Nissan Leaf 1-Year Owner's Review & Assessment

[@johnbenton4488]

What a pleasant fellow. I adore videos like this. No fuss, no drama, just facts.

[@EVeverything]

Thank you! I appreciate your feedback, and I hope you're enjoying this EV channel

[@johnbenton4488]

Absolutely. You keep making he videos, I'll keep watching.

[@-iIIiiiiiIiiiiIIIiiIi-]

This is guy is the definition of an "Upstanding Citizen".

[@EVeverything]

I'm not so sure about that, but thank you for the compliment. Just doing what I can, and sharing my experiences in hopes others will do the same

[@theonlyansa]

I've had my used 2015 nissan leaf SV for a week now and I've discovered that it's not so much the highway speed that you are driving but the efficiency at which you are driving at those certain speeds. I commute about 40-50 miles a day to work on the interstate about 3 times a week going about 55-65 mph and drive about 20-25 miles going about 25-45 mph the other 2 days of the week with weekends being wild cards. Now when I first got the car I was getting about 77 miles on the guessometer and quickly noticed that it was due to the efficiency or my mi/kwh that I was driving, which when I first got it my efficiency was about 3.3 mi/kwh. Now my leaf that is rated at 84 mi per charge is getting about 98 mi per charge and I'm avg about 4.1-4.3 mi/kwh just because I've been more efficient with my driving. I do that by sticking to the speed limit, accelerating quickly up higher inclined roads and then using my momentum to coast and regenerate battery. My number one rule so far is just drive efficiently stick to the speed limit, coast as much as you can, watch out for your mi/kwh avg and don't let other drivers bully you into driving inefficiently.

[@EVeverything]

Yes, seems like you've found the simple secret to maximizing range. It's surprising to see the difference in range you can achieve just by going 60mph instead of 65 & simply staying within the speed limit. And regen is an amazing creation! Sounds like you're making your commute just fine, but I'm curious if you have any chargers near home/work or along the way in between? Just did a video on public chargers that you may find interesting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3uYdWuIfJ6XjtU

[@theonlyansa]

EVerything I actually do have some chargers near my work and near me. Sadly I wish i had watched your video sooner I was a bit confused the first time I tried to use one 😅

[@Tron-Jockey]

Should also mention that charging times are not nearly as long for most owners. If you're like the average commuter in America then you're only driving 30 miles or less each day. In that case you're only using roughly 8 kWh of juice which can take less than 90 minutes to recharge (at home) depending upon charger type. The Leaf is typically offered with two charging cable options. One is a trickle charge cable to be used with a home's standard 120V wall outlet and offers roughly a 1.8 kW charge rate. The other is a Level 2 charging cable to be used with a home's 240V outlet (electric dryer or electric range), and offers a 6.6 kW charging rate. To recover that 8 kWh of energy used each day would only require about 4.5 hours on the trickle charger or about 90 minutes on a Level 2 charger. Most new Leafs also come with a third option which allows high power Fast-DC charging from its CHAdeMO connector (no cable needed). With that option you could stop by a DC Fast Charging station on the way home and top off that 8 kWh in about 15-20 minutes. Costs savings can be significant. Most Leafs are returning about 4.2 miles per kWh of energy consumed. With many utilities offering time per use plans with rates as low as 6 cents per kWh that 8 kWh of energy can cost only $0.48. I don't have such an option where I live but even at 11 cents per kWh my daily cost to drive 69 miles round trip each day is still only $1.80. That's roughly $9 per week to go 350 miles. Consider as well that I never have to waste time sitting in customer lounges waiting for oil changes or any of that other routine maintenance that ICE vehicles require. I never have to endure the indignity of standing next to a filthy gasoline pump even for 10 minutes (especially uncomfortable on nasty sub-zero winter mornings). Only two seconds of my day required to refuel my electric car, one second to plug it in before going to bed and one second to unplug it in the morning. Full tank every morning, warmed and defrosted before opening my garage door (try that with a Gasoline or Diesel vehicle). No engine wear to be concerned with, no mileage to keep track of for oil changes and other maintenance, no expensive mechanical parts slowly wearing out every time you run the engine. No $50-$75 oil changes 3 or 4 times a year. EVs use regenerative brakes so no expensive brake jobs every three or four years. No oil or air filters that will need to be replaced. No timing belts, timing chains, timing gears, guides or tensioners to replace. No fuel injectors, fuel filters, fuel pumps, or fuel pressure regulators. No spark plugs, coil packs, plug wires or other ignition components. No accessory or serpentine belts. No power steering pumps or fluids (EVs use electrically assisted steering, no hydraulic fluids). No alternators, or idler pulleys. No engine coolant systems to speak of or mechanically driven water pumps to eventually leak. No exhaust pipes, mufflers or other emissions systems components. No EGR or PCV valves. NoMAF or O2 sensors that will eventually need to be replaced. No emissions testing to worry about EVER. No head gaskets to blow, no valve cover or pan gaskets that will eventually leak. No pistons, piston rings, valves, or valve guides to wear and cause oil burning. No rear oil seals that will eventually leak and require engine and or tranny removal to get to. No complex (i.e. expensive) computer controlled automatic transmission that will almost certainly need to be rebuilt prematurely (largely because you can no longer change or monitor tranny oil levels yourself). NO CHECK ENGINE or SERVICE ENGINE SOON lights EVER

[@EVeverything]

I don't recall everything I said in this video (one of my very first for the channel), but you are correct that using a level 2 charger will speed things up significantly. We were able to survive off of level 1 pretty easily though, with 80% achievable overnight depending how late we plugged in. 2018 and newer Leafs (SV or higher trim, I believe) do come with a dual charger that does both level 1 & 2, which I wish was available as standard on all Leafs. Mine had the CHAdeMO fast-charge port, and I never used that until the day we sold the Leaf just a few weeks ago. The dealer buying our car was 300 miles away, so I became quite familiar with Electrify America chargers along the way. Very fast charging option when I needed it! I did however notice the battery got quite hot after the first couple level 3 fast charges.

[@michaelowen7694]

As a potential EV driver I'm watching a lot of videos about people's real life experiences and this is one of the best. Jargon free and really helpful.

[@EVeverything]

Thank you for the kind words! That's all I want my videos to be. I'm happy to hear you found the video helpful and I'd love to hear back if you end up driving an EV one day! You may enjoy our Chevy Volt video as well since it's a range-extended EV (gas engine backup) and may be a simpler first step before going 100% electric: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJe7qqdngtiqhKM

[@camera453]

You sold me on the leaf. Literally buying one now. Thank you for this video.

[@EVeverything]

Incredible! So happy to be a part of your decision to drive electric. Are you buying new or used? Still love the car, and am on Leaf #2 now almost 4 years after getting my first one.

[@rickwhitley8831]

Nice review, watching on a Sunday morning with a coffee....which line up nicely. Very informative as I am currently researching to get an electric vehicle.

[@EVeverything]

So happy to hear you're looking into getting at EV! What vehicles are you looking at? You may enjoy this video of my wife's 2017 Chevy Volt kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJe7qqdngtiqhKM&lc=z122vzlozzuoyjyx404citlg3x21fdiipls0k

[@Allplussomeminus]

“The future looks bright” (sun symbolically flashes in the background) 13:35

[@johnhodgkinson4311]

really nice video, very well put over and very informative. I've been watching EV videos here in the UK for several months now, thanks again and keep them coming.😊

[@EVeverything]

Thank you for the kind words! If you enjoyed this video you'll probably like our 2017 Volt Review as well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJe7qqdngtiqhKM Although I've heard this 2nd generation Volt is not available in the UK

[@bison4me]

Charging infrastructure is also an issue for EVs. The east and west coast are decent, but the Mid-west is drastically behind. And if the US had the infrastructure that the UK, Northern Europe, and Japan has, primarily with Level 3 chargers, this technology would be embraced even more. This would ease the range issues even more. I'm working with a property management company that builds malls and shopping centers in my area. Proper placement of these charging stations should also be taken into consideration. Level 2 charging stations at coffee shops may not be all that efficient as most customers are in and outers. Level 3 chargers would work better. In places like book stores, movie theaters, restaurants and salons, Level 2 charging stations will work fine. As folks see the abundance and availability of these chargers, they will be more apt to try the technology.

[@SixThousandMono]

+bison4me So I shouldn't say too much, but let's just say i'm an engineer who has insight into the infrastructure plans for the US and you can expect a whole lot more level 3 quick chargers built in between cities in the next few years... and they're designed for 150 kW charging (three times as much as the current charging rate of 50 kW). Other OEM's aren't going to let Tesla hog all of the spotlight. There's a whole lot to look forward to :)

[@13thCP]

Montana is horrible, almost non-existent with the chargers. Zero level 3 statewide outside of Tesla, and spotty level 2 at best.

[@jacksonbangs6603]

Awesome video! I just paid off my used Nissan Leaf. It covers most of my driving needs. It came with both a heated front and rear seat, plus a heated stearing wheel.

[@EVeverything]

Congrats! Same here, and it feels great not having a car payment anymore. Might upgrade to a Bolt EV in a couple years once more off-lease Bolts show up on the used EV market

[@dineshpathirana8777]

Nice to come across your video about your experience with the Leaf, myself also just hitting the one year mark of owning a Leaf, and as you have mentioned its quite a experience driving a EV compared to a gasoline car. We have solar panels at home thereby almost totally offsetting the electricity from the grid. EV is still in a growth stage in Sri Lanka, hence not having much fast charging infrastructure island-wide, but it is slowly expanding. Go EV !

[@theonlyansa]

btw your review was very helpful in my decision to purchase the nissan leaf.

[@EVeverything]

Thank you, that makes me very proud and happy to hear. That's what this channel is all about, so hearing back from viewers like you is very encouraging for me to continue making videos. And you were smart going with a used Leaf as well (something I kind of wish I'd done) so probably got a very good deal!

[@theonlyansa]

EVerything Oh yeah I got a great deal I got my 2015 SV leaf with only 5000 miles on it for about $12000 it was amazing.

[@JoeyRodz74]

Hi and thanks for the video. A few comments: - When possible, avoid highways or keep your speed

[@EVeverything]

+JoeyRodz74 I definitely look at the percentage over the range indicator. And wow, 6.5 mi/kwh! I was happy to see mine rise to 4.8 from 4.7, but I often have to get on the highway

[@stevepelletier2207]

One of the best (if not the best) review tht I have seen. I just joined a 3700 persons buying group in Quebec who want to negociate with NISSAN Canada for a good deal. If this comes true it will double the number of LEAFs on the road within 12 months; a major breakthrough. Thanks for sharing your 1-year experience. I loved your comment about the trunk size: this was one of my fear. I play golf and I was worried with this aspect of the car. Bye for now.

[@EVeverything]

I've been reading about that group-buy in Quebec! What an awesome thing to be a part of. And thank you so much for the kind words! If you enjoyed this review, you should also like the 2017 Chevy Volt review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJe7qqdngtiqhKM

[@chrisr2507]

Canadians are awesome!

[@EVeverything]

My mother's side is Canadian, and I'm hoping my dual citizenship comes in handy in the event of a zombie outbreak or a Trump presidency

[@13thCP]

I am in the process of obtaining financing for a 2016 leaf SV with the 30kwh pack. I love in Montana and with very limited charging infrastructure and the closest cities with level 2 chargers being 90+ miles with extreme elevation changes Im stuck to my home town for the time being until they get fast chargers installed at truck stops and the such. Awesome video!

[@EVeverything]

Congrats! If you live in a home or somewhere you can have a 240v plug installed, you should realistically get all your charging needs met at home as long as you're not driving more than 100 miles daily.

[@KTPurdy]

I also lease a Leaf. If I didn't have concerns about where our environment was going I'd own a Camaro. Having said that, the Leaf is fun to drive.

[@EVeverything]

Any chance you're driving a 2016 Leaf with the new 30kwh battery? Curious to know the real-world mileage of that battery pack compared to the EPA estimated range of 107 miles per charge.

[@KTPurdy]

EVerything I have a 2015 S so I have the 24kWh battery. Range varies damatically. Driving down the Freeway 80 mph in 10F weather with the heater on gets about 2/3 as it would in the city on a pleasant day. Rural/city driving beats the state 84 miles range but most often I come well under that because I do a lot of freeway driving and I have a lead foot.

[@EVeverything]

Yeah, the lead foot can be a problem! I drive with a very light touch, and I like that the Leaf rewards efficient driving. The other day my wife took the Leaf to work, which is about 50 miles total to and from. She started with a full charge but barely made it back home, and said she even cut the AC off when she saw the battery was getting low. Then today I drove her to work, as well as ran some errands that added another 10 miles, with AC on, and we made it home with 40% left! I must just have the magic touch.

[@KTPurdy]

EVerything My wife loved the Volt because she knew that she would always get home. But she won't drive the Leaf. I prefer pure EV but I might go back to the Volt when the lease is up.

[@EVeverything]

Depending when your lease is up (mine will be in 2018), you should at least have the Bolt available as an option as well as the new BMW i3 with increased range. We'll see what the Leaf 2.0 turns out like, but I'm leaning towards Bolt at the moment.

[@jamesmgreen15]

Objective and facts clearly laid out as you saw them, no fan boy smoke blowing. Thanks for the vlog.

[@EVeverything]

Thanks, I do try to stay objective. It would probably be accurate to describe me as an EV fanboy, but I try my best to hold those emotions at bay & just present information that may be helpful to car buyers in general who are curious about driving electric.

[@Mr.Quinlan888]

Well done review! Having worked for Nissan for some time I enjoyed driving the Leaf around. I own a gas guzzling V8 pickup, but I really like zipping around town in the Leaf. I know it's a sacrilege, but I can't wait to see a pickup with an electric engine in it. I'll be the first one in line to purchase one.

[@EVeverything]

That's great to hear! Ford is developing its F-150 Hybrid, so I'm sure a plug-in truck will be here in the next few years. Once those and electric SUVs arrive I think EV adoption will skyrocket

[@Kinor7]

Hi, really appreciated this. I'm in the market for a new car and I'm seriously considering an EV. I took a Leaf for a test drive today and I loved every minute of it. You made me more confident in making the Leaf one of my top alternatives. Thank you! Subbed. :)

[@EVeverything]

That's very exciting to hear! Glad you enjoyed the test drive. If you're concerned about range, or just want a gasoline backup for longer trips, check out our brand new review of the 2017 Chevy Volt: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJe7qqdngtiqhKM

[@bison4me]

Nice video, I've had my leaf now for about 6 months and surprisingly it has become my primary vehicle. I have an SUV or as they call them in Europe a (FTW Vehicle). I didn't want a hybrid, and didn't like the Volt so tried out the Leaf. I was impressed by it's handling and ease of use. I could fit both a booster seat and child seat in the back at the same time since I take my kids to school in the morning. I can also place a stroller and groceries for four people in the trunk. My wife was apprehensive at first, but now there are some battles over who gets it on the weekends. I only use my SUV now to take the dog to the groomers or vet. A couple of weeks ago we got hit hard by a snow storm that dumped 30+ inches of snow and the Leaf handled itself well on the half-plowed/snow covered roads. But after seeing videos of folks with Leafs in Norway and Russia I figured this storm wouldn't be an issue. The thing I hate is the GPS and Carwings system, it's very dated and isn't consistently up on Nissan's side. I use my Garmin instead. I'm a bit of a techy (nerd) so i've tricked out my leaf with built in hotspot and a mount for an iPad mini. I use Leaf Spy as I drive for all the diagnostics on the car. I primarily use the in dash display now just for the radio and phone.

[@EVeverything]

+bison4me Glad to hear you're loving the Leaf and getting the performance and range you need even in the cold weather! My wife is still nervous to drive mine as she's afraid she'll run out of range, but I'm hoping to get her into the new Volt when it's available this Spring. What did you not like about the Volt? I'd imagine space was an issue, especially in the back where you put your booster/child seat.

[@bison4me]

Exactly, it's not really a vehicle for a family with young children. For a single guy or couple with no children I can see it. When I take the booster and child seats out, I can sit adults, my parents in particular, in the back seat comfortably. I sat in the back seat of the Volt during my test drive, being 6'1" I knew I couldn't tolerate five minutes back there. During Christmas we have family come to town and I must make pickups from the air port or make last minute runs to the mall. There were occasions where I was able to fit three adults comfortably for these activities. I couldn't imagine being able to do it in a Volt. Also, I'm not a fan of being dependent on oil controlled by a cartel (OPEC) made up of members of countries who are not very good terms with our country right now. I know for most this is not an issue, but to each his own. A fully electric vehicle was what I was looking for and the Leaf was it for us.

[@EVeverything]

+bison4me I think the Volt will work well for my wife to ease her "range anxiety" and warm her up to driving a fully electric vehicle one day. I also feel we need at least one gasoline vehicle for trips out of town, but the Volt can be driven as pure EV unlike a Prius so that's a plus! I'm ready to give up my Leaf when the Bolt (Opel Ampera-E in Europe, I believe) arrives later this year, but it's been great introduction to driving electric so far.

[@bison4me]

+EVerything true the Volt can be driven solely as an EV but you only get anywhere between 48 - 53 real world miles from it. The Bolt looks interesting, I haven't been able to get in one yet. But it looks versatile like the Leaf. The range on paper is excellent, but I'd be interested in seeing how many real world miles it gets. By the time my lease is up on this current Leaf in 2018, Nissan should have its 200 mile range leaf out by that time. Nissan has a deal in place now to work with Panasonic in making a Versa/Note EV. Panasonic makes the batteries for Tesla, so I'm very anxious to see out this partnership will work out.

[@mattedj]

Thanks, bought a used 2013, so far so good

[@EVeverything]

That's wonderful news! I imagine you got a great deal too. Hope you enjoy driving yours as much as I do mine. Would love to hear your feedback and experiences of driving the car maybe a few months or even a year down the road

[@BusinessmanVMN]

Always good to see someone helping the enviroment. :)

[@Xanduur]

My next vehicle when I trade in my Civic. Best video regarding the Leaf I have seen to date. If you were local, I would buy you a Shiner Boch or two. I thought that looked like Austin. I was born there, but now live in Fort Worth. Thanks for the great video, dude.

[@EVeverything]

Joe Edwards thank you for the very kind words, my friend! Would love to hear your feedback when you get your Leaf. The 2018 model comes out in September with new looks & likely 200+ miles of range if you can wait that long

[@Xanduur]

I am not in a hurry. I have 11 more payments on my 2010 Civic, so I can wait. Yes, I heard the 2018 would have a 200 mile (or more) range. I would like to use this car drive drive to UNT, which is a 100 mile trip.

[@ericm3991]

I have a BMW i3 with the Range Extender and it's so nice to have. The gas tank is only 2.4 gallons but when I have a longer trip out of the city I don't need to worry about the range of the electric battery.

[@EVeverything]

What's the total range you can squeeze out of your BMW i3 after using both battery and gas? The BMW i3 has always been the EV I really want, but just haven't been able to justify the premium price for only moderate EV range. Substantial boost coming for the 2017 model though!

[@AstroGremlinAmerican]

Well spoken host and the video addressed many of my questions.

[@EVeverything]

Thank you, and I'm happy to hear the information was valuable! You may enjoy another video about my wife's 2017 Chevy Volt if you're in the market for an EV: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJe7qqdngtiqhKM

[@lklpalka]

Thank you for the honest review. I've noticed NO other reviewer has mentioned their electric bill. I've watched many owner reviews, and you are the first to address the elephant in the room. I'll bet you're ready to move on the the Bolt by now if you haven't already. Given NISSAN's battery longevity issues, I'm looking for something with an active battery management scheme, and better warranty. They seem uninterested in helping early adopters keep their vehicles on the road.

[@EVeverything]

Glad you found the extra info helpful! I remember being a little surprised at the $30 or so increase, but it kind of compounded especially once my wife got her Volt because it was taking us into the 2nd & 3rd tier of electricity use. We have a program in Austin now where we pay a flat rate of $30/mo, so that's a great savings for us across both cars. Still have a 2015 Leaf (not the one in this video, but another 2015 I purchased with fewer miles), and it suits my needs just fine. It's all paid off & although I'm tempted to get a higher range EV, I know that I don't need it and I'm saving more $ the longer I hold on to my Leaf. I did a 24-hour test drive of the Bolt last year, but was quite displeased with the seat comfort and found the abundance of hard plastics on the interior to be uncomfortable and cheap-looking. Sounds like they addressed the seats finally for 2019 Bolts, but at this point I see myself sticking with the Leaf for some time. I live in hot, hot Texas but battery degradation has not been an issue in either of my Leafs. I know thermal management is ideal, but with a short commute and never using Level 3 chargers, I'm seeing the battery hold steady at 4.8 miles/kWh. There are only 15K miles on my current Leaf, but my first had over 30K without losing a bar and maintained 4.7 miles/kWh. If you're still concerned, I think the BMW i3 has had thermal management from the beginning, and there are some great deals in the used market on those!

[@tterbo128]

I've had my 2011 Leaf for 2.5 years, and I agree with the start up speed fun. It never gets old. It may age the front tires quicker, being the first off the line, but it's as much fun now as the day I got it used.

[@EVeverything]

How is your 2011 holding up range-wise? Heard that battery degradation was more apparent in early Leaf models, but none for me yet at 21,000 miles in just under 2 years

[@tterbo128]

Yeah, each summer mine takes a hit. Mine was manufactured in March 2011. It is bouncing between 64% and 66% health depending on how cold it is outside. Last night Leaf Spy said it had 45.52 amp hours, but that changes up and down constantly. It is still overtaking our Civic on miles driven because we never hesitate to drive it in town. Even getting a can of soda 2 miles away does not ever constitute a waste of gas in it. I had a funny discovery last night. It's unrelated to the range though. I was sitting outside of Kohl's waiting for my family to finish their shopping and I ran the heater in the parking lot for an hour. When I turned the heater on I had 7.3 kw remaining in the battery. However, after about 15 minutes of running the cabin heater, Leaf Spy said my battery had 7.4 kw in it. The battery temperature was floating around in the mid 60's while the outside temperature was 50 Fahrenheit. My guess is that heating the cabin heated the battery up a little and unlocked a little more juice. I'm not sure. It did explain why my car range estimate didn't drop the entire time. I have about 43,800 miles on my Leaf right now.

[@thetravellingjanitor728]

I am buying a used 2013 S model in a couple of days. It is $9,998 and has 12,000 actual miles. $21,000 less than new. These things drop like a rock in value thank goodness. Anticipate saving about $200 a month in fuel savings. Fingers crossed.

[@EVeverything]

Yes, used EVs are a real bargain! Older Leafs were reported to suffer from battery degradation more than new models, but at 12,000 miles you should be safe. Heat can be the real killer for batteries, but even here in Texas I have yet to notice any permanent range loss

[@fredc8618]

Daryl Price clean tittle?

[@MegaGasek]

Daryl Price Great find! It will drop even more when the 2018 Leaf is out. I am wondering if these used husks will be good at taking new batteries. The DIY crowd will be busy...

[@karimbenseghir9325]

Be prepared for changing the battery. $3000

[@jeremybuenaventura808]

Thank you so much for your review! It was definitely really helpful. So many similarities from reasons of why you switched to an electric car and also playing music having to bring equipment in the trunk. I'm also switching from a Nissan Murano 2007 to a Nissan Leaf. I would really like to have this car to I can stop spending so much money and time on gas vehicle. Thanks again for the review! (:

[@EVeverything]

That's great to hear! The newer Leafs can go 107 miles, so basically 25% more range than mine. Although you can find amazing deals on used Leafs with relatively low mileage

[@Aarik666]

fantastic insight into what it is like to own an Electric car. I have always had Petrol cars and I never knew there is no oil of any sort. Or the absence of gears. Great information. Thank you good sir. I will soon be joining the ranks of Electric car owners ;)

[@EVeverything]

Happy to hear you found the info helpful, and it's exciting to know you'll be an EV driver one day soon!

[@kellybill7181]

Very informative I owned 2 chevy volt bought 4 years ago. I never like the leaf before but it starting to grow on me. It sucks for most early adaptor of the leaf 2011-12 Nissan had an unfair battery warranty! I am sure that’s all change now due to the past class action suit. With the coming of the reasonably price chevy Bolt Ev, I am hoping to see more current Ev with 30kwh battery to come down in price below $20k new. This way we can see more people embrace the value of alternative to gas powered cars.

[@EVeverything]

Yes, hopefully these newer 200+ mile range EVs will bring the price of the Leaf and other lower range models down. Exciting times ahead!

[@Doctortomsvideos]

I have had a leaf for one year. Ill give my write up as you maybe here because you are thinking of getting one. first of all the deal Nissan gave me was great. It just wasn't that expensive. I live in a cold part of the world and the heating system on the leaf was excellent and worth mentioning. Hot air from the first minute. Mine does 84 miles on a charge and is never a problem for my family as we have multiple cars. We use this as an everyday car. picking kids up, going to the store, and my partner takes it to work every day. It's fast and easy to drive. NO complaints ... I want an electric SUV or pick up now..

[@EVeverything]

+Doctortomsvideos Glad you've enjoyed your Leaf! My experience has been the same, but I may ditch mine in favor of the Chevy Bolt when it becomes available. Not quite an SUV, but close enough for me. I bet we'll see an electric truck (or at least a plug-in) by 2020

[@Doctortomsvideos]

+EVerything The petrol or diesel car is dead within 10 years in England....... i can say this with concordance for several reasons. 1) people in England drive significantly less miles then Americans ... i'm too lazy to look up the exacts on the internet but i bet it's less by half. 2) there is a war ongoing with the car companies in England. All the cars you can buy (for reasonable prices) get excellent mileage 60 mpg and even more but in exchange for the cars being WAY UNDER-POWERED..... .... 3) the electric that is used in England is 220v and that is just the standard outlet. this video gives numbers of 40% charge in 8 hours off of a normal american 110v outlet Now i'm not giving exacts here and I'm not an electrical engineer but the charging time we seem to get is far better ......

[@EVeverything]

+Doctortomsvideos And isn't there a tax on petrol vehicles in some areas? I feel that sort of implementation would accelerate the transition to zero emission transportation, and should be put into law in some of the most congested cities in the U.S. as well.

[@Doctortomsvideos]

+EVerything Yes all cars are taxed each year. It cost anywhere for $50 - $650 per year to tax a car. ( i did a rough GPB to american dollar conversion) The tax is completely based on emissions. As the leaf has no emissions there is NO TAX. This gives a Leaf owner further savings. Also the petrol and diesel tax is very high in the U.K. but roads are better. Americans hate tax. Many, perhaps even most, would rather have their roads and cities fall to bits (Detroit) then pay tax. Living the first 33 years of my life in the U.S. and then 16 years in England gives me a certain perspective that is rare. I believe that many Americans, like those in my family, do not realize how far gone america is. They live in the suburbs and close their eyes when they are forced to leave them. The upper middle class in England ( doctors, lawyers upper management ) are not as rich as the american upper middle class. Or better put, their life style is not as classy as the tax is high. Consider the sales tax is 20%. However there is no homeless (unless they want to be due to mental illness) Everyone has good health care the roads are good and firearm-related death rate is very low. Sorry but i went off topic...... I will be hard to implement taxes to guide America into the 21 century. Ponder upon the fact that a recent poll showed that 29% of Americans considered themselves Republican......................

[@EVeverything]

+Doctortomsvideos England and U.K. sounds quite progressive indeed! Would love to travel abroad more as a narrow worldview is really a detriment to anyone's perspective of other nations and cultures. I try to stay positive and hope that America will catch on to some of the policies adopted by other countries around the world, but the looming fear of a Trump presidency would be a huge step in the wrong direction (in my opinion) and would be the embarrassing punchline to what I'm sure the world outside of the U.S. sees as a political joke. Fingers crossed for better times ahead!

[@MrFranjoca]

love you video. I' m very exited to get our Leaf on November firs

[@EVeverything]

I'm happy to hear you will be driving an EV very soon!

[@robsmith1a]

Great video. I test drove a Leaf recently and loved it. I am waiting for a 200 mile range and am also looking forward to test driving the new Renault Zoe ZE40 (probably not available where you are). There is something so relaxing about EVs compared with an ICE car plus the instant torque is great fun as you say.

[@EVeverything]

Yes, the torque is fun! No Renault Zoe here in the States, but I've been reading about the ZE40 available overseas. We probably won't see a 200+ mile range Leaf for a year or two, but the Chevy Bolt (Ampera in Europe?) is fast approaching with 238 miles on a charge! The next-gen Leaf better have some improved looks to stay competitive with what's coming in the EV market

[@robsmith1a]

The Chevy Bolt (Opel Ampera-E I believe in Europe) isn't available in RHD unfortunately so no UK models. The next gen Nissan Micra looks really great so I am hoping they may do something similar styling wise with the Leaf (the Leaf's looks have grown on me and I think it looks OK in black)

[@rayhartley7290]

Great review. Thanks for posting your experience

[@EVeverything]

Thank you! I hope it was helpful. Are you looking to buy an EV?

[@chrisr2507]

Will be getting a used Leaf while waiting for our Tesla Model 3!

[@EVeverything]

That's a great idea, as used Leaf prices are so incredibly low right now! Lots of used EVs are coming off-lease which presents many bargain opportunities to those considering a used EV

[@raprhino1557]

Chris R i am going to drive a leaf while I am in college. after i graduate i will get a tesla.

[@EVeverything]

rap rhino I'm happy to hear it! Maybe you'll get lucky and have car chargers at your college campus. There are usually at least 2 at each campus I've been to in my area

[@LewdCustomer]

I've had my 2013 Leaf over a year. I'm in a band too. You're spot on with the advice and observations. Need 240v charging though.

[@EVeverything]

Just installed one last week! Very cool program through my electricity provider where we are metered separately for our charging energy for a flat rate of $30/mo. This should also reduce our normal household electric bill as we have been paying tier 2 and tier 3 electricity rates due to the amount of charging we do. What kind of music does your band play? You can check mine out here kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaquoGN4qtCZbJo

[@jadlteif8143]

Great video, very helpful and clear information!

[@EVeverything]

Happy to hear you found it helpful! You may also enjoy our review of the 2017 Chevy Volt: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJe7qqdngtiqhKM

[@landrewma1820]

I agree with previous comments that this is a no-drama video that feels authentic and I believe is authentic. I also like that you have the base model. Something similar to what I would get and can afford. I think I may cancel my reservation for a model 3. Just not actually affordable for me with options I would want. But Hyundai Ionia electric is probably my best pick.

[@EVeverything]

Thank you for the kind words. Hyundai IONIQ definitely has my interest too! Just not sure when it's going to be available nationwide. We'll finally get the full details on Leaf 2.0 on Sept. 5th, so that may end up being a consideration for me as well depending on price and range

[@leafnovice7492]

Just bought a 2015 Leaf a month ago, based on a few helpful and balanced reviews like yours ( although I did have to wade through a few skewed and biased ones too ) Anyway, Thanks very much for taking the time and trouble to put such a calm perspective together. I'm more than happy with my car, and couldn't agree more with your view that there are lots of low-mileage commuters out there, for whom an EV would be a rational (and economic) choice. Maybe one day the penny will drop.........? Best regards, and thanks again

[@EVeverything]

Leafnovice Thanks, and I'm happy to hear my video was valuable to you. I actually just purchased another 2015 Leaf used as my current 2015 lease is ending. Got the used one for cheaper than the buyout on my lease, even with much less mileage on it! 2015 is the last year that heated front/back seats & steering wheel all came standard as well. Congrats on yours!

[@leafnovice7492]

Sounds like yours is a real bargain. Here in the UK, the model specs are quite different. Of the 3 models on sale, only the top of the range version has heated (leather) seats and steering wheel. It will be quite interesting to see how different the new 2018 models are - on either side of the pond Have fun.

[@dhessy2007]

Oh very much Excited..I will have this next year Red pearl metallic Nissan leaf

[@EVeverything]

+Modesta Magdula Very exciting! Beautiful color, and I hope you fall in love with driving electric

[@CoffeeMadeMeSay]

just leased a 2016 Pearl Blue SL wooo.

[@dhessy2007]

+EVerything I hope so I had a good decisions to made. I will have my car next month.. thanks

[@CoffeeMadeMeSay]

which trim?

[@Jack9788]

I could take a leaf out of his book, but if I ran out of battery charge I might end up on a battery charge.

[@mustafanaji6591]

GOOD REVIEW & GREAT CAR.

[@nukewares]

Great video, it's clear you really thought this through before creating the content.

[@EVeverything]

Thank you! Now if only I was more consistent about putting videos up

[@gmcjetpilot]

I bought a used 2015 Nissan Leaf SV last year. It had 21,000 miles, and came off 3 year lease. It now has about 29,000 miles and happy. It is a seecond car. My other car is a VW turbo diesel TDI which gets 50 miles to the gallon. I couldn't have just Leaf as my only car, because occasionally I need to go for much longer drives.

[@EVeverything]

Glad to hear you are happy with your Leaf! Sounds like you got a good deal for a car only having 21,000 miles over a 3-year period. Where do you charge your Leaf primarily?

[@gmcjetpilot]

​@@EVeverything Thanks for question. In order: A) Home Level 2 charger ($0.10/Kw) 3-4 times a week; B) Free Public Level 2 at park 1.5 mi fr house, once a week summer time. C) Dealers Level 2 & Level 3*, 3 to 4 times year, infrequent. (READ MORE) A) I installed a used Clipper Creek direct wired Level 2 (20Amp x 220 volt) charger in my garage (where breaker panel is). Because I bought charger used and did the wiring myself, I have about $350 into it. I don't recommend people wire 220V their-self unless they know what they are doing, either have experienced person help or do their homework and use all safety cautions. It is not hard, but getting electrocuted or burning your house down is a bummer. I charge at home 4 times a week (work 4 day work week) between 30% to 80%. I try to charge to 100% once a week. I may charge one or two times less at home based on how many times I charge at B) (below). B) The Public Park (Shelby Farms) managed by a conservatory, not Gov, so it is very nice, has 8 free Level 2 chargers, sunrise to sunset. Almost always 5 or 6 stations are open. The Park charges their golf carts permanently using 2 of the 8 spots. I drive over, plug in and ride my folding bike back home. I return about 3-4 hours later. I do it because free electricity, which is fun. I do this about once a week during summer, winter less. C) I have (4) Nissan Dealers within 10-30 minutes. I have been to (3) three of them. All those have Level 2. Two of the dealers have Level 3 (all free and assume only during business hours). I have fast charged only two times. I fast charged really just to see it work. It works great. Only real fast charge I did was 25% to 80% in under 40 min. It was likely throttled due to warm ambient temps. I'm afraid of battery damage from frequent fast charge (occasional OK), so I will only fast charge on occasions and only if needed. Once the dealer kind of saved my ass. I left the house with less than 40% (it was day off work and did not charge it). I ran an errands and was down to 20% and 10 miles from home. l would have made it home with - - - -. but I went down the street to Nissan dealer, fast charged for 20 minutes. I think I got pretty close to 80%. There are few if any commercial chargers in my area. There may be a free charger at a few hotels. There is a Tesla Super Charging location about 5 miles away, but can't use that. I understand someone made an adapter to use Tesla chargers but not sure about that. However A), B) and C) is all I need. I lost a bar (11 out of 12) and want to make it last. I get +85 miles on the guess-O-meter at 100% charge. When I got the car 9,000 miles ago I would see about 93 miles. It is approaching 30K mi and 4 years old. I have lost 8 miles, but that is based on driving habits (I take freeway to work typically). I have LeafSpy Pro. I forgot what SOC was, but guessing about 90% after 4 years and 29,000 miles. I bought it used and lost the one bar a month or two after I got it. I get 85 miles, minus my personal 20 mile reserve. I have 65 mile usable (drive it like I stole it with AC or heater) . That is good for my 36 mile commute. As long as I have 45-55 miles solid range, this car will be of use (but limited use). Again this is a second car (VW TDi turbo diesel with emission approved modification and still 50 mpg). I have no plans to buy a new EV or another used EV anytime soon. My plan is keeping this for 10 years selling it or doing and DIY battery swap (either buying modules to rebuild the pack or getting a salvaged LEAF and swapping the pack). I understand battery internal controller needs to be swapped. If not the dealer has to reprogram pack for car. Dealer may not be willing to do this. If you just swap out some of the 48 modules in the pack you can reuse your battery pack and controller without dealer programming (who may refuse). Take this with grain of salt, as I have not done this, only research, which may not be accurate. I am trying to make EV's work for me, save money. The lower CO2 is a plus. Less maintenance is fine, but I like working on cars and do all my own VW maintenance, which is really only an oil change once a year and new air and fuel filters every 40K. The transmission needed new oil and filter at 40K and 80K. I am at 100K miles and will need new timing belt and water pump... I can do that for about $215-$300 in parts. With The LEAF the VW annual milage has gone from 9,000 to less than 4,500. Again plan on keeping this VW for another 10-15 years. NOT buying new cars saves the environment... No one is saving the planet driving a $130K Tesla P100D to drive their one 180lb butt around. PS Best trees? 3.5.trees.... I did 40 mile round trip late at night, no traffic, all surface streets 35-40 mph. Normally lucky to get 1/2 tree driving on freeway. Sorry for long reply but you are in the business of EV expertise. Thought you might like to know my weird approach... Long story short the EV is a good car in this state and city ONLY as a second car. I am NOT in California. I have only seen one other Leaf on the road and one Tesla parked at Shelby Farms. (The car being charged was Tesla P100D and likely, no kidding, Kimbal Musk's car. A restaurant at the park called "The Kitchen" is owned by Kimbal. I don't know this, but that is what I want to believe, ha ha)

[@EVeverything]

@@gmcjetpilot Thanks for all the great info! I lost my first capacity bar a few days ago. Can't say I've noticed a difference in range, but it hurt to see one gone already

[@utube7733]

Excellent review. Good job.

[@EVeverything]

Thank you! Trying to get a video together that talks about using public chargers. Just need to find time to put it all together

[@soweroftheword]

Great job! Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@MrCountrycuz]

there are several used leafs for sale here in SC and Ga. Just saw one in the Atlanta area that was a 2015 model for 7900.00 dollars. This might be a buying opportunity to take advantage of folks. Carmax also has several but you can get a better deal elsewhere pricewise.

[@EVeverything]

Used EV market can be an exceptional bargain, especially if the mileage is below 20,000. Wish I had done a little more research before leasing a brand new 2015 Leaf. Now I have my eye on the Bolt, even though I know there's likely a better investment in a used BMW i3, Volt or even another Leaf out there.

[@EVeverything]

You're probably right. With my luck I'll get a Bolt and then a bunch more long-range EVs will pop up. My lease ends in January so we'll see what the options are at that time. Maybe a used Leaf with the 30kwh battery!

[@DrDre-sy2kv]

dude that was a supercool review.

[@EVeverything]

Thanks! If you liked it then I think our Volt review was even better: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJe7qqdngtiqhKM Don't necessarily intend for this channel to be strictly about car reviews, but figured we'd at least share experiences with the two electric cars we own.

[@MOTOFLIXGARAGE]

I like this review, its pretty honest, I drive 30 kms to work every day, and I have charging sockets in our office parking, I would definitely like to buy Leaf if it is launched in India.

[@EVeverything]

Stunt Geek I have read that India is taking steps to increase electric vehicles & ban internal combustion engines by 2030! An admirable & ambitious goal that should provide you with many EV options in the near future

[@MOTOFLIXGARAGE]

Yeah, and there are many starts ups coming up in India these days who are converting conventional gas cars into Hybrid/ Full EVs!! however I am a bit disappointed with Govt's approach for not providing much leverage to Electric cars/CV manufacturers for mass transportation. May be because the Government thinks that people will stop using conventional public transport if EVs get cheaper.

[@EVeverything]

It will be an interesting development to follow over the next several years. EVs should not replace public transit though. Rather, public transit should be electrified!

[@be236]

Good review, with real-world experience ...

[@EVeverything]

Thanks! On my second Nissan LEAF now and still love the car

[@sonyfxi]

EV cars don't fit every life style out there but its definitely moving in the right direction. Thanks for keeping it real

[@EVeverything]

And thank you for keeping an open mind and a level head. Some folks seem to get upset that I drive an EV as if it somehow is a statement that I am right and they are wrong. I'm not sure what the resistance to these types of cars are, but as prices keep dropping and range continues increasing (238-mile range on the Chevy Bolt!) then I believe more people will begin to accept & love EVs.

[@rbbartho1]

Aerodynamic drag is something that most people do not understand. Basically, the faster you drive, the force required to push the car goes up exponentially. So, if you are low on energy slow down as much as possible down to about 25 MPH or slower.

[@EVeverything]

Certainly true, and perhaps why most EV offerings so far have been designed as hatches or sedans instead of SUVs and trucks. The reason for the Leaf's buggy headlamps is actually to cause the air to flow over and past the side mirrors! Still not a good look and they ditched it with the 2018 model, but Nissan must have been trying everything to reduce drag on its first mass electric vehicle.

[@BlakeGJ]

It must be the flat terrain here in AZ that makes my range more. I have a 2013 SV and get 85 to 92 miles consistently with 10 bars of capacity left. I average about 4.9m/kwh . I LOVE the car!

[@EVeverything]

+Blake J Pretty flat here in Texas as well, and my dash indicates 4.7 miles-per-kwh for me. Haven't lost any capacity bars yet, but mine is a 2015. How long until you lost your first bar? I know it's bound to happen, so I'd like to prepare myself in advance

[@BlakeGJ]

+EVerything It had 11 when I got it at 45000 miles. 47000 miles and the 2nd dropped. I always use B mode and have an 18 mile round trip commute. If I drive in fun mode I only see about 3.6 m/kwh. I get about 120 kw/mile regen in heavy traffic.

[@EVeverything]

+Blake J Well I should have plenty of time then! I'm approaching the 14,000 mile mark and I'm leasing so it's possible I'll never see a bar disappear while I own the car. Will consider an end-of-lease purchase if all goes well from now until 2018. But let's be honest, it'll be hard to resist the Chevy Bolt and Tesla 3 by that time

[@charliep759]

+Blake J I test drove two EVs (a 2012 Leaf and a 2012 Focus) in Phoenix today and both lost significant range just to running the AC in traffic. And it's not even summer yet. Yikes! I think I need to wait for 300+ mile EVs like the Tesla 3 before I can make the leap.

[@EVeverything]

+Charles Petrosky You're driving some older models, so the batteries may be a bit degraded or didn't have the best chemistry to begin with. My range indicator drops about 10 miles when I engage the AC, which I don't think is too bad. Just depends how much driving range you need, and I've found my Leaf gets me to & from work (25 miles total) so I only need to charge every other day. And don't forget public chargers! Charging at work, home & on errands can extend your range significantly

[@ZiemsRyan]

Lots of good info! Thank you!

[@EVeverything]

+Ryan Ziems Glad you found it helpful! Are you looking into purchasing an EV or driving one already?

[@christopherscola9641]

Thanks for the video. Nice job.

[@EVeverything]

Thank you, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Coming up on year 2 with the Leaf, so planning to post another update then

[@jacksonbangs6603]

Starting price for the Tesla Modle 3 is set around 35,000 dollars. Chevy Bolt is set around 37,500 dollars and is currently only being offered in Oregon and California. Either car is a good choice as long as it means getting of off oil.

[@EVeverything]

Agreed! That is the ultimate goal

[@markdominguez9769]

Is it possible to charge and drive for extended range, say like a diesel generator on a roof rack plugged into the car..

[@EVeverything]

I'm sure it's possible. My initial reservations would be that the added weight of a generator would decrease efficiency as well as increase drag at higher driving speeds. And for those like myself who value the zero-emission aspect of EVs over the driving range, I really wouldn't want to add anything that burns gasoline to my vehicle. We have the Volt for that!

[@micahchaney1904]

Can I just say...I love the way you drive. You're paying attention, you're using your blinker, you've got your hands on the wheel...well done video. One question...how tall are you? I'm 6'2 and thinking of getting a Nissan Leaf. Very much appreciate this video. Thank you.

[@EVeverything]

Guess I'm a naturally cautious driver, because I really wasn't thinking of those things while filming the video. Wish I could submit it to my car insurance company and get some kind of discount! To answer your question, I'm 5'11 and still have a few inches clearance overhead. The drummer in my band is 6'8 and when he rides up front he looks reasonably comfortable, although he does recline the seat back a little. Taking a test drive might be the best idea! I'd encourage you to consider a used Leaf as their value depreciates very quickly at the benefit of the second owner. Also worth noting that 2016 and newer models have higher capacity batteries that can take you just over 100 miles compared to mine which tops out at about 80 miles.

[@micahchaney1904]

I'll have you know...I did purchase a used 2013 SV. I LOVE IT. I test drove a 2012 SL at my local CarMax, and instantly loved it. I went home and started shopping around for deals and comparing the trims and doing some additional due diligence. I called around at 3 or 4 dealerships and scheduled appointments for test drives. From my research I decided I liked the 2013s because of the bigger storage, better range, and similar price point to the 2012s. I also decided the S was sufficient as the biggest difference was the standard control panel (as opposed to the touch screen), no navigation and steel wheels. I'm street driving to and from work only. So, that wasn't as important to me, and I can save hundreds over the SV and SL trims. I decided to test drive a brand new model, so I know how they should feel, and then I went to a used car lot and test drove the 2013 SV model. I loved it. I bought it. I have had it for a week now, got it inspected and it all checked out. I did notice that my battery capacity meter is only at 10 bars (hence the good deal price, along with no Quick Charge Port) but I figure 40 - 60 miles per charge is just fine for my needs. (< 8 mile round trip commute Mon - Fri). I had an older car that had about $4,000 worth of repairs needed. I had put off the brake repairs because, I know how to drive, and figured it wasn't a high priority. But, now that I can't get my smog checked, and thus car registered, because of a separate $2,000 repair needed...figured it was time turn it in. I got my new Leaf for $7,205 out the door (and that includes $399 for registration, which I'm hoping was way too high). I need to pay $199 to upgrade the Nissan Connect (CarWings) thing...so for under $7,500 I have a Leaf that I'm very happy with. Thank you for your review as this was one of many factors that drove me towards the Leaf.

[@EVeverything]

I'm so happy to hear that my little video had a part in your buying decision! I also love that you are enjoying the vehicle despite the lower range, and are happy with it because it gets you where you need to go. EV owners get so caught up with the range sometimes, that they don't always consider how much they actually require. Looks like you were able assess your actual need, and got a bargain price on a car in the process. Congrats!

[@Tr3v0rr96]

Man, this guy left out so many of the problems on this car. 1.electric pumps around town are unless. You gotta set up a new app on your phone for every brand new pump and you also got to get some specialized card thru the mail. And all of them are different brands so you gotta sign up for every pump you wanna use. 2. You will not be able to get home in stop and go traffic without draining your battery completely. So you'd either a) have to wait for traffic to speed up b) have someone come by and bring your charger (that is if your even able to find an outlet!). I was coming back home from school with 75% and my battery had only a mile to spare by the time I got home. You don't know anxiety until you've owned this car. 3. I have never seen this car get more than 70 miles on a full charge. Mine usually gets only 60 now. 84 miles my ass! 4. Turn off your car when you're waiting on your food in the drive through. I lost 5 miles waiting for 10 minutes at McDonald's. So if you're thinking about going out for your lunch break, better think again unless you have your charger! Carl's Jr. Was only 1/2 a mile from my work yet it would take 7 miles to get there and back. Driving 35 mph, no hills. 5. You don't know anxiety until you're forced to take a detour because of construction in an area you don't know while on a low battery. I was coming home from work once when that happened and i had to make my dad come out and pick me up a 1 in the fucking morning! Don't waste your money on this car, the technology is not good enough for this car to be practical yet.

[@EVeverything]

Sorry to hear you were not happy with your EV, but I cannot really relate to any of these experiences. 1.) Public chargers in my area are either Chargepoint or EVgo (not including Tesla chargers), and there are far more Chargepoint stations so the choice was easy. You can use either the phone app or a physical card swipe to activate these chargers, so a pretty simple process in my opinion. I suppose you could have multiple accounts if there weren't enough chargers from each company. 2.) You really lost me here. Battery efficiency is BETTER at slower speeds, so stop-and-go traffic is your best scenario for maximizing range. My wife just borrowed the Leaf yesterday for work and drove 47 miles in mostly traffic that only took the battery down from 100% to 46% when she got home. Assuming I somehow got stranded with no battery charge, I wouldn't have a friend bring me the charging cable and plug in to some random outlet for hours. This would be the scenario where the above mentioned public chargers would come in handy! 3.) I concede you may only get 60 miles of range at highway speeds, but the 84 miles is really more of an average as you can get close to 100 miles at very slow speeds with efficient driving. We are approaching 200-mile range EVs as the norm, so not something to worry about as battery technology continues to develop. 4.) Now this drive-thru story has me a little puzzled as well. Did the battery lose 5 miles or 5% while you waited? Unless you had the heater or AC on full-blast, I don't see how the Leaf could eat through either 5 miles of range or roughly 3% battery capacity. When I first got my Leaf, my band was playing a show and I accidentally left the car on for almost 6 hours! The silence tricked me into thinking the car was off, but fortunately I didn't have any climate controls on so I only lost about 20% by the end of the night. Do you have an older Leaf? I've heard battery degradation plagued 2013 and older Leafs, especially in extreme temperatures. 5.) I'm not sure how far off course this detour took you, but it sounds like you were cutting it close on range regardless. I wouldn't recommend an 80-mile range EV unless your commute is safely within 50 miles between charging points. I cannot classify this car as waste of money, but the Leaf is certainly in need of an update. Range is underwhelming for a pioneering electric car, the looks definitely need a refresh. As a commuter vehicle for someone who just needs to get from A to B without emitting CO2 and particle pollution into the air, it is about the cheapest entry point for someone considering an EV (especially if they buy a used one). That said, I'm happy to have my lease ending next year so I can get a Chevy Bolt or something even better!

[@Tr3v0rr96]

EVerything 1) mine is a 2012 so maybe your car functions a lot better. But to explain the detour problem, my work was only 20 miles from house (I'd use around 40-50 miles coming to and from work, keep in mind, I only get 60 on a full charge) however when this detour came up, I was already half way home and the road was a straight away from work to home, meaning that I had to go back to work because I used ten miles going my normal route and only had 20 left, so if I took the highway home, my car would have died half way there. They had a charge point at my work too, but since I never got the card I couldn't use it. They never sent it to me, and when I downloaded the app they said I needed their card, and by that time, I didn't want to pay charepoint a single cent, because they left me high and dry. Not to mention how annoying it is to wait for car to charge after you get off a 12 hr shift and you just wanna go home. 2)as for the miles I've lost sitting in traffic/drive thrus, I've had the AC and stereo off. Once I lost 11 miles trying to get out of my college parking lot. I only had the car on for tops 20 minutes and I only drove 30 yards. I was forced to wait an hour so my car wouldn't die. I had 60 miles when I left home 44miles when I arrived at school, then 7 when I got back home because I was sitting in rush hour traffic. I was so nervous the whole time cause I wasn't sure I would be able to make it up my hill without my car dying. 3) I forgot to mention the WORST problem the dealership definitely won't bring up, if you live on a hill, this car isn't for you. I live on a hill that is probably a good 700 feet in elevation. Going down the hill, I would get 5 miles put into my meter, then coming up it would take out sometimes as much as 15 miles. I mean sure, im still able to get home, but it's kinda frustrating when people ask you to pick them up when your car is dead, because you just got back from running errands. What they really need for this car is a light, deattachable battery that you can swap out when your car is dead. So you can have one already charged at home or the store and swap them out when you need to. I know batteries are very heavy, but if Nissan were able to some how do that, then I wouldn't have a problem with the small range. Hell, you could probably start taking road trips with this car if that were possible! Granted you would have to stop at a gas station every 50 miles (you could probably make it further, but 50 is a safe number) to switch out your battery but some of the best road trips I've been on were the ones were the ones that were to coast (only 75 miles away from where I'm at). I know they got that fast charging cable, but idk if I really want to put down the money for it considering im a broke college kid who could use that money for books or rent. Hey I wanted to say thanks for taking the time to respond to my comment. It means a lot that someone is listening to the problems I'm having rather than laugh at me. Owning this car i got a lot of shit, but I really want to see this technology take off. I really hope in the next decade that they'll make trucks with an electric range of thousands of miles with an overnight charge. That will be the day!

[@EVeverything]

It sounds like your battery may be suffering from some significant degradation. If the car is only 4 years old, perhaps it will be covered under the manufacturer warranty. I feel your frustration, and I'm sorry the Leaf has been a disappointment to you. The short range has inconvenienced me a few times, but nothing to the degree you've been through. I wouldn't blame you for going back to a gas-powered vehicle, but if you decide to stick it out there are some very cool long-range EVs on the way. I've even heard rumors of an electric F-150 by 2020!

[@Tr3v0rr96]

EVerything that makes sense, Ill take to Nissan if I can get a new battery. oh man, an electric f150 would be savage! Do you think it would be 4x4 too?

[@EVeverything]

My mistake, it appears the F-150 may just be a hybrid. Here's the info I read: www.hybridcars.com/ford-confirms-300-mile-range-electric-suv-f-150-hybrid-and-mustang-hybrid/

[@marve6969]

Nice vid., thanks for posting it!

[@EVeverything]

+marve6969 Thank you for watching it! I'm working on a video review for the new 2017 Chevy Volt, so stay tuned for that

[@carloscarden4973]

aww im from austin too :) i really want a leaf. thanks for this video

[@EVeverything]

Well if you see me driving around, please say hello! Mine's the silver Leaf with an "electric" decal on the back and my signature "live long and prosper" Star Trek air freshener hanging from the rear-view mirror. If you get a Leaf or any plug-in vehicle I'd love to feature you on this channel to get your impressions! Seriously let me know, because I'm eager to get other people's experiences driving electric vehicles

[@iBradWatson]

Thanks for the review. I'll be getting a vehicle to drive to and from work. (roughly 24 miles) each day. I've been looking at the 2016 Leaf with the 107 mile range. Hopefully I won't have any range anxiety.

[@EVeverything]

That sounds like the perfect kind of commute for an EV! I can vouch for the Leaf's performance, but maybe check out the Kia Soul EV or Spark EV if you're in states where they are available. If price were no concern, I would've opted for a BMW i3

[@staffnurse99]

Excellent video, thanks

[@EVeverything]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Do you drive an EV?

[@hansvargas5561]

hi great video!! how much do you pay for a full charge at the charging station??

[@EVeverything]

Well, my situation grants me free charging to most chargers in my area. That is because we subscribe to a wind energy program (more expensive) and get free public charger access throughout the city as a perk. I'd definitely look into similar programs that may be offered in your area, but generally I see the Chargepoint chargers showing $2/hour. That's a pretty steep rate hike in my opinion and would be an expensive way to charge when it costs me just over $2 total to charge my battery completely full at home. I guess if you drive longer distances and really need the charge it's an acceptable expense, but I only seek out chargers 2 or 3 times a month. Walgreens have a better system where they charge you about 40-cents per kwh, so you save a little money and you can stop the charge whenever you want as opposed the the $2/hour scheme that charges you for the entire hour even if you unplug a minute or two after the new hour starts. Hope I answered your question somewhere in this ramble. Basically, I see $2/hour to charge at most public chargers and can charge my battery to full at home for about $2.45

[@cdogvlog5557]

I would like to know what you think of getting a second hand Nissan Leaf. There is a 2011 model with only 20,000 on it, and now I'm wondering whats the story with the battery to replace it if its worn out etc

[@EVeverything]

Seems that purchasing a used EV is an absolutely solid option these days. I keep reading articles about how low off-lease Leafs are and it blows my mind! Kind of wish I'd purchased used myself honestly. If you're worried about the battery replacement policy, you should be covered under Nissan's warranty for something like 8 years or 100,000 miles. I'd avoid any Leaf models older than 2013 probably, as battery degradation has almost certainly set in. But I'm almost at 20,000 miles on mine and battery capacity seems the same as the day I bought the car. I'd say go for it!

[@DSC800]

Considering a used Leaf as our 3rd car. We have a '14 Volt that has been used +80% electric for two years powered by our home solar system. The solar produces enough credits after powering the house and Volt that I can power the Leaf around 6k miles/year for free. One thing though, even the '13 Leaf's with low mileage can be had for

[@EVeverything]

+DSC800 Very cool to hear you have surplus energy from solar! I don't know that much has changed in the Leaf since 2013 other than "battery chemistry" which perhaps makes the newer batteries more dense. I can't say I know much about the technical aspects of the battery itself, but I wouldn't let the low price dissuade you from considering a used Leaf. Electric vehicles, and the Leaf especially, seem to have a high depreciation after just a couple years. Some of this has to do with the federal incentives that are taken off the sticker price at the time of purchase, but I've read some positive stories online from used Leaf owners: www.treehugger.com/cars/life-used-nissan-leaf-first-month.html

[@alexrodriguez3211]

Have recently gotten interested in owning a EV. My commute is only about 16 miles one way and your review really put that in perspective for me. Please continue with additional videos. This one was really helpful to me. I'm curious about the charging equipment. Have you considered installing a 240V charging station at home? Not sure if the Leaf can charge faster at that higher amperage. Thanks again.

[@EVeverything]

Yes, it sounds like you're in an ideal situation to own an EV. I have been charging just from a wall outlet for 2 years (which provides a full charge overnight), but we are now planning to install a 240v charger to take advantage of lower rates offered to EV drivers from our energy provider! The difference is huge, taking only 5 hours to charge from a 240v source as opposed to over 12 hours using the 110v wall outlet. This way we'll be able to charge both my Leaf & my wife's Volt to full in under 10 hours

[@rhysvandieken1792]

I'm getting it in black at christmas time as my first car. ill be 17. i can't wait.

[@EVeverything]

That's awesome! Wish I could've had an EV as my first car. One day you might be able to say you've never driven a gas automobile. "Gasoline? Internal combustion, what? That's prehistoric!"

[@CoffeeMadeMeSay]

what trim?

[@EVeverything]

You'll save a little money getting the base S model like I did, but looking back I wish I'd sprung for the SV to get more efficient LED headlights, lighter allow rim tires, and the fancier digital display screen w/ navigation and such.

[@lancedreger6872]

Do you have a 220 v adapter at home for charging ? Nice video , thank you.

[@EVeverything]

We recently had one installed in our garage this month! Loving the faster charge times between both the Leaf and my wife's Volt

[@joseespinoza2402]

Hi does your leaf also make a knocking noise when you come to a stop or when you press on the pedal ?

[@EVeverything]

Never heard any noise like that. Beyond the gentle whirring of the electric motor, it's a silent ride.

[@subotica1974]

so is this 30-40$ a month for your electric bill? and you mention that there is no oil , is there any hydraulic oil, do you do brakes or they last long. what is the battery life warranty , tnx

[@EVeverything]

We are enrolled in program through our electricity provider that gives us a fixed rate of $30/mo for our EV charging. But before we that, we were spending about $40/mo to charge the Volt and close to $50/mo for the Leaf. No motor oil, but there is mention of "reduction gear oil" in the maintenance manual. The dealer has never had me change that oil yet though in 22,000 miles. Brakes have been given a clean bill of health from the dealer as well, likely due to EVs having regenerative braking that minimizes the need to use the brake nearly as often as on a traditional vehicle. I believe battery warranty is 8 years or 100,000 miles to replace the battery if it loses more than 75% capacity in that time

[@texemplarstudios5481]

If I am thinking about using a 2013 Nissan Leaf with ~50-60 miles on it, what would your thoughts be? Should I just use a gas car?

[@EVeverything]

Are you saying it has a useable driving range of 50-60 miles? My concern with Leaf is that models prior to 2015 have generally suffered more degradation before they improved the battery for 2015 and onward. Now if you can live with that range and are paying under $10K then I'd still say go for it! Otherwise, look for a 2015 year Leaf or some other used EV. Even the BMW i3 can be found for under $20K used and some of those are the REX version with a gas generator if you want to have a gas option just in case.

[@texemplarstudios5481]

Okay, cool! For the 2013 Leaves, though, how fast does the battery degrade in health? After one year, would it only have 40 total miles left?

[@EVeverything]

I don't have firsthand experience, but I doubt it would degrade that drastically in such a short period. How many energy bars are remaining on the right side of the dash screen? At a certain point Nissan has to cover the replacement of a battery in a warranty period of like 8 years or something.

[@jozafax]

Great video!

[@EVeverything]

Thank you so much! Are you an EV driver or just someone interested in driving electric eventually?

[@SwagginPenguin]

I'm hoping to put a leaf engine in my crx

[@EVeverything]

+Anhelito Ten Would love to see that! You should document the process and share. I wouldn't even know where to begin with that kind of conversion

[@SwagginPenguin]

someone already is! You can find him on KZbin @Arlin Sansome

[@hondaguy9153]

Anhelito Ten motor* engines are powered by some kind of combustion. motors are electric. 😀

[@ninjafishnz]

I live in New Zealand, which arguably is one of the best countries for EVs. We have just over 80 percent renewable energy (lots of hydro, geothermal, and wind), we have a small country that's not connected to any others, and our in house power outlets are 240v, so we don't need to install chargers to the house. Unfortunately our government is doing next to nothing towards implementing them. There's no subsidies, only mild tax cuts, and very very little infrastructure. It's quite frustrating, especially given we always talk about being a clean green country

[@EVeverything]

+ninjafishnz Sounded so promising until I got to your bit about the lack of government action to support infrastructure! Guess you can't have it all, but sounds like a great start. And with 240v being the standard in your area, maybe you don't really need a bunch of public chargers. Would love to see the impact of every vehicle on the road switching to electric, but the clean energy that your country has would probably have an even greater impact worldwide. Well done New Zealand!

[@ninjafishnz]

+EVerything it certainly is a great starting place, and that's definitely a good point about the decreased need for public chargers, I hadn't though of that before. I also agree that thst our power generation is extremely important, and I'm very proud of the country for pushing so hard for it. Hopefully the government and businesses can apply themselves in the same way to electric vehicles!

[@NavySturmGewehr]

Only 11,000mi? I took delivery of my 2015 on June 24 2015, on April 19th it had over 30,500km on it! Sadly it's at the body shop as I was hit in the side. British Colombians if you own a EV don't insure with Family Insurance! I commute ~125km/day and I drive my Leaf like I stole it everyday. It's fast, has no issues passing people. I charge on both ends of my commute so I have no range anxiety and no reason to even consider energy efficiency. I've managed to drive my Leaf down to 5.2km/kWh. I didn't buy the Leaf for the environment and I think the green movement is one of the worst things to advertise the electric car towards. The Leaf is extremely economical to operate, it's a better driving car, it's the ideal daily driver. I'm one of the people who doesn't care about the environment, in the least, I care about my pocket book. The Leaf can't be beat if you have a long commute and you can charge on both ends.

[@EVeverything]

+NavySturmGewehr Wow, that's quite a few kilometers in just under a year of driving! I only commute 25 miles daily during the week, and probably even less on weekends. Your efficiency seems quite low though. If my math is right, your 5.2km/kwh is roughly 3.2mi/kwh. Average Leaf drivers seem to get around 4.5 and I personally show 4.8 on my dashboard indicator. I am baffled by the idea that you value your pocket book over your living environment (a nonsensical notion all-together), especially when EVs are generally a high-cost proposition that afford a green lifestyle. And your disregard for driving efficiency also seems at odds with your financial priorities, as you are spending more on electricity than would be necessary under more conservative driving speeds. But hey, I'm glad you're enjoying the smooth ride and lower maintenance while the rest of us enjoy slightly cleaner air!

[@NavySturmGewehr]

+EVerything My previous daily driver is my Q45. A V8 powered luxury cruiser. The advantage of the electric car is its overall reduced operating costs. It's ideal for multi-car homes. I burned ~$600/month in fuel in the Q45. The payments on the Leaf are less than I was spending on fuel. With a high performance V8 it requires regular maintenance, being an Infiniti parts are not cheap for it. Oil changes every 6000km, so that's an $11 filter and $42.50 of oil. In the same km covered in the Leaf that would work out to 5 oil changes, or $267.5 dollars. That doesn't consider air-filters, coolant and a large number of other consumables and complicated moving parts. The Leaf is mostly solid state, the motor and reduction gearbox is literally a century old technology that is reliable in the extreme. Two bearings on either end of the rotor, axle bearings and bearings for the reduction gears. A number of gaskets and oil seals. That wouldn't be enough parts to deal with one head on a DOHC V8. Energy prices in British Columbia are very competitive, the worst case is $0.12/kWh. My employer does not charge me for the electricity I use, so it's about $30/month for energy. I find that when I spend 2 hours a day on the road, I want to get to where I'm going, not doddle and piss off traffic behind me. So, logically, if I want to drive a car hard everyday, the electric car makes better sense because it is far more energy efficient to begin with, so efficiency loss due to hard driving does not swing the operating cost very much. My observations in life has been that nature is much stronger than we are, that we are an arrogant and proud species. We very possibly might be having an effect on the environment but given the small sample size when comparing to the lifespan of this planet, it's more likely Earths aging will have far more impact than we ever will. I hate all the green connotations that go with owning an electric car. I refuse to feel guilty for enjoying the technology we have developed. Should we move towards clearer, reliable and cost effective alternatives, yes, but only because we need to be self sufficient. Not to save the Earth, it's doomed anyways when our Sun goes super-nova.

[@EVeverything]

+NavySturmGewehr Well, sounds like you've done the math. You even seem to know quite a bit more about the internal workings of an EV than I do myself! Again, happy to have one more EV driver on the road regardless of the motivation. Hope you'll continue check out my channel and find the videos useful and entertaining!

[@NavySturmGewehr]

+EVerything Thanks for making the video and spreading the good word about EVs. Takes a lot of talent to put yourself in front of an audience on the Internet! Keep up the good work and I'll keep watching!

[@Chrisb8s]

I really wanted an all electric and the used leafs are such good deal. I bought a volt because in Arizona. Highway miles and hot temperatures would be bad for the leafs range. Today I drove 75 miles on electric. I stopped and charged drying lunch. I hope to go mostly electric but honestly when I get down to zero Nd the engine kicks in I do feel that made the right decision. So far I have used 2.3 gallons in 750 miles.

[@EVeverything]

+Chris Bates You managed 75 miles of electric range in a Volt?

[@Chrisb8s]

+EVerything I stopped to change up along the way

[@EVeverything]

+Chris Bates Oh, I see! Got to test-drive the new 2017 Volt with my wife this past week. Love everything about it but the low headroom in the back seat. I was surprised how low the roof is, and that middle 5th seat is a joke! And this is supposed to be more spacious than the previous generation Volt?

[@Chrisb8s]

+EVerything yes. For me it is just my wife me and a 9 year old. It works fine. We also have a Volvo v60 for more room. Can't wait for a Volvo full ev

[@Xiber1]

what if it runs out of juice, you have to bring it back home to charge it?

[@EVeverything]

Well that or stop at a public charger somewhere. There is lots of public (often free) charging in my area, but that's not necessarily the case for everyone. Before considering an EV you need to evaluate your driving needs, but for most people an EV will at least work as a commuter vehicle where it excels at driving efficiency with slower city speeds. I drive about 25 miles daily and only charge up every other day or so. For longer trips we take our Chevy Volt since it has a gas generator to power the battery, and similar systems can be found in the Prius Prime, BMW i3 REX, and Ford Energi models. There really are quite a variety of plug-in vehicles to meet everyone's travel needs. I've never run out of a charge though, yet I occasionally see people walking with gas cans or pushing their cars to the nearest gas station. Honestly, how do people run out of gas?

[@ElectronicGigabyte]

I like electric cars. The biggest problem with most electric cars is range and battery degradation from what I have found with my studies. This will likely not be an issue with the Tesla Model 3 or the Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles. I personally do not like the Chevrolet Bolt because I think it is too small in size. When a sedan electric car reaches 35 kiloWatt hours of battery life or more and can I get a used one for a decent price I may make my switch. I drive a 41 mile per gallon gasoline car right now. I will likely always keep at least one gasoline car around or long trips. A 100 mile electric car (using air conditioning or heating while driving at 65 miles per hour) would be good enough to fit almost all my daily needs.

[@EVeverything]

The Ford Focus Electric is supposed to be getting a 100+ mile range in it's next model, as well as the Volkswagen e-Golf (although, not a sedan). The Bolt does seem a little on the small end as it's not quite an SUV, but should be more spacious than my Leaf which has been good enough for me so far. The Bolt's dimensions seem quite similar to the Buick Encore which I would be happy with. But who knows when the Bolt will be available in my area, and I've got another year on my Leaf lease anyway.

[@midnightowlsrock]

does a full charge let you drive 100 miles on the freeway?

[@EVeverything]

Not the model I have, which is a 2015 Leaf with the 24kwh battery pack. The 2016-2017 Leafs have a 30kwh battery with 107-mile estimated range, but at freeway speeds I'd imagine that drops to about 80 miles. In my Leaf I can get over 100 miles driving around the city at speeds below 45mph, but highway speeds have limited me to about 60 miles of travel. 2018 Leaf will have 150 miles of range, and 2019 may top 200!

[@bulleuston1746]

We have plenty of low k (10000km) Leaf on the market as (new '11 '12 plate models) for around $26000- $28000AUD (around £15000 I think)...Would you Europeans consider these good value?

[@EVeverything]

Yes, it's a good deal. My only concern would be the battery degradation associated with those early 2011 & 2012 models. Seems the battery chemistry improved as they went along, but that's my only concern with older model year Leafs

[@bulleuston1746]

EVerything Thanks for your reply.

[@jiwonnabe]

thanks for an honest review! my dad is considering to purchase an EV soon so i found this video really helpful. but you only get 40% charged after 8 hours?! that sounds pretty scary..

[@EVeverything]

I get 40-50% charge in that time using the standard charger that plugs into a 110v wall outlet, which is the slowest speed. It may not sound like a lot, but I'm generally around 30% on battery when I charge for the night, so I usually wake up with 80%. Installing a 240v charger in your home, or using public chargers will be twice as fast. This other video of mine might help a little more kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqbVpWSPlr-hmas. I've never been left stranded in my EV, but I do plan ahead. You could always plug in the car as soon as you get home to get more charging time, but I generally wait until "off-peak" hours at night when electricity is cheaper.

[@staffnurse99]

I think it is improving slowly so maybe in 3 years time it will be sufficient for me to consider an EV. Happy Green Driving!

[@johnbenton4488]

Technology moves so fast these days, that I'd be surprised if you had to wait 3 years. And almost every week sees a new EV on offer. The infrastructure seems to be getting better too.

[@staffnurse99]

When I say 3 years, that's when the lease will be up on the Hybrid I am waiting for, so that would be when I change the car. I think the main problem with the infrastructure is that, although we are told that every major service station has chargers, there are usually only one or two chargers at each station, so if they are being used, you are a bit stuck, and who knows how long the person using them is going to be? They really need about 10 at each station for it to be viable, in my opinion, but that would probably be cost prohibitive.

[@EVeverything]

Yes, the infrastructure will have to grow substantially to support EV growth. However, my experience right now where I live is that I see most chargers unoccupied! There have maybe been 2 instances where I couldn't charge somewhere, but the vast majority of the time it seems chargers sit idle. And for me personally, home-charging is where I plug in at least 90% of the time.

[@johnbenton4488]

Me too, but as you say. the charging infrastructure will follow EV popularity. And it can't be too long before EVs are mainstream. One has only to look at the ever-rising cost of oil to see that ICE's will become unaffordable. Sooner the better!

[@CR-wc1rn]

You said oil changes don't exist on electric vehicles, so does it exist for the electric vehicles that have gas backup???

[@EVeverything]

Good question, and yes there will be a need for oil changes on range-extended EVs like the Chevy Volt, Ford C-Max Energi, BMW i3 REX, etc. If there's a gas engine then you'll be due to change the oil at some point, but the good news is that those will be less frequent if you drive in electric mode a majority of the time and only use the gas generator every once in a while. We went over a year in our Volt before changing the oil, and could've definitely gone longer if we hadn't already been at the dealership for some recall fixes.

[@kylel7402]

hi.nice video. how much increase on your electric bill did you get?

[@EVeverything]

About $40 more in electricity a month since I purchased my car. I'm hoping to get a Chevy Volt for my wife when the 2017 model is available this Spring. Charging both vehicles at home should save us almost $100 a month that would normally be spent on gasoline!

[@davids9577]

Remember in his video he talks about charging the car for 8 hours at work. So he probably wasn't getting billed (at commercial rates!) for that. So you can easily double the cost to about $80 with mostly commuter driving and light weekend.

[@EVeverything]

I'm afraid I may have confused some people when I mentioned charging at work. I did that for little while, but when I talk about how much I pay per month it's been since I stopped charging at work and only at home and public chargers. Electricity rates vary from place to place obviously, but we're sitting right around the national average at about 11 cents per kWh. So I stand by the $40/mo claim, and can say even with my wife's new Volt we are likely not exceeding $80/mo to power both our cars.

[@victory1500]

The main reason why people aren't buying them is the cost first and foremost. Leasing is always a possibility, if you have credit good enough to do it. Charging issues can probably be overlooked, it's just they are too cost prohibitive right now for many people. I'm warming up to these, but there is no way I could afford one and I already get nearly 40mpg in my Fiat 500.

[@EVeverything]

It's good to hear that you are already driving a more fuel efficient vehicle! The cost of electric vehicles is certainly higher than gasoline cars, but federal & state tax incentives really brings it down. To use your Fiat as an example, I imagine you'd pay at least $15,000 with a monthly payment of around $350 (to own) with good credit. My leaf was $34,000 sticker price and I got it down to $24,000 through federal and state incentives alone! Still a more expensive vehicle, but my monthly payment to lease is $300/mo and there are no oil changes or regular maintenance other than tire rotations and air filter changes. And even with gas around $2.50 per gallon, my electric rate averages out to about $1.75 equivalent price. Now a Tesla is another story, but to me it seems EVs are within the reach of most individuals and the prices will gradually go down as batteries become cheaper. Now what blows my mind is to see people blowing $40-$60K on big trucks and SUVs!

[@victory1500]

The biggest problem I have is that my credit sucks. Had this been around 15 or 20 years ago when I had perfect credit, it wouldn't be an issue and I could just lease ;)

[@EVeverything]

Sorry to hear that. Yeah, I couldn't afford an EV either if I had to pay to own. Another option would be to check out the used EV market. Used Leafs are especially affordable because their value drops more than almost any other vehicle (gas or electric) in the market! Another reason why owning my Leaf wouldn't be a good investment in the long-run, but this steep depreciation can help people searching for a bargain price

[@TheMinarus]

Charging is not really a problem..At lest not in 2016...You'll always find a charger as long as you check ahead of time when you go somewhere...They have plug indicators you can find one and charge your car

[@EVeverything]

Exactly! Helpful apps like ChargePoint and PlugShare ensure you can reliably predict when and where you can charge. I'm sure not all cities have good charging infrastructure, but it's always growing

[@dIggl3r]

Does "on paper" the Tesla model S would be a better-everything than your Nissan Leaf?

[@EVeverything]

+Kenneth Smith A Tesla would be superior in basically every aspect compared to the Nissan Leaf, no doubt. More range, better looks, luxury features... but at a premium cost! The Tesla Model 3 will be announced next month, so I'm excited to have that option when my lease is up in 2018. Although Tesla is not a clear winner for me. Between a Chevy Bolt, Tesla Model 3, and a higher range BMW i3, I will have to come to a decision for my next vehicle. Nice to have options though!

[@wholeNwon]

+EVerything From someone who has been around for a while: I'd avoid both GM and BMW products, especially the latter.

[@EVeverything]

+wholeNwon I find people's skepticism or outright disgust with GM to be interesting. Did they do something in the past (other than kill the EV1) that has demonstrated unreliability or distrust? I'm genuinely curious because I have my eye on the Chevy Bolt and am ready to abandon my Nissan Leaf for it in a heartbeat! We've never owned a GM vehicle until my wife got the 2017 Chevy Volt, and its been exceptional to drive & operate so far. Between the EV1, Spark EV, Chevy Volt and now the Bolt, it seems to me that Chevy would have the most experience with battery technology that could leapfrog Nissan and even Tesla if they market their EVs properly.

[@wholeNwon]

+EVerything Yes, those of us with longer memories and greater experience with GM than a young man like you view the company with greater skepticism. There were decades (mid-'60s-'90s) when they knowingly produced very deficient vehicles that were trouble-prone and deteriorated rapidly. They were deaf to the complaints of their customers and had a very definite "take it or leave it" attitude. Ford and AMC were just a bad or worse. Packard, which really was a standard of the world, was dead. Cars with numerous defects rolled off the assembly lines and were left to the dealers to fix before sale. Needless to say, that often failed. Their reaction to the public's acceptance of the EV1 (defend I.C. at any cost) was typical. So, when they say, "We've learned our lessons and this time we'll be different...trust us." Many are skeptical. I strongly doubt that their dealerships are motivated by anything other than short-term profit. Fraud and deception are high on their list. There is a reason that they paid Congress for exemptions from the recent consumer protection legislation. If you look at the national surveys of vehicle reliability, GM products in general rarely meet the standards set by Toyota and Honda. Do they not know how to build high-quality vehicles? Of course they do. They choose to do otherwise and the consumer be damned.

[@EVeverything]

wholeNwon Well that's all pretty discouraging to hear. Perhaps changing leadership over the years will result in better product quality and customer satisfaction. I'd like to believe that these past blemishes reflect on their gas-powered automobiles, while I've heard nothing negative about their electric cars other than the lack of promotion by the manufacturer or the dealerships.

[@darktoranaga]

I'm a big fan of the electric car concept. The problem i have right now is that yes, i drive about 30 km each day, so an EV is fine. However, once every few months, i have to take a longer trip, thousands of km in just a couple of days, various destinations. Even more often than that, i will make trips that are outside the range of an EV and they don't allow for long recharging times. This means that, unless i could afford a second internal combustion car, an EV cannot work for me. Yet. When a better network of fast chargers will be available in Europe, when the battery capacity will allow for much greater ranges, yes, i would love an electric car. At the moment, i'm considering an electric motorcycle, much cheaper, much lower performance, but half the year it could match my needs for commuting. There are options for under 4000 euros that could work.

[@EVeverything]

I would certainly not discourage you from looking into an electric motorcycle since it's still electric and requires fewer carbon emissions to produce. Have you considered the Volt (Ampera in UK?) or BMW i3? Both are extended-range EVs, with the Volt especially being capable of long-distance travel due to the 8-gallon gasoline generator.

[@johnbenton4488]

Better infrastructure is the answer, and it is progressing fast. Obviously, as with all things, the greater the demand the better the supply. Pretty soon EVs will be the norm, I hope.

[@EVeverything]

I'd like to see EVs as the norm as well, but I do get discouraged when I see how few are selling compared to their gasoline counterparts. Until the consumers demand it, the producers won't market it, and of course most consumers are unaware and uneducated due to the lack of marketing. Sad story, but these automakers are in the business of selling what's popular and profitable (not EVs!)

[@johnbenton4488]

Worry ye not; the situation will not prevail. Sooner or later oil prices will return to normal. Then we'll see a rise in EV popularity.

[@EVeverything]

I'd like to think so. Thank you for the optimistic outlook my friend!

[@Rhaman68]

Forty miles at 60 MPH is 40 minutes and uses a lot less power than running 65/70 MPH. Do not go faster than 60 MPH and you shall have more miles/power. 60 in cruise control is best specially with a tail wind. From 55 MPH to 70 MPH the wind resistance DOUBLES which requires a lot more power per mile. Good day.

[@EVeverything]

+Ramon Cardona Thank you for the advice! I've heard those same numbers mentioned before, and it is surprising the difference 10mph can make for an EV. I don't find myself driving highway speeds too often, but when I do it's difficult not to go with the flow of traffic (65-70mph). I always feel like I'm representing EV drivers and I don't want the impression to be that we're slow or "hyper-miling" for the best efficiency.

[@jacksonbangs6603]

Would you consider a Tesla Modle 3?

[@EVeverything]

I would, but I've always felt that Teslas are too cool for someone like me. I was never a car person before getting an EV, and I like practical vehicles like hatchbacks and SUVs for my lifestyle. If price were not a barrier, then the Model X would be my top choice for sure. It's likely I would choose something like the Chevy Bolt over a Model 3 if they were both available to me right now.

[@paulcandelaria3201]

nice review! glad you've switched to Nissan EV instead of staying with ICE.. Paul

[@EVeverything]

Glad I switched to EV as well! There's just no going back to ICE after driving electric

[@maksim9612]

Hello.Nice review. You may agree that its not easy to calculate range even on gas cars,so its not a good idea to rely on Leaf dash

[@hondaguy9153]

don't you have to replace the gearbox oil ever other year?

[@EVeverything]

Not to my knowledge, and the dealer has not mentioned it either. They try to get me on brake flushes and extraneous maintenance like that, but I know that my brakes are in much better shape due to the regenerative braking system that keeps me from using the actual disk brakes and wearing down the brake pads like in a traditional vehicle.

[@hondaguy9153]

EVerything the brake flush isn't negated by having regenerative brakes. Brake fluid is Hydrophilic. It will absorb water. After enough water has been absorbed into it, it boils at a much lower temperature and can form air bubbles. I think Nissan wants you to do it every other year, but 3-4 years between flushes is plenty safe. I read somewhere that you are supposed to replace the gear box oil every other year. Even if it's not on their maintenance schedule, once every 30k-40k miles is probably a good idea to prevent premature wear to the box.

[@EVeverything]

Good to know! I see " reduction gear oil" mentioned in my maintenance handbook. Is that the same as gear box oil? Obviously I'm not a gear head, and I understand that even EVs require regular maintenance at some point. I'm a little under 25k miles on my Leaf so should be good on the brake flush by your estimate.

[@hondaguy9153]

Yea, it's a single gear reduction gear box. 👍😀

[@TheObsessedGardener]

Hey man, sounds like your into doing the right thing by the environment. Have you considered a plant based diet also. Animal products contribute more greenhouse gases than the entire transport industry. Great video. Keep it up ;)

[@EVeverything]

I am aware of methane from the vast amount of cattle in this country and its contribution to climate change (most recently discussed in the "Before the Flood" documentary). I cannot say my diet constitutes plant-based sources only, but my wife is a nutritionist and makes sure we incorporate plenty of veggies and fruit into our meals. The only effort on my end in this regard is I try to eat more pork and poultry than beef, as cattle are far and away the highest contributor to methane emissions and cover the most surface area of farm animals in the U.S. My primary concern remains with transport emissions since they contain dangerous particle pollutants that congest our major cities and lead to health issues for many. Changing transportation to electric (or anything besides fossil fuels) also impacts the energy sector and hopefully promotes renewable energy practices that I believe will lead to the larger overall impact regarding clean air and climate change. A college professor once told me that methane is not as threatening as CO2 since it dissipates from the atmosphere quicker, whereas CO2 stays there much longer and more directly leads to the record warming we've experienced on this planet in the last 2 years. I kind of took his word for it and that's about 1 of maybe 10 facts I actually remember from college, but I'd be happy to read any documentation you may have to share regarding the impact of methane.

[@deadelvis68]

Perhaps what you save in gas is offset by the increased cost of an EV which is more noticable if you actually buy a car and not lease it.I have an ICE car and my leaf is just a hobby car to experience a EV. I hate the foot parking brake(any comments)?

[@EVeverything]

Certainly leasing is more affordable for an EV, and gives you the option to upgrade to a newer model after the lease ends or simply to buy your vehicle for a lower price at that point. I would never argue that an EV presents the most affordable solution among all vehicles, but rather that they are not as out-of-reach financially as some naysayers have made it sound. The savings in gas, oil and other forms of maintenance add up over time, but the payoff is years down the road and not by the end of a 2 or 3-year lease. Our most recent experience is leasing our 2017 Volt, where the cost of the car came out to $40K and we put down $2,500 with a $300/mo lease payment. With our $7,500 federal tax credit applied this last tax year, we have already saved money as the credited amount covers 2 years of lease payments. In the end we'll have spent a little over $7K (including our down payment) to lease our Volt for 39 months (not including cost of electricity to charge), which is really quite a value in my mind! And we have a buy-out price of $19K at the end of lease, so would still clock in at under $30K as opposed to buying it from the start for $40K. That's my thinking at least. Still cheaper than some larger SUVs and trucks out there with horrible gas mileage, but I admit EVs are far from the most cost-effective vehicle you could buy if your only priority is something to transport you from place to place regardless of efficiency or ecological impact. Parking brake though? I'm used the to the foot pedal, but I suppose there's the one you pull up with your hand or push with your finger like in the Volt. I have no preference really

[@anweshpeddineni5802]

SORRY TO SAY, but before adding huge fleet of EV's in the new vehicle sales, at least 50% of the electricity must be made from renewable energy and it should be growing. No one talks about that, it is important to be proactive here. the huge number of EV fleet in next 2 decades could almost double the electricity demand which will be obviously coming from fossil fuels because they are cheap and stable electricity generators. TESLA says it is going towards being sustainable, it is NOT sustainable until the whole electricity generation is from renewable energy which is only 14% in USA. if EV companies are really proactive on being sustainable they must first make solutions to make more than 50% electricity from renewable energy and only then they should start selling EV's. they do not do this because profitability, becoming a big company is what is driving them. so no EV including TESLA is NOT ACCELERATING THE WORLDS TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY! i seriously doubt that if proactive steps are not taken, electricity demand from fossil fuels may rise unexpectedly! 3rd generation bio fuels in parallel to zero toxic pollution, Zero Noise and high power density IC engines are going to be seen very soon, which will make the travel absolutely clean and sustainable. then comes making the car sustainable which includes replacing plastic's with bio plastics and getting rid of any environmentally harmful materials in the car and making the whole CAR 100% recyclable. Mazda and many other manufacturers are already in this way. think through it and think proactively! please do correct me if I am wrong

[@EVeverything]

Yes, you touch on a very important aspect of EV ownership which is addressing where the energy to charge your EV will come from. I think it is the owner's responsibility to choose a green energy plan if their utility provider offers one (mine comes from wind energy) or look into solar panels as many EV owners seem to have done. Depending where you live (in the U.S. at least), some areas have "cleaner" grids than others. A lot of places still rely on coal primarily, but natural gas is beginning to take over. I like to believe that the grid is getting cleaner all the time, but it's likely at a very slow pace and not even close to the 50% level you are hoping for. But you are correct, the big change needs to be in how we produce energy worldwide. Driving an EV isn't the solution on it's own

[@zelekuther7938]

An EV running on electricity produced by a coal power station has lower emissions than an internal combustion engine car.

[@hawkesworth1712]

People soon learn that EVs make you drive smarter. Having said that, we can all be thankful that many people who buy them simply can't drive smarter so it puts a lot of cars into the secondhand market for the rest of us to buy.

[@EVeverything]

I've certainly noticed it makes me drive more efficiently. It's kind of fun to see how you can maximize range by going easy on the accelerator pedal and strategically employing regenerative braking. The Leaf even has some cheesy little trees on the dash that illuminate to show you how efficient you're driving