold, just not overheated.
DocWolph 1 year ago
@DocWolph Cool batteries can sometimes hamper the creation of potential energy by freezing the cells. If they can make batteries cool under rapid charging and long draining energy cycles, then it is very possible to move forward with making 200 mile batteries that can take 5-10 minutes to fully charge.
1bentley4ever 1 year ago
@josh1303 Other than the fact that its the first mass market electric car in the US market you mean? I guess nothing.....
Come on man, whether you like the car or not, its not hard to see why the press is talking about this Leaf. Same goes for the Zolt.
Snowmation 1 year ago 2
@Snowmation Sorry, meant to type Volt.
Snowmation 1 year ago
@josh1303, is the ONLY pure EV car you can buy in the USA.
ndyt 1 year ago
@ndyt Don't forget about Tesla! DUH lol
quatlen 1 year ago
@quatlen, Tesla doesn't count since it is crazy expensive and has a long waiting list.
ndyt 1 year ago
Comment removed
quatlen 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@ndyt Actually it does count. Look at what your'e saying. You just said "is the ONLY pure EV car you can buy in the USA. You were referring to the Leaf and you said the ONLY pure EV car you can buy in the USA. YES YOU SAID ONLY! That is incorrect by a long shot. You can't just make the Tesla Roadster irrelevant just because it is expensive.
quatlen 1 year ago