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!

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!

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!

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!

19. Ah-HAH! Finally I can report a LEAF caveat…

Ever since I started this blog in May 2011 I've had nothing but superlatives to report about my LEAF: it's quick, quiet, fun, solid, smooth, roomy, has outstanding AC, etc.  

But this week I finally discovered a minor caveat about the car.  

For the past few days we've had our first "cold snap" of the winter - yesterday the temperature never got above 38° (northerners will chuckle, but that's COLD by Austin standards).  

Batteries cannot deliver as much power when they're cold anyway; but then add to that the fact that the car's (electric) heater absolutely SUCKS power; and you end up with a dramatic decrease in range compared to the warmer months.  Just turning on the heater drops the range on the battery display by 10-15 miles!  Of course one could wear a parka and do without the heater to gain more mileage, but who wants to do that?  (The newer model LEAF's have heated seats and steering wheel which should help.)

Fortunately I never drive more than 20-30 miles on a typical day; so even in winter I've always got a large reserve of battery power to run the heater full blast without worrying. 


And it's nice that the electric heat is instantaneous - no waiting until you're almost at your destination before the gasoline engine warms up.


But when one compares this winter range loss of 10+ miles to the summer drop of only 3-6 miles with the AC blasting full force on a 105° day, it becomes clear that the LEAF may not be the best choice for folks who live where winters are long and brutal (poor devils).


I've been driving my LEAF for six months without burning a single drop of gas while my beautiful Lexus continues to sit alone and lonesome in the garage. I guess I'll drive the Lexus to the airport this week just to charge its battery.

I LOVE my LEAF!

18. I HAD to Drive My Lexus Last Week...

Last week I had to drive from Austin to Houston; so I took my Lexus.  This was only the third time the Lexus had been out of the garage since I got my LEAF three months ago (just a couple of prior airport trips).

I should preface this by saying I have really enjoyed my Lexus IS350 for the past several years.  It's probably the finest gasoline automobile I've ever owned - quick, quiet, smooth, and elegant.  Lexus service has always been exemplary.  

That said, here are just a few reasons I prefer driving my LEAF for all my in-town travel:

1. When I pressed the button to start my Lexus that morning, I could actually feel vibrations as the engine turned over, then idled.  How "primitive"!

2. I could hear muted sounds from the engine compartment, not the LEAF's utter silence.

3. When I pressed the accelerator I could feel the Lexus' internal combustion engine rev up and shift repeatedly (albeit very subtly) - a really noticeable difference when one has become accustomed to the LEAF's silky smooth and silent acceleration at all speeds.

4. Before the drive I stopped off to fill up the Lexus, and it was annoying to have to buy 12 gallons of gas for about $44 (the first gas I'd bought in three months).  When the pump stopped I couldn't help calculating that at 3¢/mile for electricity, I could have driven my LEAF for almost 1,500 miles (!) with this $44.

What's not to like about this car?  I haven't found anything yet.

17. My LEAF Makes the Christian Science Monitor

The reporter loved my LEAF:


"Something new and a bit odd is happening here in Texas, where history and the economy are so tightly interwoven with oil: Some drivers are ditching their gasoline vehicles and turning over a new leaf – literally.'


http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Tech/2011/1009/Post-oil-In-oil-country-maverick-Nissan-Leaf-driver-gives-up-gas-VIDEO

16. My LEAF Stays Cool Even In a Blast Furnace

For the past two months Austin has had an unbroken string of 100º+ days, but my LEAF's air conditioning has performed like a champ.


After the car has been parked in the sun all day at my office, the cabin temperature often reaches 140º; but within a couple of minutes, the powerful AC is blowing out delightfully chilled 40º air - more than 60º cooler than the air outside!


When I remember to turn on the AC from my iPhone a few minutes before I leave my office, I don't even have to wait two minutes for "coolth" because the car is already pre-cooled when I get in.


But here's why the LEAF is better in this heat than any other car I've even owned:  
When I'm running a series of errands over several hours, I simply leave the AC on while I'm inside stores and malls.  Yes, that's right, I just leave the electric AC turned on when I park  and lock the car; so it stays just as cool inside when parked as it does when I'm driving. 


"Doesn't that run down the battery?"  Nope.  Remember that only the electric AC is running.  Not one erg of energy is being wasted to keep a hot internal combustion engine idling.  Since the car is already cooled down, the AC barely sips electricity to keep it cool, no more than 1.0kW for every hour it's parked.  Since the LEAF's battery holds 24kWh, this minor drain from the AC has a negligible effect on mileage at the end of the day.


"Isn't it expensive to leave the AC on when the car is parked?"  Again, nope.  Even at Austin's exorbitant "green" electric rates of $0.14/kWh, it costs only 14¢ to keep my LEAF cooled for an hour in the mall parking lot.  Is it worth 14¢ to come back to a thoroughly cool car (that would otherwise be 140º?  It is to me!


You'd never leave a gasoline-powered car running like this for long periods because the engine would overheat, but it makes no difference to the LEAF's electrically-powered AC whether the car is moving or parked.


As I've said before, I'll report it in this blog if I ever discover anything about the LEAF that I don't like.  So far, I haven't discovered anything negative to say about the LEAF.


I LOVE my LEAF!


  

15. Now There's Even LEAF Whiskey!

I've told you how cool, smooth, and calming the LEAF is... kinda sounds like a description of good whiskey, doesn't it?  
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAV97L4-x7g)

14. Starting the AC Remotely Is GREAT - Especially During a Heat Wave!

I've commented several times about the LEAF's superb air conditioning.  The compressor is electrically driven (no fan belt); so it's not dependent on engine RPM and begins maximum cooling the moment it's turned on.  Just for fun I've been monitoring the AC vent output air with an inexpensive thermometer probe, the type used by AC service techs.


Like much of the country, Texas has been running temperatures of 100+ every day for several weeks.  After my LEAF has been parked in the sun for a few hours, I usually measure a temperature of about 140 degrees in the AC vent.  The moment I turn on the AC, the temperature of the air from the vent plummets rapidly, typically reaching about 40 degrees (!) within a couple of minutes.  This blast of instant "coolth" is truly delightful on a hot day.


Even better, though, I can start my LEAF's AC remotely with a couple of taps on my iPhone; so the car is already nice and cool by the time I get into it.  It's a real luxury to get into a pre-cooled car the end of the workday or after spending an hour in Home Depot.


Does pre-cooling use up too much energy from the LEAF's battery?  Not at all.  The electricity drain from running the AC is negligible compared to the enormous energy required to actually propel this 3,500# car for 100 miles (the estimated battery range).  Once the cabin has been fully cooled (in about 5 minutes) the AC throttles back, and the power monitor then indicates that the AC is only reducing the total range by an insignificant 3 miles.


"Range Anxiety" has proven to be an absolute non-issue for me.  I've found the LEAF's range to be far more than I can possibly use up in a full day of normal intra-city driving.  As a matter of fact, I've set my LEAF to charge itself only to 80% of total capacity on weekdays (which is supposed to improve the longevity of the battery).  On weekends I charge to 100%; since I drive more and never want to run low.  For occasional longer trips out of town I take my Lexus.

13. Ho-Hum...

     I am happy to report that after 5 weeks my LEAF has become... well... "just another car" to me, like a lot of other fine cars I've owned.  


     Oh sure, it's very fun to drive, fast, solid, agile in traffic, frosty-cold and pin-drop quiet on the inside; but otherwise it's starting to become just transportation.  I get in, turn it on, then drive to wherever I'm going.  Nothin' special.  I'm no longer mesmerized by all the cool displays of battery charge and energy use and typically don't even turn them on unless I'm demo-ing the LEAF to a friend.  


     I don't bother with the "Eco" mode and don't give a thought to "driving green."  I just drive.  To wherever I'm going.  With full-on AC.  As fast as traffic will allow.  With as heavy a foot as I like.  Yet I've never come even close to experiencing "range anxiety."  I just haven't been able to run this baby down anywhere near empty since I did that deliberately the first week when I was testing the LEAF's limits. 


     Now  I just drive it.  It's "just a car."


     OK, I admit that I never turn on the (excellent) sound system because I'm not over my fascination with the LEAF's extraordinary silence.  And, sure, it feels good to drive past all those $$ gas price signs knowing I haven't had to insert my MasterCard into a gas pump for more than 5 weeks.   And it's nice knowing that my driving has a zero carbon footprint because my home uses exclusively West Texas windmill electricity.  And, yeah, I admit that I love having people ask me about the LEAF, then running through my whole LEAF "spiel" and test drive.  


     But other than that, the LEAF has become just another car to me.  You believe me, don't you?   NOT!  :-)
     
     I love my LEAF!
     

12. Pike's Peak Hill Climb Race... In a LEAF!

  

     I've mentioned several times that my LEAF is a very agile car to drive around town because its electric motor delivers 100% torque instantaneously right off the line.  


     It handles Austin's steep hills effortlessly, and why not when it can climb the 12.42 miles to the top of Pike's Peak in only 14:33 minutes, an average speed of over 50mph all the way to the summit!   http://inhabitat.com/nissan-leaf-becomes-first-electric-class-pikes-peak-champion/

     “The LEAF was great fun to drive up the mountain” said LEAF driver and veteran Nissan off-road truck racing champion Chad Hord. “With the instant torque from the electric motor we were able to jump out of the many slow corners and the performance was very consistent from the bottom to the top since the electric motor wasn’t affected by the high altitude near the summit like the gasoline powered cars.”


     "The vehicle was so quiet during its ascent–with the exception of squealing tires–that it was equipped with a high-speed warning beep to alert spectators and race workers of its approach"


     My LEAF is one slick little car... and LOTS of fun to drive.  (No, that's not me on Pike's Peak - smile.)

11. One Month With No Gas!

     Today it's been a month since I took delivery of my LEAF.  During that time I haven't bought a single drop of gas for my Lexus.


     According to the CarWings LEAF owner's website, I've driven slightly more than 1,000 miles and consumed 215kWh of electricity.  At Austin's (high) electric rate of $0.14/kWh I've spent about $30.00 for electricity (or $1.00/day).  Considering that I normally spend $10 per day (!) to air-condition my home during the summer, what I'm spending to charge my LEAF is chickenfeed.


     Had I instead been driving my Lexus around the city at (conservatively) 20mpg, I would have burned up 50 gallons of premium gas.  Assuming premium at roughly $3.80/gal that's $190.00 worth of gas.  We all know gas prices are going much higher soon, but even a savings of $160/mo is nice.  Plus (according to CarWings) during this month I avoided spewing 626 lbs of CO2 into the air.


     The LEAF is very cheap to drive, frisky, nimble in traffic, eerily quiet, comfortably cool, and environmentally friendly.  What's not to like?


     It's also FUN... a BLAST to drive!


     I love my LEAF!

10. Almost Outa Juice...

     Yesterday I deliberately tried to run down my LEAF's battery to the point where I'd see/hear its low-battery warnings.  I succeeded, but I really had to try to do it.  


     I had several stops to make at widely-separated locations around the city.  I deliberately chose the most inefficient routing I could think of with mostly freeway driving at 70mph (lots of wind resistance and very little regenerative braking).


     It was 103 degrees in Austin yesterday, but the LEAF air conditioning had no difficulty blowing frosty-cold air to quickly get the cabin comfortable again even after parking in the sun for an hour or two on several occasions.  The LEAF's energy display told me that I could add 4 miles to my range if I'd turn off the AC... fat chance I'd be doing that!


     When I finally got down to 12 miles of remaining range I checked the nav system and found that I was 8.7 miles from home.  I headed back to the house making two more stops along the way.  When I got below 10 miles of range I began receiving visual displays reminding me to recharge, and then the polite lady who lives in the LEAF nav system started issuing impossible-to-ignore verbal warnings to recharge.


     When I pulled into my garage I had only four miles of range remaining.  Was I nervous?  Not a bit because with the nav system I was able to predict throughout the last 12 miles that I'd get home easily with that 4-mile buffer, especially since I knew that the last 2 miles to my home would be low-energy-consuming slower neighborhood driving.


     At that point I had one more errand to run; so I took my Lexus.  No big deal, and the Lexus was very happy to be driven after three weeks in the garage.


     The LEAF performs exactly as advertised.  You don't have to be a rocket scientist to feel perfectly comfortable with the 100-mile range.  However, the LEAF is probably not the right car for people who just "can't be bothered" to pay attention to the car's easy-to-understand instrumentation (and also those who are just flat ignorant).




PS: People have asked me if I've noticed any performance drop when the battery charge is low, and the answer is "no".  The Li-Ion batteries seem to provide pretty much full power right to the end (much like laptop batteries); and I've not detected any noticeable drop-off in the LEAF's normal, brisk acceleration even at low charge levels.

9. The Stats Just Keep Looking Better

     For more than two weeks my beautiful Lexus has been sitting all lonely in the garage, shined up and full of gas with nowhere to go.  


     Ever since I got my LEAF I've been driving it everywhere and have not once felt the slightest inclination to drive the Lexus.  Why would I when the LEAF is so quick, agile, quiet, comfortable, and fun to drive?  However, I am going to have to make myself drive the Lexus once in a while just to keep the battery charged.


     My LEAF communicates with Nissan every time I drive it, and all the summary data then becomes instantly available on the Nissan CarWings website.  Here's what I'm learning:

1. Since I got the LEAF I've been driving it an average of about 40 miles a day, up to a maximum of 50-60 miles/day on weekends and maybe around 30 miles/day on weekdays.  At $.03/mile for electricity, those 40 miles/day cost me $1.20.  Compare that cost to the 2 gallons of gas I'd burn in my Lexus (very optimistically) to cover the same 40 miles for a total of roughly $8.00/day.

2. Even though I seized even the most feeble excuses to drive everywhere I could think of on weekends, with normal city driving I never got even close to using up my 100 miles of battery range.

3. During this same period of time I avoided emitting from my tailpipe a total of 352 lbs. of CO2!  

     I gotta feel really good about that.

8. The AC Is SUPER Cold, and That's Just Fine With Me

     Today it was 98 degrees.  Austinites are accustomed to summer heat; and we rely on good air-conditioning in our homes, offices, malls, and cars.  Texans know good air conditioning, and I can tell you that the LEAF's AC is truly exceptional!  


     As I've mentioned before, because the LEAF's electric AC compressor doesn't depend on high engine rpm, it operates at 100% from the moment you turn it on, even if the car isn't moving.


     Today while stopped for a long time in downtown traffic, I actually had to turn the AC vents away from my hands on the steering wheel and towards the roof because the blowing air was making my fingers uncomfortably cold... this while the car was sitting dead still on baking asphalt that was probably 110 degrees.  Now that's what I call good AC! 


     At the same time, as I sat there motionless the LEAF was not wasting one erg of battery energy on anything other than keeping me cool and comfy.  There was no idling gasoline engine generating waste heat, and my LEAF wasn't putting one gram of CO2 into the air.


     Since I charge my car at home with Austin "green" electricity generated by West Texas windmills, my splendidly comfortable day of driving around town had a zero carbon footprint and cost me 3 cents a mile.  What's not to like about that?


     So far I haven't been able to identify a single thing about my LEAF that I'd consider a negative. If I ever do, I'll let you know.

7. Is Half a Tank of Gas Enough?

    Gasoline engines get their best mileage when driven at a constant speed on the freeway, but their mileage is much lower with stop-and-go city driving.  The LEAF, on the other hand, is at its best with stop-and-go driving when the regenerative braking really shines and when you're not wasting a lot of gas idling in traffic.  


     When fully charged, my LEAF can travel roughly 100 miles around town; so when I pull out of my garage in the morning I have about the same potential city range as my Lexus does when it starts the day with the gas tank half full.


     So if you're trying to decide whether the LEAF's 100-mile range is enough for your normal driving, just ask yourself if you typically use more than half a tank of gas during a day of driving.  If you do, then the LEAF may not be for you.  


     However, if you normally fill your car with gas only once a week, then you'll never have to worry about running out of charge in your LEAF.  Even if you fill your gasoline car as often as every 3-4 days, odds are the LEAF's 100-mile range will probably never be an issue for you.


     Based on my experience so far, it's doubtful I'll ever find myself running really low on charge; but were that ever to occur it's a no-brainer to simply drive home, plug in the LEAF, and drive the Lexus while the LEAF recharges.


     In fact, I think the only battery issue I'm ever likely to have won't be with the LEAF's battery at all, it'll be trying to keep the Lexus battery charged when it's being driven so little.  As I said before, even though the LEAF can easily make the 50-mile, 70mph round-trip to the Austin airport, I'll be using the Lexus as my airport car only to exercise it and keep its battery charged.


     I should make one a comment about my Lexus IS350.  It's absolutely the finest internal combustion automobile I've ever owned.  I probably won't sell it for many years because I still need it for long trips, but I'll won't be using it for local driving ever again.


     I love my LEAF!

6. Paradigm Shift

     As I merged with freeway traffic on my way to work this morning it occurred to me that the LEAF is not just the next step in the evolution of the automobile, it's a revolution in travel.  


     Leaving the gym, my LEAF accelerated effortlessly and with eerie smoothness from a standstill to highway speeds.  The ride is as elegant and refined as any luxury car I've ever driven.  The handling is crisp, and you always know exactly what's going on with the road and the car.  Yet as I sped along wrapped in the LEAF's cocoon of silence there was a sense of almost complete detachment from the noisy world outside, much as if I was sitting at home playing a video game with the sound turned off.  How delightful.


     And then there's the cost of travel.  My routine morning commute to the gym and then to work is 8.7 miles.  At 3 cents/mile, this trip costs me all of 26 cents worth of electricity!  And with no tailpipe emissions.


     If that's not revolutionary, then what is?

5. Favorite Features

     I'm delighted with all aspects of my LEAF, but here are a few features that stand out:


• IT'S QUIET.  
     No, I mean really, REALLY quiet.  I've read that the cabin noise level is lower than the top-of-the-line Infiniti, and I believe it.  The 600# of batteries under the floor deaden road noise from below, and there's no engine noise at any speed.  At 30mph you hear essentially nothing from the car, and even at 70mph you can barely hear the tires rolling on the highway and the sound of wind blowing past the windows.


• GREAT HANDLING.  
     With those 600# of batteries within the wheelbase the car corners as flat as a sports car.  Suspension is firm but luxury-car smooth.  Steering effort is light yet sensitive and refined, thus making driving effortless at all speeds. 


• GREAT AIR CONDITIONING.  
     I've mentioned this before - the LEAF's AC can literally freeze you out of the car on a 100 degree day if you override the automatic temperature controls and really crank it up.  Seriously... it doesn't take long before you want to switch it back to "Auto" to avoid becoming chilled.  
     I've never driven a car that could cool the cabin this fast or this cold while sitting still on a hot day.  I think this is largely due to the electric AC compressor that's running at 100% the minute you switch it on.  There's no fan belt; so AC performance is not dependent on higher engine rpm.  There's not the usual wait for cool air to arrive while you're driving out of the parking lot or waiting in rush-hour traffic.  
     When this AC is on, it's really ON!  When traffic comes to a dead stop on the freeway and every other car is idling, wasting gas, spewing CO2, and warming up inside, the LEAF AC quietly hums along full blast, sipping just the little juice it needs from the battery while the "Traction Motor" (which propels the car) is using zero energy.


• GREAT ELECTRONICS.  
     All instrument displays are flat panel, bright, clear, and easily understood.  When you start up there's just a basic display, but you can also use the buttons and touch-screen to drill down into the details of navigation and car performance (which tech buffs love to do).  


     To repeat myself:  This car is FUN!


  

4. A Typical Day in My LEAF

     Yesterday was probably a typical weekday for me.  I drove to the gym early in the morning, then to my office.  I gave one friend a quick driving demo of the car that probably covered about 5 miles including a lot of (energy-wasting) fast acceleration (for purposes of demonstration only, you understand).  I ran a couple of errands after work before driving 10 miles downtown for an evening at the theatre, then home.


     According to CarWings I drove a total of 40 miles averaging 4.9 kWh/mile and consumed a total of 8.4kWh.  


     At $0.124/kWh, that whole normal day of driving cost me $1.17 worth of electricity.  Compare that to a gas car getting 20mpg (you wish!):  $3.90/gal x 2 gal = $7.80 worth of gas.


     Additionally, CarWings reports that during my driving yesterday I avoided adding 26 pounds of CO2 to the Austin air by using electricity instead of gas.


     I love my LEAF more every day!  Still not a single negative to report.