Every time I get out of the Leaf, I inevitably get zapped with static electricity when I touch the metal outer door skin. I’m up to 12 shocks this week and it’s getting very old, very fast. I went back and checked the logs and other staffers have complained of the same problem. A review of a Nissan Leaf online forum also reveals complaints of static shocks. I don’t know what’s causing it — though the recycled seat material seems a likely culprit — but it’s enough to stop me from buying the car. It really doesn’t bode well for EV skeptics who take a test drive, either. Next to this, my complaint about the lack of a telescoping steering wheel feels like nit-picking.
Back in the land of the quantifiable, I had a rather busy Wednesday. I had to detour to the airport in the morning to pick up my wife and bring her home, after getting coffee, of course. Luckily, the airport is again not far out of my way, but my total trip after leaving the apartment in the morning was 13.3 miles and my estimated remaining range had dropped from 63 miles at the start to 47 miles when I switched it off. After gaining some range on the way home the night before, I was back to my lead-footed ways. By the time I reached work, my average consumption was back up to 3.3 miles per kilowatt-hour while my average speed had dropped to 20.8 mph. Total mileage was up to 30.7 miles since the last charge and the computer was calling for four hours of charge on a 240v supply and 13 hours on a 120v trickle charge.
My trip home was also slightly off the approved route. I needed to swing by the hardware store to pick up a part to fix my closet doors, which according to the odometer was a two-mile detour. Again, not much, but every mile counts when you’re not headed home to an electrical outlet. As has been happening, the Leaf again picked up an extra mile of range after sitting in the parking lot at work all day and showed 48 miles remaining when I headed out. By the time I got home, my range was down to 36 miles after a 7.6-mile trip home. Average consumption held steady at 3.3 miles per kilowatt-hour, as did average speed at 20.8 mph. Recharge times were up to five hours on 240v power and 15 hours on 120v juice.
In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit I also ran across one of our Leaf’s many identical twins at a stop light and drag raced him across the intersection. Pretty sure he didn’t know we were racing (especially since we only hit maybe 30 mph), but I let him get ahead of me so he’d feel better about losing, and to get a picture. I also ran across the Leaf’s cousin, the Versa, but I didn’t race that one.
Total mileage halfway through my test is 38.3 miles, which when added to the 36 miles remaining gives me a total range of 74.3 miles, or more than 10 miles short of the original estimate the Leaf gave me when I unplugged it. A bit more than I expected, but not too bad. I’ve given up trying to avoid using the regenerative brakes to extend my range because they’re going to come on regardless, so I’m doing my best to avoid intentionally using them instead.
Drop back in tomorrow for a wrap-up of the experiment and a discussion on how I would go about charging the car once I’ve worn it out.
No comments:
Post a Comment