Let's do some math

Ok, math is hard, but how else are you going to figure out if this car is good for YOU?

Nissan sees the capability for dramatic user cost-savings versus a traditional internal-combustion equivalent.

Using my Jetta as a baseline...
I get about 26MPG in mixed driving (city+highway). I generally put in about 11 gallons a week after having driven about 286 miles (for an average of 40.85 miles per day).

11 gallons per week @ $2.90 per gallon == $31.9, or $4.55 per day to operate.
but, if gas goes up like it did last year...
11 gallons per week @ $3.90 per gallon == $42.9, or $6.12 per day to operate.

Charging the Leaf...
Let's go crazy, and say it takes a full 16 hours to charge at 110volts, 15A.
Anything that plugs into 110v shouldn't draw any more than 15 amps, so that's a safe bet.
16 hr charge on a standard 110V 15A circuit would only deliver about 26kWh
Dan Neil, accomplished car reviewer for the LA Times, reports the battery stories 24 kwh.
24kWh @ 0.13 per kWh == $3.12 per day to operate

So, using the low end of the gas scale == $4.50 per day * 365 days == $1642.50 per year.
And figuring electricity at the high-end of the scale (all my charging would be at night, when rates are typically lower) == $3.12 per day * 365 == $1138.80

$503.7 cheaper in the first year.

Unfortuantely, if the car itself is $10,000 more expensive that a normal small car, it would take almost 20 years for the savings to make a difference, so Nissan had better keep the price point low enough for it make a difference. Of course, here's where that government rebate of potentially $7500 could make a huge difference in the car saving me money before the first 5 years are up. Also consider, no oil changes or other service required.

So rather than trying to do math about MPG, which is like trying to compare apples to oranges, let's compare WHAT REALLY COUNTS -- dollars per mile. Because in the end, that's what's really important -- how much it will cost you to run this car.

On the plus side:
* Electricity is cheaper than gasoline (assuming that gas costs $2.50 or more a gallon)
* A fully electric car will not need oil changes
* Plug it in when you get home

On the negative side:
* Limited range
* Will take a long time to recharge
* Sooner or later, batteries will need to be replaced ($$$)

Why the Nissan Leaf is perfect for me

I guess until you understand a little about me, you won't understand why I'm so excited about this car. And why it's a perfect fit. First of all, I grew up reading Popular Science, where practically every other issue had an electric car on the cover in the 70's.

And when the gas crunch came in the mid-70's and everyone started dumping their Chevy Impalas for more gas effiencient imports (this is when the original Volkswagen Beetle really sold well). And later in the 80's even GM started to make smaller cars, but they got their asses handed to them by the Japanese with small, well-built, fuel-efficient cars.

I was always excited by the propect of an electric car, but they were always these odd-looking, boxy, small, pieces of garbage that didn't look like a regular car. And a lot of them were hamstrung by a 35mph speed limit and a 25 mile range.

Fortunately, battery technology and materials science has come a long way since the 70's. Now instead of lead-acid batteries, we have lithium-ion. And we can build lighter, stronger bodied cars with advanced composities.

So now here's the Leaf, what looks like a regular car (in that it looks like a Nissan Versa or a Honda Fit), and it has a useable range and top speed. You can take this on the highway. You can take this to work without looking weird. It should even allow me to get to my brother's place and back (barely).

I live in New Jersey, in a suburb that places me close enough to New York City to get there in about 45 minutes (I'm 10 miles away as the crow flies, but traffic being what it is...) Point is: I drive less than a 100 miles per day. I work in NJ (my job is about 20 miles from my house), I drive into NYC often to catch a movie with friends or other social activities, and I have relatives out on Long Island, about 50 miles from my house.

In short, about 90% of my day-to-day driving is under the 100 mile limit of the Leaf. And even in the case of visiting my brother, all I need to do is make sure I throw a long extension cord in the back, and charge the car up some while I'm attending my niece's birthday party. No problem.

The only time the Leaf wouldn't fit my lifestyle is when I'm taking a long trip to visit friends in Boston, or going to a far-off car show (I'm active in the "classic" Volkswagen scene). I have a Jetta already for things like that (and a VW Vanagon for hauling car parts). I also have various scooters and motorcycles.

I have my own house with a garage, and there's electricity in the garage, so charging a Leaf is as simple as plugging it in and going to sleep for the night while the car charges up, ready to go the next AM.

This is what Popular Science was talking about in the 70's. Why it took 40 years to happen however, is a mystery to me. Batteries driving an electric motor is something everyone who's ever owned a radio-controlled car can understand. And even before RC cars, there were wired-remote car toys that ran on batteries. This is something I can "hack", work with, find ways to charge on the go, fill up the back seat with batteries, have fun with, modify, and use every day because it's the car I wanted to have when I was kid.

And like I said, 90% of what I drive is under 100 miles per day. Now all Nissan has to do is actually make this a reality, by making it affordable and a car that actually lives up to it's claims.

Why No Solar Panels??

Ok, some people are probably asking if I'm crazy, after all solar panels don't really give a lot of bang for the buck. But it wouldn't add that much cost or weight to incorporate the roof of the Leaf with solar panels.

I mean, the car has regenerative braking to help recharge the batteries. And the car is being aimed square are people who commute less than 40 miles each way.

HELLO? Nissan? Most of those people who commute do so and then work 9 to 5, while their car SITS OUTSIDE in a parking lot. A bright, sunny, parking lot. While a solar panel making 45 watts might not be a whole lot, over the course of 8 hours that can add up to a few extra miles of charge for getting home.

Even Toyota has seen the light (sorta) by adding panels to the Prius that run a cooling system so, while your car sits out in the hot sun, baking, it's using some of the energy to try and cool the interior. Sweet.

I don't care if the car gets hot inside. I can roll down the windows. But I hate knowing that my car is sitting in the parking lot at work and not doing anything, when it could be charging itself.

I currently have a 20-mile commute, so my daily milage, (with a trip out to lunch, or the bank, or the post office, and maybe stop for groceries on the way home) is probably less than 50 miles per day. I own a garage with electricity in it.

Basically I'm the perfect market segment for this car. But I work 9am to 6pm. That's 9 hours (actually 9.5 if you count that I usually arrive early and leave late) that the car could be charging itself in daylight.

Nissan... PLEASE, PLEASE put some damn solar panels into the roof. Honestly, some black might make that car look a lot better.

Get up to $7500 on your LEAF??

According to this article, there are tax credits (set to expire in 2012 if not renewed) that can offer you anywhere from $2500 to $7500 cash back, depending upon the vehicle. As the bill is targeting electrics and hybrids, and it appears to center around carbon emissions, I don't see any reason why the LEAF wouldn't qualify for the higher end of the scale.

The purchase of this car would have to take place AFTER Dec 31 2009 (so current Priuses don't qualify). The minimum amount of the credit for qualified plug-in electric drive vehicles is $2,500 and the credit tops out at $7,500, depending on the battery capacity.

Like any law written by the US Congress, it's a confusing stew of different ideas that somehow doesn't make sense unless you've got a law degree, and even then you're left scratching your head.

Wired has a good article on the LEAF

Wired's article is bascially the press releash re-hashed and written to be more reader-friendly, but it also has lots of good images.... I'm not complaining.

But this is more exciting, because the article has a link to an earlier article about a nissan all electric vehicle that seems like it's most obviously the working gear (but not the body) of the LEAF.

Slated for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States, and Europe, Nissan LEAF ushers in a new era of mobility – the zero-emission era. The car is the embodiment of Nissan’s radical, transformative vision for the future and the culmination of decades of investment and research.

“Nissan LEAF is a tremendous accomplishment – one in which all Nissan employees can take great pride,” said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn. “We have been working tirelessly to make this day a reality – the unveiling of a real-world car that has zero – not simply reduced – emissions. It’s the first step in what is sure to be an exciting journey – for people all over the world, for Nissan and for the industry.”

Key characteristics of the LEAF include:

1. Zero-emission power train and platform
2. Affordable pricing
3. Distinctive design
4. Real-world range autonomy – 160km (100 miles)
5. Connected Mobility: Advanced intelligent transportation (IT) system

The “LEAF” name is a significant statement about the car itself. Just as leaves purify the air in nature, so Nissan LEAF purifies mobility by taking emissions out of the driving experience. Pricing details will be announced closer to start of sales in late 2010; however, the company expects the car to be competitively priced in the range of a well-equipped C-segment vehicle. Additionally, Nissan LEAF is expected to qualify for an array of significant local, regional and national tax breaks and incentives in markets around the world. As an added benefit, because the vehicle has less mechanical complexity than a traditional gasoline-powered car, Nissan LEAF is designed to be friendly to the wallet as well as to the environment.

ZERO-EMISSION MOBILITY

Nissan LEAF is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm. This ensures a highly responsive, fun-to-drive experience that is in keeping with what consumers have come to expect from traditional, gasoline-powered automobiles.

Unlike internal-combustion engine (ICE) equipped vehicles, Nissan LEAF’s power train has no tail pipe, and thus no emission of CO2 or other greenhouse gases. A combination of Nissan LEAF’s regenerative braking system and innovative lithium-ion battery packs enables the car to deliver a driving range of more than 160km (100 miles) on one full charge*. (*US LA4 mode)

Extensive consumer research demonstrates that this range satisfies the daily driving requirements of more than 70% of the world’s consumers who drive cars.

And, Nissan’s approach makes charging easy and convenient. Nissan LEAF can be charged up to 80% of its full capacity in just under 30 minutes with a quick charger. Charging at home through a 200V outlet is estimated to take approximately eight hours – ample time to enable an overnight refresh for consumer and car alike.

REAL-WORLD CAR

The engineers and designers behind Nissan LEAF worked to create a competitively priced real-world car that would enable Nissan to lead mobility into the zero-emission era. To ensure comfort, spaciousness and cargo capacity, Nissan LEAF employs a completely new chassis and body layout.

”Our car had to be the world’s first, medium-size, practical EV that motorists could afford and would want to use every day. And that’s what we’ve created. The styling will identify not only Nissan LEAF but also the owner as a participant in the new era of zero-emission mobility,” said Masato INOUE, Product Chief Designer.

DISTINCTIVE DESIGN

Even the smallest details can yield tremendous effect.

Nissan LEAF’s frontal styling is characterized by a sharp, upright V-shaped design featuring long, up-slanting light-emitting diode (LED) headlights that employ a blue internal reflective design that announces, “This car is special.” But the headlights do more than make a statement. They are also designed to cleverly split and redirect airflow away from the door mirrors, thus reducing wind noise and drag. And, the headlights provide yet one more benefit in that they consume about 50 percent of the electricity of conventional lamps, which helps Nissan LEAF to achieve its world-class range autonomy.

Through bright trim colors inside, Nissan LEAF creates a pleasing and stylish cabin environment. An environmentally friendly “blue earth” color theme originates from the Aqua Globe body color of Nissan LEAF’s introductory model. This theme is carried into the interior through blue dashboard highlights and instrument illumination.

CONNECTED MOBILITY IT SYSTEM

Nissan LEAF employs an exclusive advanced IT system. Connected to a global data center, the system can provide support, information, and entertainment for drivers 24 hours a day.

The dash-mounted monitor displays Nissan LEAF’s remaining power – or “reachable area” – in addition to showing a selection of nearby charging stations.

Another state-of-the-art feature is the ability to use mobile phones to turn on air-conditioning and set charging functions – even when Nissan LEAF is powered down. An on-board remote-controlled timer can also be pre-programmed to recharge batteries.

“The IT system is a critical advantage,” says Tooru ABE, Chief Product Specialist. “We wanted this vehicle to be a partner for the driver and an enhancement for the passengers. We also wanted this vehicle to help create a zero-emission community, and these IT features will help make that possible.”

Coming in 2010

News on the Nissan Leaf. I plan to buy one and this will be the blog about it. I will follow it's development and it's sale progress in the United States, as well as try and give detailed information on my experiences with it once I've got one.

In the meantime, I'll try and keep everyone updated as to what Nissan is doing to make it real.