I've Never Driven An EV Before....Here's What I Think After My First Two Weeks With a Nissan Leaf!

[@azstargazer912]

Mary was great. She was honest, had some great thoughts to share, and she added some great humor. More Mary!

[@jubowub3685]

“What’s your dream car?” “A functional one.” Words of wisdom right there.

[@DWK33]

A paid off and functional one

[@Defianthuman]

14:02

[@Defianthuman]

@@DWK33 Yes just like my 2008 Prius with 161k

[@stevefrench4595]

Video idea: next time you guys have a more modern EV, have Mary do a follow-up week in it to compare and contrast. Great job Mary. I like your down to Earth review style

[@Duurti]

Agreed here. This reminds of me of the first EVs that had low range and the range anxiety was a real thing. Most EVs these days are going to give you a lot more than the Leaf does as far as range goes. Mary is spot on here, the Leaf is good for someone who uses their car to run around town, not commute.

[@LordArdn]

I come here to say this. Now give her an 'upgrade' and see how it compares

[@Duurti]

@@LordArdn 100% I'd watch that video.

[@Bum_Hip]

It is weird to set her up in probably the worst EV one could live with.

[@Bum_Hip]

Maybe let Mary do this again with a more capable EV, like an Ioniq 5/6.

[@joecraig78]

Definitely need more Mary videos. Very refreshing as opposed to hearing just rants about EVs on this channel.

[@thorbjrnhellehaven5766]

The more the Mary-er. Sorry, I just had to. I definitely agree. It's very common for EV content creators to be very either or. They are either EV enthusiasts or they are EV haters. This channel often tends more towards the enthusiast, which I usually don't mind, however I also find it very refreshing to renew my perspective as a novice. 9 years ago I was a fresh EV owner, with a medium/small battery. After 4 years I switched to get one that could tow trailers. While my primary reason to switch was to tow trailers, I have also learned to appreciate the larger battery for more range, as well as more power at relies chargers. I very much agree with the essentials of this video. - Driving an EV, I'd recommend to always be mindful about charging. Understand your vehicle, and know your primary options, as well as backup alternatives. (Once you get used to it, it's usually not difficult or much work at all, but it's very different, and can feel alienating and stressful in the beginning). - To have an EV, I think it's important to have a plan for convenient charging for every day use. Primarily where you park over night, but alternatively at your work place. Essentially be able to reliably charge what you need for daily driving while being parked, and importantly, without feeling that you are forced to wait, because you have other things to do anyway. - One thing I think is often misjudged, is how some people think they need the fastest level 2 charger if they switch to an EV with a large battery. Yes if you regularly use most of the range and need to fully recharge yes you need fast charging. I would however argue that you only need enough to recharge (slightly more than) the average you use, and you'll eventually get a high state of charge again. If you have a small range, it's much more important to recharge, because you don't have much range left after an average day.(I used to have a charger that defaulted to 1.4 kW after any drop of power, and it could go weeks before I bothered to push a button to increase it to 2.3 kW, because 1.6 was enough.) If I regularly come home late with a low state of charge, and plan to do a long trip the next day, of course I need more power, but if I expect to drive less than 30 miles/50 km, even 1.6 kW for 6 hours is probably enough

[@MechayaAlta]

This small hatchback has more usable room in the back than a Tesla 3. We have a 2022 Leaf SV plus. The plus with a bigger battery has 210 miles of range. We like the surround view camera, rear proximity sensors, solid metal roof, real door frames and buttons for control. It’s a great around town car, not great for long road trips. For road trips we use a Subaru Outback. To summarize, if you have a garage for level 2 charging (ex. Dryer outlet) this is a great second car. Overnight charging is usually all you need. We’ve never had to look around town for a charger.

[@JREwing78]

I don't think most media outlets are shouting loud enough that at-home Level 2 charging should be a prerequisite for EV ownership. Almost all of the charging problems Mary experienced would be irrelevant if she could charge it to 90 or 100% overnight. The fact that the Leaf is the ONLY CHAdeMO equipped new vehicle on sale makes it all 10x worse; every CHAdeMO plug was occupied by someone who could've taken a CCS-only charger. The folks at Ford *finally* figured it out when they offered to cover installation of at-home charging with new EVs, instead of providing "free" public charging. Other EV manufacturers need to figure out how to include an at-home charger in the monthly payment, whether it's a rebate or a voucher type agreement.

[@levenkay4468]

I know Nissan is broke, but they really should have switched their fast-charge inlet over to CCS years ago.

[@Cyrribrae]

It's a bit of a cruel joke to throw the new ev owner out there with a chademo. But on the other hand, $9/mo. Tesla is almost certainly the best choice for someone new to EVs and leaf would be right down near the bottom. But... All that said, entertaining video!

[@thedopplereffect00]

A 120V outlet can charge 60 miles a night, plenty for a lot of people

[@FameyFamous]

⁠@@thedopplereffect00I only have level 1 at home for my Bolt. I drive very little during the week, but I go about 170 miles most Saturdays. I rarely need to go to a L2 public charger because I can usually charge for a few days at home before the next 170 mile drive.

[@thedopplereffect00]

@@FameyFamous exactly. The worst thing about a long trip is having to get gas before you leave town. With an EV you don't need to do that

[@aussie2uGA]

Forget the EV, she needs to be on screen more. What fun energy!

[@JohnsmithQqqq]

Let’s just keep to the topic of this presentation. 🧐

[@aussie2uGA]

@@JohnsmithQqqq New to KZbin? Nine out of ten times, the top comments are about the presenters, not the products.

[@DankoStojanovic]

Couldn't agree more. Mary brings a completely new perspective adn flavor to the show.

[@jonS-42]

“What’s your dream car?” “Just a functional one” … god I can relate 😆

[@GeorgeGeo]

A Leaf is a perfect around the town car that never really leaves 100 miles from home.

[@zoefaith120]

Great job Mary! Hope to see you more on screen more!

[@TFLEV]

Thanks for watching!

[@alsheremeta]

I agree completely with Zoe! Just one suggestion, please please please, Mary get in the habit of always driving with both hands on the wheel at 3and 9 o'clock, it literally may save your life and/or someone else's someday.

[@99unclebob]

Good video Tommi/Mary, this is good to get a perspective from a young driver who travels 80 miles daily for work, she is in the 5% that do, most videos on youtube of EV driving is by older people and sometimes 2 generations difference in ages the experience is always very different, the older driver/owners are usually 90% of the time set up at home for charging, so its like set it and forget it, virtually no planning in Mary's case, she has to plan all the time and with Boulder being one of the most plugged in cities in the USA, its even a pain in the ass to find a charger with the video example just shown, she did well, she kept it all laid back and easy and took it in stride and gave us the facts ,no fluff or drama like the average EV KZbin owner does,Mary is breath of fresh air to the TFL team you were wise to hire Mary she has a bright future ahead of her 👍

[@TFLEV]

Appreciate the kind words, I'm trying my best!

[@geekacres]

This was really fun and interesting. Thanks Mary! The insights of a new EV owner are interesting to see. Don’t currently drive an EV, but thinking maybe in the next two years. Hope to see more of Mary on camera, guys. Keep up the good work!

[@TFLEV]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Yan7001978]

Mary was really good at the camera...Now she's got another job: real world electrified reviewer!

[@Silverback_GMT410]

This is a million times more pleasant than watching the “big 3” drive around the ranch and fishing the pond. 😅😅

[@mattt198654321]

I owned a Nissan leaf for 3 years. It was the perfect car for commuting back and forth to work. Dirt cheap. It was also very comfortable and functional inside. I didn't care about CHADEMO because I never used it. The only reason I got rid of it is because my family was growing and we needed something with more space to hold cargo and bigger kids

[@vincentrobinette1507]

Long charge times at home aren't so bad. It doesn't really matter whether it took 4 hours, or 7 hours to charge, as long as it's ready in the morning. If you regularly travel long distances, the charge cable can be adapted to plug into a standard 240 volt outlet, exactly the same as an electric stove, or electric cloths dryer. That will allow a 7.5 kW charge rate, which will "absolutely, positively charge it over night". Outside temperature extremes, whether really hot, or freezing cold, will affect fast charge rates, but have little effect on home slow charging. You want to charge at home as much as possible, because it only costs ~1/3 as much as charging at a public DC fast charging station. If you were gong to buy an electric, try to get something with a CCS or NACS charge port, because it's much easier to find a (functioning) charging post, than trying to find a CHAdeMO charger.

[@ribbit1964]

Nice change of pace having a female POV in a video. Also nice to have a complete noob use EV for first time, probably very similar to my experience. Another good vid TFL, see you down the road Mary, welcome to TFL!

[@TFLEV]

Thanks for the welcome!

[@ribbit1964]

@@TFLEVdon’t want to make it creepy but you’re way easier to watch than andrey!….not Nathan level of ease yet but you’re new!

[@parkerfoxhoven7550]

Not sure I’ve watched a more hypothetically relatable video. This was a great watch. The reality of this group of people is great. No BS, just honesty. Keep it up.

[@thebagnechannel3183]

Cool video although I suspect her experience would be better if her first EV experience was with a Tesla or one with NACS. Or alternatively, she was setup for home charging.

[@nevco8774]

The main idea is to show experience of a young driver who can afford $9 a month payment but cannot install a level 2 charger at home since doesn't own the house or cannot afford the installation. Mary is atypical driver since she has 80 miles commute which is not so common. She simply had to make it work and share the experience. Good job done by her!

[@2009MigyFl]

I think you guys should get her a better electric vehicle, but she was right about having a charger at home, which will make it a 100% good deal.

[@wmoID]

Chademo 🤦🏻‍♂️ you all are car guys. Bolt is better

[@toddfraser3353]

The Leaf is probably the worst car in North America for public charging experience. While most companies are moving to NACS for the future. CCS is the most widely used option, with much more charging options. As well it being a sub-200 mile range, is low for the United States. With her daily commute taking nearly 50% charge, meaning there is little opportunity for driving beyond work on that day.

[@VortexVibe634]

But they’re leasing it for $9.00 per month I mean the point if if you don’t drive a lot and can get this deal it’s hard to beat

[@islandlazy99]

A better electric vehicle????? That’s funny 😆

[@thedopplereffect00]

​@@islandlazy99why is that funny?

[@pauld6967]

Good video. If the Leaf would ditch CHAdeMO & go with CCS or NACS, it would be a car that I would consider getting. I have a Level Two EVSE at home and can Level One charge at the office but the round trip is 120 miles. So, it is do-able but definitely not the car for my recreational road trips.

[@rhietpas]

Oh yeah, if Mary had been able to use the tesla charging network it would have been a very different video.

[@bostondan77]

If you don't have a level 2 charger at home, then EVs are just not a good idea at this point in time, but if you can have a level 2 charger then hard to go back to gas.

[@planesandbikes7353]

level 1 is all that is needed for the majority of folks. But sure apartment dwellers don't even have that. I bought the tesla wall unit with the car 3 years ago but have not bothered to have it installed on a new 220v circuit. The existing 110V has been more than enough for the Model 3. The car is rarely below 60% any given day, and the charger has no problem taking it up to 100% in anticipation of a road trip. I'd say the need for Level 2 over Level 1 is if you are driving more than 50 miles per day every day during the week. I have an ICE car and an ICE pickup but the Tesla is the go-to car for all long road trips, including our 5000km trip to AZ and back this winter.

[@silvy7394]

Still insanity that people like you think an EV with gas range is not a good idea at this point. Especially with how many chargers are all over for that .015% of trips thats more than 300 miles.

[@zibzer]

@@silvy7394​​⁠as a primary vehicle the limitation in range can be very debilitating to many drivers. As a secondary vehicle, not so much.

[@silvy7394]

@@zibzer If having 350 miles of range, just like a 30MPG gas car, is "very debilitating to many drivers", then all current drivers must be losing their minds. The average american drives 40 miles a day. Ya'll petrol guys funny when you say you suddenly drive 75,000 miles every year whenever EV range is mentioned.

[@zibzer]

@@silvy7394 the average “per day” does not take into account the several times a year the parameters of EVs may not be adequate for many drivers.

[@TAWithiam]

this really shows the shortcomings of these cheap Nissan leafs. I would love to see her try something with tesla access, maybe a silverado, maybe a model y, and try something that charges really fast like a hyundai ioniq 5

[@BakingThePoundcake]

Mary is great I hope she makes more appearances

[@Columbus1492]

Great video idea! I enjoy ev content about living with an ev etc so much for no explainable reason

[@patrickirish8110]

Great vid! Mary's quite the character, and it was insightful to get a "real-world, non car person" opinion on the EV. You should do more vids with her. Sometimes, things can be gained from the opinions of non-enthusiasts. Also, what's the deal with gelato shops in Boulder?! Ha!

[@AffableAlpaca]

Great video! It would be interesting to see her experience with a Tesla or CCS vehicle as a follow-up as that would be an easier public charging experience.

[@n8ndrwz]

This was an AWESOME idea, and as others have said, should definitely be turned into some sort of series. Mary is SO funny, and great on camera. It's great to see a non-car-person experience something new like an EV. As others have said, a more modern ev for comparison would be awesome. Great video, and GREAT JOB MARY!

[@dalejones4322]

This was an excellent outsiders perspective on EVs. Mary is great at this and she is an untapped resource. Her lack of knowledge about cars could make for a lot of great videos. A lot of us have wives who don't know and don't care about cars and it would be great to get her take on things. It would also be fun to introduce her to off reading and driving fast cars.

[@rightforme]

was not looking to get a EV in may but ended up getting a 2020 bolt. my traverse's trans went out and the car lot help me get behind the wheel again without a deposit. I rent a small house on a side road so I level one charge infront of the house on the street ( no sidewalk and one house beside me no hazard to anyone tripping) its great I love it. I have only had to go to a charger once on a trip I made ,with no issues. I had more range anxiety with my gas cars. (Meaning I dont have to worry about running out of gas before i get money to get gas) just plug it in over night and its ready to go the next morning. My electric bill is the same it has allways been( a program I am on I pay my amount every month on time and they pay the rest) for my family the EV is perfect.

[@ChristopherScarpone]

What a fun video! Mary killed it!

[@PeaceChanel]

Thank You Everybody for All that you are doing for our Planet Earth.... Peace.. Shalom.. Salam.. Namaste 🙏🏻 😊 ✌ ☮ ❤

[@curtismmichaels]

That was relatable, thought provoking and fun. Thank you!

[@JaredWayne]

As someone who just moved to CO and needed to get rid of the clunker I was still paying for, I decided to get an EV for the 1st time and got the same car (but the SV Plus instead) and am paying less per month. I agree with her statements completely. I'm just hoping that there will be more affordable (and smaller, don't want a full-size) EV trucks at the end of my lease.

[@jobanarusnya_mustdie]

0:56 The facial expression of the happiest electric car owner!

[@Geckogold]

This was a fun to watch video seeing an EV newbie trying it out for the first time. Now give her a Tesla, and see what her ownership experience is like. I'll bet she'll be less frustrated with it.

[@LCCB]

I'd only ever recommend a Leaf to someone as strictly a commuter car who can always charge at home. CHAdeMO standard is obsolete, and a new EV driver trying to find a working compatible fast charger is going to have a BAD experience.

[@tomf3335]

Awesome video guys. It very interesting to see how she lived with it and the issues involved with owning an EV as a first time owner/driver. Mary was the perfect sort of driver for this review. I don't have an EV and wonder about the issues with charging/owning. But for the price of a lease it would be worth a try I think. I really feel we need more basic EV with low cost, but increase the range. Again, great job TFL team!

[@WW-wf8tu]

A big welcome to you Mary! 🤩Very engaging Mary. As a videographer and editor at TFL, I am presuming you did the work here? It was great! And I am crediting you for a lot of the great work in that area from now on. :) I have been asking for another persons perspective on things they do all the time, specifically a females perspective, because it adds that voice that they don't have. On top of that, your perspective is extra great(imo)because you are not a "petrol head". Meaning, a vehicle for you is a means to an end. Which is as honest and un bias and one could hope for when reviewing any vehicle. So great job! Hope to have more content from you in the future!

[@colindmac78]

Great video. Nice to see some one that doesn't drive new cars daily try an EV over a period of time live with one and learn as they do it. I have a 2017 ford escape because that's what I can afford. I never drove an EV. I never even drove a new car in years if that makes sense . The only reason I might know more about them is because i watch TFL daily and I love anything with a motor but sadly can't afford what I would like to have because if u thing EV's are are expensive ( minus the leaf) or any new car try buying anything new in Atlantic Canada with 15% sales tax and a higher price in Canada over all. what I'm getting at a lot of people are driving 5 plus year old cars. Like Mary. Great video Marry and TFL.

[@Daniel-xp5or]

Thank You Maria for taking this challenge, and what you said about electric vehicles, helps allot.

[@johnlyons1330]

My Bolt EUV doesn't have the fastest DC charging, but it works for me. I'm dependent on public chargers. On Saturday mornings, I go to an EVgo station outside of a coffee shop. I have a coffee which takes about an hour. My car is charged enough for the weekly commute of about 40 miles daily round trip and weekend errands. Only if I do some extra driving do I need to charge mid-week.

[@olebloom1641]

This is a good shift to allow people who aren't into cars or ev's to experience the daily usage of an ev that is on the low end of the scale. If y'all would have lent her a Tesla it would've been a much more positive and pleasant experience.

[@jdlutz1965]

This is an excellent video for potential newbie EV owners. It answers many of the questions that they'll initially have with owning and operating one, definitely a different mindset but totally doable for most!

[@jefftuckercfii]

Don't know if the charge timer is a function of the charger they gave Mary or the car itself, but you want to use the timer for home charging due to peak vs. off peak electricity rates. Peak/off peak and surge pricing also affects charge pricing at retail charge stations. Best to charge at home for cheapest electricity pricing.

[@levenkay4468]

It's part of the car, as indeed it should be. And it can be set so that it only acts when the car's plugged in at its official "home' location (per GPS).

[@itubeutubewealltube1]

thats also a 240 volt charger...take off the front part and plug it into a dryer plug... much faster charging.

[@fishes74]

A very personable and attractive addition to your cast of characters! Great job Mary!

[@gilfolsom5980]

Got my first electric EV here in Colorado after watching TFL’s first video on the “Cheap Leaf”, but paid a little more to get the model with over 200 miles of range. I also have 38 solar panels on my roof. Had it for a little over 3 months, and put about 1200 miles on it. Would have driven it more, but just got back from a six week 6,000 mile road trip in a hybrid truck that I own. No way in hell I would have attempted that trip in a Leaf! It is a pleasant and comfortable car to drive, only charged it at home so far on Level 1. The idea of having to find a public charger out of necessity given its’ outdated, rare, and slow ChadeMo charging standard scares me to death! My conclusion so far is that I like electric vehicles, and I like the Leaf, but would never ever buy a Leaf as my only vehicle. Hope I can put 20,000 miles on it in two years (the lease limit), but it will be hard as I am retired and frequently travel long distances and this electric EV is just an around town car.

[@hereigoagain5050]

Good for TFL for broadening their videos. Hope Mary features in more videos. $9 lease in CO! Can't pass that up.

[@peteowens3033]

Thank you Mary! Enjoyed your video. I have the same car in the +Plus version (larger battery). Your summary is right on. I have a Level 2 (6.6 KW, which is the fastest speed the Leaf will charge at with AC charging) and that makes my LEAF great for about 95% of our transportation needs on a daily basis. However, I have tried to take my LEAF on some longer than range trips and it can be a bit too stressful as you experienced due to range and charging availability. Plus, I found that paying DC fast charging prices (which run about 3 to 4 times my home electric rates) pretty much negates the economic advantages of driving my LEAF when doing longer than range trips that involve mostly highway driving. Driving our Toyota Corolla is usually a better option for those type trips.

[@Defianthuman]

4:17 its just like an older Prius, the shifter that is. 7:07 What he should have said: "The motors become generators that send power back to the battery. Using your kinetic energy(not potential because your moving) to make power. 11:10 people will look at you funny but if you do a short loop around your house. Or OutofSpec range test it near a fast charger.(Yes, I mentioned that Colorado competitor)

[@fenceman53]

Mary would get along with Kyle Conner with Out of Spec motoring since he loves to go below 0% charge

[@paulgoudfrooij6561]

Great idea for a video. I think for a slow charging EVs like the Leaf, one really needs access to a level 2 either at home and/or at work.

[@kirbycairo]

Great idea for a new video content. You could do a lot of these types of videos - giving a new experience to drivers.

[@einfeldt777]

Thank you TFL for this real world use video’s, I really appreciate that you guys are willing to share it all, the good, the bad, and the absolutely horrible side of all the politicians (world over) favorite pet.👍🤗🤗🤗

[@natehill8069]

13:15 The apocalypse chime is probably the "low-speed chime" rather than anything to do with backing. You probably still heard it going forward as well. Never heard a leaf per se that I remember, but the description sounds a lot like my Bolt's "electronic nails-on-a-chalkboard" sound. I think they should make the Jetsons' noise.

[@tony_25or6to4]

FYI to everyone...you still have to come to a stop at a red light. Right turn on red is not the same as a green arrow. 13:43

[@brandondunovant9696]

For Marys first time on screen, she did a great job and nailed some points about the electric vehicles.

[@TheJ1s]

That's why Nissan leaf needs to be discontinued or update the charge port. A Chevy Bolt or equinox EV would have been better or any used 2020 something EV other than Nissan leaf.

[@dewdew34]

I'd have to do a 240v 30 amp evse charger setup at home. Maybe 10 hours to 100% ? Well worth the effort and price.

[@dmytromural]

Nice. Charismatic. Real.

[@TFLEV]

Glad you liked it!

[@danielberning1240]

On my Bolt, I didn't like the one pedal driver at first. However, I wanted to try it from the start and after less than a week I loved it. As of now, I used my OPD all the time and it really does help with the range.

[@jeffreymckie3328]

My Tesla model three with a level 2 home charger is a way different experience. Tesla chargers only needed on trips over 225 miles. Tesla chargers work and the car directs you to them. I save time over gasoline in that I start every day with a full battery, no driving to a pump, no listening to pump advertising, no credit card or cash needed. 5 times cheaper per mile for fuel. Wife and I drove 4000 mi round trip to Flagstaff Arizona no range anxiety at all.

[@IssaqAl-Ahmed]

Love the concept of this video. This does a great job showing just how bad the EV experience can be. That said you really did throw Mary into the deep end by giving her a Nissan Leaf 😆The biggest take away is that the Tesla Super Charging network is almost a requirement for EV ownership if you do not or cannot charge at home everyday and have at least a realistic 250mile range. The ecosystem is getting there since everyone is finally agreeing to go with NACS at least. Keep it up TFL and great job Mary!

[@derekwaggoner7584]

e pedal is one pedal driving that will bring the car to a stop if you let off the pedal. its great for stop and go traffic. B mode is my favorite mode using it all the time in the mountains. I have the S plus , its at 105,000 miles now and still at 12 bars on the battery capacity. Never been below 10% and only super charged it 3 times. A simple 4 prong outlet is all you need for level 2 charging at home with the supplied cord from Nissan. Use other chargers at your own risk.

[@romeolongoria8730]

Sounds like my wife. I like the steering wheel! Her last two car purchases (‘21 Prius) she never test drove it. Her UX just drove it in the parking lot.

[@Defianthuman]

For me i would totally get an ev i can only do level 1(realistically) at my parents place, but there's a 24kw level 3 chargepoint less than a mile away so its within scoot distance if I wanted to leave it. I only go 30 miles a day so level 1 would probably be good. 6-9 hours of charging, 1.4 x 6 = 8.4kwh * 3.2 = 26.88 miles/night or 1.4 x 9 = 12.6 = 40.32 miles/night. There is charging available on campus and more charge time on the weekends.

[@paulvail7926]

There is a lot about the EV which I think an actual salesperson would have covered with a new driver that was not covered. Like the fact that one pedal to drive is always a new experience for first time EV drivers that takes a while to get used to, but it is one of their favorite features once they do get used to it. Plus, it saves the brakes from typical wear and tear which saves even more money. As well, most charges can be setup to only charge during certain times. So, off peak charging can be setup by most cars or certain chargers. I often commute a similar distance and don’t think I could get by with level 1 charging. I have a could have 50 amp plugs in my garage for my EV needs which I think adds value to the house and is worth talking to any landlord about. I figure when I sell my home those outlets will be a small plus to the value of the home. Imagine loaning her a Tesla for a few weeks and having her use the Superchargers instead of trying to find the ridiculous Chademo chargers. That may be a very different experience for her and would be interesting to hear about.

[@tony_25or6to4]

One way to save energy is to use the heated seats instead of the cabin heat.

[@Gazer75]

EV with only Level 1 charging is not easy. The range per day is pretty low. Level 2 is a whole other thing and work for most people. The DC fast charging problems in the US is just sad to watch. I've seen one or two broken chargers here in Norway in the past year and there are chargers everywhere. Only time you might see a queue is during holiday season, but even that is getting pretty rare these days.

[@miggyshiggy]

Level 1 works fine for a big group of people (me included). And I don’t even charge every night.

[@baptistpope]

Level 1 is ok for a typical commuter car only. I think anyone who does that has a second gas car.

[@Gazer75]

@@baptistpope 18-19 miles in 6 hours is not a lot if you get 3.1mi/kWh or 23-24 miles if you can do 4mi/kWh. I don't know how cold it can get in Colorado, but around here my e-Golf with heat-pump will easily be up over 200Wh/km or 3.1mi/kW in winter if its cold enough. In summer I can be down around 120Wh/km or 5mi/kWh. We don't have Level 1 or 2 definition here. An emergency charger like this will be 230V and 10A so you'll get around 2kW into the battery from a regular plug. Home owners are going to be forced to install proper wallboxes for Type 2 cables here soon anyway to get people to rent. It is not even legal to set up a regular plug for EV charging here. You have to get a dedicated wallbox with all the required protections. This usually means at least 230V 16A or 3.6kW which is roughly 3.2kW into the battery. Or 32A for up to 7.4kW (6-6.5kW into the battery). Newer places have 400V 3 phase available so you can get up to 11kW with 16A. And you really want to charge over night when prices are low. My grid fee is reduced between 10pm and 6am here.

[@EdWensell]

A level-2 charger at home would probably go some way toward improving the charging situation. Also there are ccs to chademo adapters just now coming out. They are expensive and bulky but would open things up for the leaf.

[@katman1957]

That was an excellent perspective to give, thanks Mary great job.

[@hhjones9393]

Thanks Mary! This is probably the most helpful real world video for someone trying to decide if they should get an electric car. Well done!

[@levenkay4468]

No; it's helpful for people wondering if they can make do with a LEAF.

[@JimmyShields-z2h]

Tommy more of Mary awesome reviews especially different vehicles, i like to know what vehicle would fit her lifestyle. Mary was easy to understand n follow, i like how she try base charger, instead of leaving after 3hrs, she try another 3hrs which was interesting. My take if you make it through a week with base charge at home, then on weekend allow full day of charge you start week again with full charge. I wonder how Mary go in F150 Lightning?

[@Aircam73]

Let her try the new Model 3 with 373 miles of range and access to a real charging network. It makes a huge difference. Plus it will take more than a couple weeks to see the savings in costs vs gas. Plus not having to go to the gas station doesn't really hit you until it has been a couple months with an EV and you realize how archaic it was having to fill up a couple times a month instead of charging at home. She did hit the nail on the head that if you don't have a place to charge at home or work then the advantages of EVs start to diminish.

[@silvy7394]

100 miles of range in 45 mins? Man thats nothing close to what a 2nt gen Leaf does. Battery would be completely full in 45 mins.

[@scgreek1114]

Great video. I love seeing reactions from absolute EV newbies. Actually, as you're moving down the road you've got kinetic energy. I wouldn't normally correct you but at age 66 I rarely get to use my high school physics knowledge. 😅

[@MrM3drvr]

Finally someone who shares a bit of my sentiment about 1 pedal driving crap. This is a danger, not a benefit. Do it the right way like how Porsche does it and regenerate when you hit the brakes. This one pedal driving is a safety problem in my honest opinion. When you are braking, your foot should be ON THE BRAKE, not the accelerator pedal. Porsche still gets power back into the battery just fine by using the brake pedal and this should really have always been the way to do it. Reviewers should stop acting like this is some more efficient way of driving and as if there is no other way of doing it. Not this one pedal driving crap which honestly, as she said, makes you feel way less in control. Because thats exactly what it is, you are less in control

[@mikoske]

Great video! I wonder if Mary did any overnight slow charging in the garage, takes long, but still adds quite a bit. Also would be interested in seeing Mary use a Model 3/Y for a while. Or even a decent CCS car. Could be a used one. Personally I drive Model 3 with LFP, usually charge once a week and that gets me the miles I need. I don't have home charging. Heading into the winter now, interesting to see if I need to add a second charge a week.

[@dforrest4503]

As a second car/city car I think this would be fine for me with level 1 charging since I only work 10 miles away three times a week. But there’s still no affordable EV I would have as a single vehicle as I go on a lot of road trips and charging is a pain.

[@Defianthuman]

13:39 I would have it on, you can always apply the brake even with e-Pedal on anyway. So no reason to have it off(its worth the practice) 16:53 top end of the pack charges the slowest. For a car name what about sapling since leaf and s

[@davidlloyd1526]

I hired an EV on my last vacation. It drove very well but you do need a place to charge - I just left it charging in town and went shopping.

[@valeriedorman8051]

Felt like I was sitting next to you explaining it to me. Never driven a electric car. Don"t want to either, thank you thou. Thumbs up!

[@scottbalak7123]

She's never driven an EV so you guys got her what is objectively the worst EV possible combined with no L2 home charging? :) Frankly, you get what you pay for with a LEAF. Sure that lease deal is amazing, but we're talking about ~10yr old tech, unusable road tripping charging speeds, and minimal range. The Chademo plug alone would be enough for me to never recommend one to anybody. I can't believe Nissan still uses it. Since you do have other EVs it would be interested to give her a model 3/Y or Kia for a week to get Mary's compare and contrast opinion. If we're being honest this is more about what it's like to live with a Leaf than what its like to live with an EV.

[@leggo9162]

Great video, ev’s have their place in the market, once the pricing for a ev becomes more competitive with gasoline vehicles I think they will sell a lot more of them, but they’re definitely not for everyone especially with our current charging infrastructure

[@typxxilps]

deserves an update after 3 months or so ...

[@aspergertimebomb7003]

Besides offering a perspective that TFL is mostly missing, Mary was very entertaining. You folks should get her in some more content!

[@gregorywills2231]

Great idea for a video. But it kind of sucks for her that you chose one of the worst electric cars available.

[@planesandbikes7353]

the fact they managed to lease it for 9 bucks a month makes it an easy choice. Just think 9 bucks a money payments and 30 bucks a month for charging and compare that to any ICE car at 400 a month plus 200 a month for gas. Makes the Leaf look mighty attractive for commuting and most driving.

[@3rreid]

Worst depends on the user, Remember that's ur perspective. This is a great start, round twn, on an island n work at home ppl.

[@Cloud30000]

It’s the scooter of EVs; cheap to own (for the special lease term), cheap to fuel, and accomplishes its specific use case without any issues. I don’t need to buy a Harley to pick up an order of Chinese food down the road.

[@ryanb8466]

She needs to know that most EVs have a lot more range than that one. If you level two charge a normal EV everyday you'll never have to worry about going to a electrify America station unless you're on a long trip. My wife and I share a Mustang Mach-e and between the two of us we drive 120 mi a day with the one vehicle. And we never have to worry about charging because she charges it while it's at her job every day. Fortunately for free.

[@typxxilps]

sailing / coasting is the most efficient way. Anticipate and let the car roll instead of using the brakes cause regen braking can only regenerate 2/3 or 66% of the invested energy. If you can roll to a still stand you had lost nothing. Every bit has been used. So sail and coast as much as you can and use the brakes only for the very last moment. And those are questions you have to answer right cause otherwise you would never get a german drivers licence.

[@Tron-Jockey]

Tommy should have checked to see if she could have exploited Level 2 charging at home (did she have a 240V outlet at her home) and told her how to remove the 240V/120V adapter from the end of the charging cable. She could have easily topped off in less than an hour.

[@msudawg1997]

She's hilarious! I would suggest y'all need her in front of the camera more, but probably limited opportunities on "car channel" for someone who couldn't care less about cars other than getting from A to B.

[@DankoStojanovic]

I hope car manufacturers watch this. Mary shows exactly what EV needs to break out of enthusiasts into main stream

[@ChargeToDrive]

Great video guys, now we need to give her something that can charge easier like I don't know Tesla model 3 and see what Mary thinks about owning an EV car.

[@LafemmebearMusic]

9 bucks a month… telling you just live with this car , it’s 9 bucks a month!

[@itubeutubewealltube1]

YOU ALREADY HAVE a 240v at HOME CHARGER!! you had it in your hand..just plug it into the dryer port in your garage!!!

[@rmorales1029]

Now TFL needs to give Mary a Hyundai, Tesla, or whatever else you have in your EV collection.

[@Cyrribrae]

You know. Kinda crazy that you didn't really dispel many myths and misconceptions at the start haha. But probably made for a more entertaining video. Interesting to see all the anxiety. Hope to see more! If Mary's willing to try again haha

[@r5LgxTbQ]

I think you made it more confusing than it needed to be. Aside from the weird shifter just drive it like a normal car

[@grishyroy9271]

great video. exemplifies how an EV, any EV (even the "good", aka expensive) is a good second vehicle. People rely overly heavy on the home fast charge, which means you get half the listed range (you have to get there and back). But for people who use their vehicle, commute like working folk do, like to go places, live in an apartment (you know, normal people), etc., it's not convenient. The many, many, many videos on public charging nightmares - done by EV supporters - highlight it's just not practical. But again, each user's experience may vary, so I'll keep using mine as a second/go to the shops and around town vehicle.