Sunday, April 1, 2012

23. Another LEAF Savings - More Than 6 Hours a Year


As I've shown earlier in this blog, during the 10 months I've owned my LEAF, it has saved me a LOT of money on gas.  It generates zero emissions, thus helping to save the environment.  I've saved on routine auto maintenance as well because the LEAF has required zero maintenance (no oil changes, etc.)

In many parts of the country the LEAF can drive in HOV lanes and park free in spaces reserved for electric cars, a huge potential time saving.

It just occurred to me that there's another way the LEAF saves me time.  

When I pull into my garage at the end of the day, I automatically plug in the LEAF without even thinking about it.  If I forget for more than 15 minutes after arriving home, the car sends me a reminder text message.  (I never drive it enough in a day to require recharging away from home.)

It takes about 10 seconds to connect the charger and another 10 seconds to unplug it as I'm leaving the next morning.  I do this once a day during the week and sometimes twice a day on weekends (not because I need to, but just because I like to stay topped off).  That adds up to an average of about 140 seconds a week or 2 hours a year I spend plugging and unplugging my car.

Now compare that to the time I would have wasted standing mindlessly beside my gas car at the filling station, say 10 minutes once a week or 8.6 hours every year.

With my LEAF I've therefore reclaimed more than 6 valuable hours of my life every year.  Granted that's not such a big deal, but I can sure think of better ways to spend those 6 hours than standing mindlessly at the gas pump in the heat or cold or rain.

Every time I leave my garage I'm "topped off" with clean electrons that will carry me in comfort for 75-100 miles, far more than I drive around town in a day.  How often do you leave your garage in the morning with a full tank of gas?  

I love my LEAF!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

22. Why Support People Who Hate You?



The up-front purchase price of the LEAF may be slightly more than other smaller cars, but it's all gravy from there:
  • The LEAF is really fun to drive, and it's really quiet and smooth 
  • Electricity costs only about 3¢/mile at Austin rates
  • After charging overnight, I leave the house every morning with a "full tank" of electrons (enough for up to 100 miles)
  • Routine service costs are minimal to nothing (no oil changes, filters, etc.)
  • Electric cars get to drive in the HOV lanes
  • Many cities allow electric cars to park free at downtown meters
  • And my LEAF produces zero pollution
Yes, I mean zero pollution, even to generate the electricity that runs it. 


I participate in Austin's Green Energy Program; so every kilowatt of energy I use to run my home and my LEAF comes from West Texas windmills, not oil or coal.  Although I pay a slightly higher rate for this clean electricity, it feels good to know that powering my home and my LEAF does not add one gram of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

ADDED BONUS: When I drive my LEAF I am not sending one dime to the OPEC countries who hate America.

If there's a downside to the LEAF, I have yet to discover it.

I LOVE my LEAF!




Monday, February 13, 2012

21. Is the LEAF almost as good as a gasoline car?

My LEAF is not almost as good as a gas-burner - it's better!


The LEAF is clearly superior in most ways to any gas car I've ever owned:
   • It's remarkably comfortable and fun to drive
   • It's quicker than most gasoline sedans when the traffic light turns green
   • It's rock solid on the road and corners as flat as a sports car
    • Inside it's by far the quietest car I've ever driven, even at freeway speeds
   • It's got the best AC around (and can even be pre-cooled by starting the AC remotely from my iPhone)
   • It has lots of leg room for back seat passengers, even with the driver's seat all the way back
   • It requires almost no service because the electric motor has no fluids to check/change
   • My LEAF has never been to a gas station; yet it always leaves my garage in the morning topped off with 70-100 miles worth of electricity (which costs me 3¢/mile)


The only way the LEAF cannot compete with my Lexus is in long-distance travel; but it was never meant to be a long-distance highway cruiser.


The LEAF was designed to be a superb, efficient, non-polluting city car; and I think Nissan got it just right.


I love my LEAF!

Friday, February 3, 2012

20. Servicing the LEAF...

...Or perhaps I should title this entry, "NOT servicing the LEAF" because I've had the car since May 2011, and I still haven't been back to the dealership for anything.


When I took delivery, I was told that the first service isn't until 7,500 miles - just to rotate the tires.  Although I drive my LEAF every day, I never use it for long highway trips; so I've only managed to put 4,800 miles on the car in eight months, an average of about 20 miles per day for all commutes, shopping, and social events.


I've always taken very good care of my cars; and I was feeling a bit "guilty" that I hadn't ever been to the Nissan dealer's service department; so I called the Service Manager and asked him, "Shouldn't I be bringing my LEAF in for something?"


He chuckled and said, "What for?  There's nothing to check!  We don't need to see you until 7,500 miles to rotate your tires."  He emphasized that there are no fluids to check or change.  Unlike a gasoline engine's thousands of precision moving parts, the electric motor in the LEAF has only one moving part, the armature; so there's nothing to wear out or require servicing - no oil changes, no new oil filters, no replacing carburetor air filters, etc. 


There's no service due on my Lexus either.  The service department at the Lexus dealership is superb, the best I've ever experienced with any car.  They've always given me First Class treatment, but I confess I don't miss them at all.  I don't miss phoning for service appointments, taking time out of my day to drop off my Lexus and pick up a (free) loaner Lexus, then driving back to the dealership later to pick up my own car.  I've only put 800 miles total on my Lexus since I got my LEAF; so no service is due; but one of these days I really must think of a reason to take the car in the dealership for something.  Maybe the next time it rains I'll take the Lexus out of the garage and get it dirty - that will give me an excuse to visit the dealer for a free wash (which they're happy to do as often as you wish).  Lexus service is the BEST... but I never get to use it any more.  :-)


This May I will take my LEAF in for its first service... tire rotation!


I love my LEAF!