One last generic comment. If you do not have the ability to install a home charger for an EV, you really should not own one at all. The public charging network is not plentiful enough and is generally too expensive to make it worthwhile. I do have a home charger and the leaf is wonderful as a strictly commuter car where you either own an ICE for your spouse or you are willing to rent an ICE for any out of town trips. My Leaf has only left town once and I had to throw it on a Level 2 charger over dinner to be able to make it back home. BTW, that severely limited my dinner choices.
Let’s keep in mind that this little electric ⚡️ vehicle is completely eligible for the tax credit of the new legislation: The inflation reduction act of 2022
My answer to is it worth buying is no. Cosmetically it is a nice car as you thoroughly pointed out. But technically, it is a nightmare. No active cooling of the battery will cause rapid degradation of range over time, particularly if you use high speed chargers. The rapid charging port is the nearly impossible to find CHAdeMO and not the standard CCS, so even if you want to rapid charge, good luck finding one. The aerodynamic drag ratio is sub par along with the efficiency of the drive train as you pointed out when comparing it to the Tesla. Nor does it compare well with other electrics on the market as well. I actually own a Leaf. I bought it for all the reasons that you highlighted without any knowledge of the drawbacks that I just listed and after 5 years of ownership, I regret it. The battery is at 67% health. The cell phone connection is obsolete and there is no way to upgrade it so many of the electronic features that you listed in the last part of the video no longer function such as Nissan Connect. I am stuck with this turkey at least until I can get the battery replaced, which I will do right before I trade it in for something with decent range. By decent range, I mean anything that can not last long enough for a full day of travel to be recharged overnight is not enough range ( 8 hours at 70mph needs 560miles). 400 would be the bare minimum to allow an over lunch time top up on a fast charger. Thus 220 just plain does not hack it as after a year (without active cooling), even the 60KW battery will not last even 3 hours at 70mph. So no, I do not recommend the Leaf. Take it from an owner.
Morris thanks for the honest info. It’s always good to get feedback from an actual owner.
One last generic comment. If you do not have the ability to install a home charger for an EV, you really should not own one at all. The public charging network is not plentiful enough and is generally too expensive to make it worthwhile. I do have a home charger and the leaf is wonderful as a strictly commuter car where you either own an ICE for your spouse or you are willing to rent an ICE for any out of town trips. My Leaf has only left town once and I had to throw it on a Level 2 charger over dinner to be able to make it back home. BTW, that severely limited my dinner choices.
Let’s keep in mind that this little electric ⚡️ vehicle is completely eligible for the tax credit of the new legislation: The inflation reduction act of 2022
My answer to is it worth buying is no. Cosmetically it is a nice car as you thoroughly pointed out. But technically, it is a nightmare. No active cooling of the battery will cause rapid degradation of range over time, particularly if you use high speed chargers. The rapid charging port is the nearly impossible to find CHAdeMO and not the standard CCS, so even if you want to rapid charge, good luck finding one. The aerodynamic drag ratio is sub par along with the efficiency of the drive train as you pointed out when comparing it to the Tesla. Nor does it compare well with other electrics on the market as well.
I actually own a Leaf. I bought it for all the reasons that you highlighted without any knowledge of the drawbacks that I just listed and after 5 years of ownership, I regret it. The battery is at 67% health. The cell phone connection is obsolete and there is no way to upgrade it so many of the electronic features that you listed in the last part of the video no longer function such as Nissan Connect. I am stuck with this turkey at least until I can get the battery replaced, which I will do right before I trade it in for something with decent range. By decent range, I mean anything that can not last long enough for a full day of travel to be recharged overnight is not enough range ( 8 hours at 70mph needs 560miles). 400 would be the bare minimum to allow an over lunch time top up on a fast charger. Thus 220 just plain does not hack it as after a year (without active cooling), even the 60KW battery will not last even 3 hours at 70mph.
So no, I do not recommend the Leaf. Take it from an owner.
Shame they haven’t brought the liquid cooled battery to the Leaf.
Bolt is better in every way.