When I got there, another vehicle was using the lone CHAdeMO plug, meaning I had to wait. I could only find one nearby, which was located in the parking lot of a Whole Foods, because, of course. I then loaded up Google Maps to try and find a nearby CHAdeMO charger. So low that getting home might be an issue. One night as I was driving the Leaf, I came to notice that my range was getting uncomfortably low. In one instance, range anxiety came to head with the poor EV charging infrastructure that continues to plague America. And give yourself some buffer, as hot days will require more electricity to keep the internal cabin cool, while particularly cold days will decrease the overall range the battery can store. Driving at high speed with the A/C cranked up will invariably use more energy.Īnyone looking to buy the lower-end S or SV models with 149-miles of range, should only do so if you are certain your daily driving will not exceed that. One highway in Texas, SH 130, has a speed limit of 85mph. Granted, because Houston has miles of highways, speed limits here are higher, and even then, drivers often drive far past posted speeds. Often, at least in the humid Texas heat, range seemed to slip more quickly than what Nissan estimated. In our review of the Volkswagen ID.4, tested in the Bay Area of California, we found that daily use exceeded VW’s range estimates in some instances. It’s not impossible to use, but daily commuters should make sure to recharge it overnight. ![]() Really, the Leaf is less ideal in widespread cities. ![]() Plus, Houston, being a widespread city connected by ever-widening toll roads, makes even a trip to the grocery store a multi-mile romp. Wind resistance or other environmental factors can also play a part. I was faced with a bout of hot weather that forced me to crank on the air conditioning, and lowered how much range I could squeeze out of the battery. While the 215 mile range Nissan claims sounds like a lot, your real world driving range will all depend on how you drive. Nissan Leaf review: Range, battery and charging It should be noted, Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, Nissan’s driver assistance system, is only available on the SV, SV Plus and SL Plus models. Unfortunately we were not able to test this last feature. That has a slightly lower range of 215 miles, but the increased $35,400 price tag includes 17” aluminum-alloy wheels, an all-around camera system, LED headlights, ProPilot assist and the optional Door to Door Navigation with Premium Traffic. The company also restyled the vehicle, giving it a lower center of gravity, a low hood and a sporty feel echoing the design of the popular Rogue crossover.įollow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter NathanBomey.Potential buyers will likely want to opt for either the S Plus, which includes the 62 kWh battery and 226 miles of range for $32,400, or the SV Plus. The new Leaf boasts 147 horsepower, a 38% improvement from the previous model. "It allows the driver the simplicity of accelerating, decelerating and stopping the car by using the accelerator pedal alone - a revolutionary innovation that can change the way people drive," Nissan said in a statement. ![]() Nissan estimated that drivers would use the accelerator alone for 90% of their driving. It also comes with a new feature that brings the vehicle to a gradual stop when the accelerator is not being pressed, without needing to hit the brakes unless the car must stop quickly. The redesigned Leaf will get the company's advanced cruise-control system that can automatically slow down, speed up and stay centered in a lane. because electric cars, unless they’re a Tesla, are a struggle - and even Tesla may face some challenges with the Model 3, we don’t know yet," analyst Michelle Krebs said.Īnother problem: "It’s still a car," Krebs said, while shoppers are ditching passenger cars and piling into crossovers, sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks.īut Nissan hopes the Leaf's technological upgrades will appeal to consumers seeking semi-autonomous driving at an affordable price. market through August, up from 0.4% during the same period of 2016, according to. The electric-car segment represented 0.5% of the U.S.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |