Nissan Leaf price

[ebxr8240]

I pitty the poor people who bought a Leaf Recently. They have discounted them big time !! . http://m.adelaidenow.com.au/business...-1226634204131

[Brazen]

They would have to be losing money on them at that price

[tranquilized]

The new price positions it more accurately in the market, being significantly cheaper than the Volt which while being too expensive as well, is the far superior option. Needing a 15amp power outlet is the deal breaker for the Leaf for so many of its target market (ie inner city types with no off street parking)

Also, its yet another import to have its price tag cut recently, as per my other thread.

[mash again]

I dont even understand why anyone would buy one in Australia when our electricity predominantly comes from coal or gas. Just buy a gas car. Imagine if it took off really quick, we wouldnt have the electricity to meet the needs anyway, we barely cope in the summer now at times. If we had cheap nuclear power it may be a different story, but we wont see that as it appears to be a political hot potato due tmostly to the publics perception of nuclear power and ignorance of the modern reactors.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by mash again

I dont even understand why anyone would buy one in Australia when our electricity predominantly comes from coal or gas. Just buy a gas car. Imagine if it took off really quick, we wouldnt have the electricity to meet the needs anyway, we barely cope in the summer now at times. If we had cheap nuclear power it may be a different story, but we wont see that as it appears to be a political hot potato due tmostly to the publics perception of nuclear power and ignorance of the modern reactors.

Most of these electric cars are charged overnight during off-peak where the power plant is still running anyway. It is dirty running off coal, but as they dont shut off the power plants overnight we might as well use the electricity they generate.

[Mighty Reds]

Nice for the person looking to buy one, terrible for whoever bought one recently.

[Polyal]

Can go comparing it to a Volt, different style of car really.

None of this will get going until we are forced to or the gov starts buying them in bulk.

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

I pitty the poor people who bought a Leaf Recently.

Ouch ....and to add insult to injury over the next year ot two they'll probably start to notice the range of their vehicle decreasing as the battery ages and its not like they can start a motor to reduce their range anxiety.

[Gaz]

I've driven one for a few days. if you can get over the styling their quite fun around the city. Fun burning off at the lights to dead silence.

[P6LTD351]

I don't pity anyone that bought these.

No one in their right mind would buy a car like this. The name itself should turn any sensible person away.

[Bossxr8]

There were 11 electric cars in total sold in Australia last month. 11 !. And of those 11 i'll bet most of them were bought by fleets trying to look green.

Hardly even seems worth putting them on the market cause clearly no one wants an electric vehicle.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

I don't pity anyone that bought these.

No one in their right mind would buy a car like this. The name itself should turn any sensible person away.

What?

If I had some crappy 30min commute to work in peak hour then what is the point in owning a GT again?

Thats the point. I would happily own one of these for the commute and then have a toy for the weekend if it suited.

[ebxr8240]

Um .. Where I work we have the Mitsi electric car.. The range is hopeless and is trailered home often..Costing more just to look green..

[naddis01]

Is the Tesla Model S coming here? That is the only electric car I would consider.

[MITCHAY]

It's all well and good to be green but if you want to charge that sort of money they could at least look good.

Almost all these hybrids/electric cars look like **** and cost a fortune.

Even if it fell out of a helicopter and survived the fall I wouldn't be caught dead in one even if it were free :

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Polyal

What?

If I had some crappy 30min commute to work in peak hour then what is the point in owning a GT again?

Thats the point. I would happily own one of these for the commute and then have a toy for the weekend if it suited.

I'd love a tesla model S as my everyday car to commute into work. Decent range, no need to worry about servicing, petrol, etc.

I'd keep the Focus for the weekends

[ebxr8240]

I would atleast make sure it did the return trip to work !!
Thats where I would charge it..

[Polyal]

OK and how much is Telsta? Atleast the Leaf is attainable for most average people. AFAIK its good for 150kms per charge @ full power.

[2011G6E]

"Exhaust shifting"...instead of the tailpipe, it comes out of a power station in someone elses back yard far away from yuppie-land...

Hybrids like the Prius and electric cars have to look "different"...how else will everyone know what you're driving, for christs sake!! Look at the hybrids like the Camry Hybrid and the Honda Civic Hybrid...jesus, you could be driving a normal car...how are you supposed to let everyone know how green you are if your car looks like everyone elses??

Studies were done a long time back when the Prius came out, and they showed that people not only wanted to drive a hybrid or electric car...more importantly they wanted to be seen to be driving one...a kind of "look at me and how green I am and you are not!" philosophy...

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Polyal

What?

If I had some crappy 30min commute to work in peak hour then what is the point in owning a GT again?

Thats the point. I would happily own one of these for the commute and then have a toy for the weekend if it suited.

Catch the bus. That's what I do. I wouldn't be seen dead in a car like this.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Studies were done a long time back when the Prius came out, and they showed that people not only wanted to drive a hybrid or electric car...more importantly they wanted to be seen to be driving one...a kind of "look at me and how green I am and you are not!" philosophy...

People like making a statement with their cars, always have and always will. It's why cars like the V8 Falcon XT were cancelled, it looked just like a regular Falcon. People want a 'look at me I'm driving a V8' look.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

Catch the bus. That's what I do. I wouldn't be seen dead in a car like this.

Originally Posted by ryeman

This engine claims high end Honda. Like 2.4L giving 240KW or 320 HP!! but it's a diesel!!

Yeap, i use the train during the week which is much more effecient but some people around cities still cant get decent public transport.

EVs will happen, its just waiting for everyone to jump.

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by Polyal

OK and how much is Telsta? Atleast the Leaf is attainable for most average people. AFAIK its good for 150kms per charge @ full power.

It won't mate. They advertise "up to" 160 km's range and that's on the flat driven like your grandmother drives it.

Reality bites and when the battery is new a realistic range driven in a normal manner is probably circa 80-90 km's.

The real problems if you do a bit of research on how lithium ion batteries performacne degrades with age is that after a few years its quite likely the range will decay to about half that...or about 40-50 km's.

Have a look how long Nissan warrant the batteries for.... and compare that to Toyota's 8 year warranty of their nickel metal hydride batteries...that'll give you the clue as to the problems down the track with this vehicle.

Its butt ugly looks don't help either. At least the Volt can be driven when the battery is depleted and its smart looks don't do its chances any harm. When they finally get more realistic with the price of that, it may start to get some traction on the sales charts.

[Franco Cozzo]

They were training Nissan mechanics at my TAFE, but wouldn't include it as part of our training as auto electricians.

I feel sorry for the poor bastard poking around 600V with his screwdriver.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

They were training Nissan mechanics at my TAFE, but wouldn't include it as part of our training as auto electricians.

I feel sorry for the poor bastard poking around 600V with his screwdriver.

In the USA, where electric cars have been around longer, there have been many incidents leading to warning bulletins (mostly for emergency services) about what to look for in a crash scene involving an electric car...stuff like big orange cables and what not to touch.
In a "normal" car there might be a 12 volts and a few amps floating around to give you a bit of a boot...but in the average electric car there are many hundreds of volts and also several hundred amps...and that won't just give you a tingle...

[tranquilized]

Battery switch is the way to go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbd7L...e_gdata_player

If more brands get involved and the infrastructure can be rolled out fast and comprehensively enough this could be the way of the future.

[mash again]

Yep love to have a battery where the people charging me for changing it tell me when to do it. You buy the car, Ill buy the shares.

[Polyal]

Well Ive seen Brisbane city council stickered Leafs getting around a bit lately so they would be the first adpoters if it proves to be worth while.

If it cant work in the cities then it has buckly's anywhere else. Its going to be interesting and you have to start somewhere.