Harry and Sue have had their Nissan Leaf for over 12 months now and are more than pleased with it. In actual fact, they instructed me that in the event that they needed to substitute it, they might undoubtedly purchase one other Leaf. The Nissan Leaf stands out as one of many early electrical pioneers, alongside the BMW i3 and the Renault Zoe. I don’t know why, however I’ve by no means gotten round to driving one, so it was refreshing to listen to their story. It’s fantastic that it’s nonetheless available on the market.
My foremost curiosity has been the importing of used Leafs from Japan by the Good Automobile Firm. You possibly can examine that right here and right here.
Sue and Harry initially checked out the Kia EV6, however discovered that the vendor knew much less concerning the automobile than they did and didn’t actually wish to speak to them. A youthful salesperson tried to assist, however ultimately they walked out, annoyed. They then went to Moorooka Nissan and had a completely totally different expertise with Gary, the salesperson there. There was a Leaf on show they usually fell in love. Initially, they had been instructed that they must wait 6 months for one. It ended up being 8 months resulting from COVID, however it was properly value it.
Once I spoke with Gary from Moorooka Nissan this morning, he instructed me that the majority people who find themselves fascinated about electrical automobiles have accomplished a good bit of analysis earlier than they get to the dealership. His job is to verify the main points, present them the options, and permit them a take a look at drive. At current, the dealership is experiencing quite a lot of curiosity from fleet consumers, each authorities and personal. Sadly, inventory continues to be exhausting to get. I pressed him for information on the Ariya, however sadly there is no such thing as a phrase on when it will likely be dropped at Australia.
Nissan Ariya. Picture by Kyle Area.
The value for the Leaf buy was quoted as AU$45,000, however ended up at $55,000 as soon as GST (10% in Australia) was added, together with premium paint, safety cameras back and front, and the standard on-road charges. Sadly, Harry and Sue purchased earlier than the federal government rebate of $3,000 was accessible.
They requested, “What can we get if we pay with money?” Gary provided a free tank of petrol, they usually all had a very good chuckle. He instructed them to electronic mail if that they had any questions and provided loads of assist. In comparison with their Mitsubishi ASX, the Leaf is quieter and has extra pick-up. (“These long-haired louts don’t have any probability,” Sue says.) It has regenerative braking, adaptive cruise management, and lane retaining. She nonetheless has to make use of the brakes at occasions. The Leaf is a bit smaller than the ASX, however that has not been a difficulty.
Once I first met them, at a espresso and cake morning on the Sirromet vineyard (they’ve Tesla chargers), their dialog was round considerations that public CHAdeMO chargers can be phased out. They requested about adapters from CCS2 to CHAdeMO. I didn’t have the technical experience to reply their query. Sue and Harry try to organise meetups with different Leaf house owners to broaden their data of the automobile. With solely 2150 Leafs bought in Australia over 10 years, it’s proving troublesome. “Manuals don’t assist!”
Charging with CHAdeMO. Picture courtesy of Harry Darby.
Nonetheless, Sue brightened up as she instructed me about her discovery of the Queensland Electrical Tremendous Freeway. “Each city has one now they usually have CHAdeMO.” They’re planning a highway journey north in June and hope to get so far as Townsville — 1335 km (830 miles). I invited them to the EV occasions that might be staged in Rockhampton, Gladstone, and Bundaberg in Queensland’s winter.
The Leaf was serviced just lately and I used to be interested in what was really accomplished. Sue and Harry graciously despatched me a replica of the bill. The software program was up to date, refreshing the sprint show, and each conceivable a part of the automobile was checked over. Sue and Harry say having the automobile checked at common intervals provides them peace of thoughts. Price? About $250.
Sue washed and vacuumed the automobile earlier than she took it in for service, then discovered the automobile acquired a complimentary automobile wash. “Subsequent time I’ll take it in soiled,” she stated. They often get feedback concerning the automobile from most people: “Ooo, an electrical automobile!” “Sure,” Sue says, “We’re pensioners and haven’t needed to pay for petrol for the final yr.” Earlier than they retired, Sue and Harry had been paying as much as $100 per week for petrol.
For his or her Townsville journey, they’re utilizing A Higher Route Planner. This may be set for the kind of automobile and the charger required. They prefer to maintain the battery cost above 20% and might be utilizing the QESH community. As soon as, on a visit, they let the battery get right down to 7%, however it wasn’t nerve-racking, as they had been near their vacation spot. And, sure, the automobile does offer you warnings about low battery cost.
The Leaf sprint. Picture courtesy of Sue Norden.
At dwelling, they cost throughout the day from their rooftop solar energy system utilizing a traditional energy level (10 amps). A stage 2 charger got here with the automobile, however it’s costlier to make use of at 26¢ per kWh. Any extra energy produced by their photo voltaic system feeds again into the grid, however they solely obtain a depressing 6.6¢ per kWh. It makes good monetary sense to make use of the solar energy for the automobile.
Right here is a few background on the Leaf from Wikipedia:
“The Nissan Leaf is a compact five-door hatchback battery electrical automobile (BEV) manufactured by Nissan. It was launched in Japan and america in December 2010, and its second technology was launched in October 2017. The Leaf’s vary on a full cost has been elevated regularly from 117 km (73 miles) to 364 km (226 miles) (EPA rated), resulting from the usage of a bigger battery pack together with a number of minor enhancements.
“Amongst different awards and recognition, the Leaf has gained the 2010 Inexperienced Automobile Imaginative and prescient Award, the 2011 European Automobile of the 12 months, the 2011 World Automobile of the 12 months, and the 2011–2012 Automobile of the 12 months Japan. World gross sales totalled 577,000 Leaf’s by February 2022. As of September 2021, European gross sales totalled greater than 208,000 items,[3] and, as of December 2021, over 165,000 items had been bought within the U.S., and 157,000 in JapanThe Leaf listed because the world’s all-time prime promoting plug-in electrical automobile by way of December 2019. The Tesla Mannequin 3 surpassed the Leaf in early 2020 to change into the all-time finest promoting electrical automobile.”
Charging up the Leaf. Picture courtesy of Harry Darby.
I look ahead to listening to extra tales of Sue and Harry’s travels of their Leaf.
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