Posted on 12/03/2014 4:58:53 AM PST by IBD editorial writer
Since most drivers on the road are merely transporting themselves, and perhaps a very few others, to work/school/events/Starbucks, imposing a “cargo capacity” cutoff - and banishing those under the line to 30MPH zones - is just another stupid form of bigotry.
Yes, the Leaf is a lightweight car designed for commuting. It serves its purpose _very_ well. And that design & purpose in no way marginalizes it relative to most common uses. It doesn’t negatively impact traffic patterns, it doesn’t get in your way any more than any gas-powered vehicle, and it doesn’t warrant rude comments.
Just because Leftists promote a technology doesn’t mean that technology is inherently vile/evil. Sociopolitical issues aside, electric cars are cool/fun: quiet, fast, simple, smooth, energy efficiency & cost equating to $0.50/gallon gas.
How so? List is about $35,000 with subsidies knocking about $12,500 off that. Accepting, without research, the article’s claims there’s an average of $44,444 in subsidies per domestic EV, making the worst case subsidized cost somewhere under $72,000. More likely the bulk of that federal $8B went, like Solyndra et al, to the Obama’s cronies via big-budget ventures which conveniently went under.
A few interesting but minor aerodynamic & weight improvements aside, the Leaf is little more than a standard commuter car with the gas tank replaced by a giant battery, and the engine replaced with a couple high-performance electric motors. That’s not $100,000 in differences, more like $10K max.
Just like my late gas-powered Camry, if I want to do “anything more than that and I need something with more power” I’ll fire up the V6 Explorer.
The BIG OBAMA POOT!
That is so blatantly untrue as to be funny.
Zero to 60 in 10 seconds and tops out at 90? Wow, a real rocket ship ya got there.
8 seconds or less.
Anything over 85 mph is begging for a high dollar ticket.
What are you driving, and where that such specs are inadequate?
BS
Car and Driver, 2013 SL Hatchback 0-60 10.2 sec and 1/4 in 17.8@78.
Those specs will NOT outrun much, and certainly not "most cars on the road".
My dd is a Ram 1500 crew ca Hemi, BIG DAMN TRUCK, 0-60 6.6 sec and 1/4 in 15 flat. AND it's 4WD and can pull a large boat and still outrun that golf cart.
When measuring acceleration, a one second difference is HUGE, both in 0-60 and 1/4 mile.
My non-dd is my original owner 69 Charger 500 Hemi (best ET 10.57 in SS/EA), and I'll soon be ordering a new Charger called Hellcat, which will empty it's 18.5 Gal tank of premium fuel in 13 minutes at full throttle. So I'm not averse to destroying the planet, and will continue to do so happily, given the chance.
Realistically, how far do you get on a single charge in winter with lights and heater on and driving against the wind on a hilly interstate?
That’s my daily commute so I’m not just making up the scenario.
Uh, ok, so a massive engine with hideous gas mileage marginally out runs a commuter car under abnormal conditions.
Not sure why some of you guys are taking such offense to what I’m finding a perfectly suitable and enjoyable vehicle.
At worst that would be 60 miles.
I typically get 80-90, and have hit 114.
Yes, it has limits. 85 mile per charge typical range, recharge time 4 hours @ 220v or 21 hours @ 110v, issues at extreme temperatures.
But within those limits, it works great: 140 MPGe, aka $0.50/gal gas equivalent, aka $30/month energy cost; peppy acceleration; quiet; great for commuting within 50 mile round trip.
It’s not a truck. It’s not a sports car. It’s a great replacement for my late Camry. It’s perfect for the Atlanta region.
B.S.? T.S. I get 0-60 in 8 seconds. Cope.
Thanks. That’s a bit better than I would have expected. My commute is 70 miles RT.
I have a 2014. The 2015 is already out. Each improves over the previous.
BTW: the latest Tesla does 0-60 in about 3 seconds.
If you want to be picky, EV acceleration shines brightest from full stop: electric motors have enormous torque at very low speeds, while gas engines struggle to get started.
Oh, BTW, how’s your monthly fuel bill?
Geez, Nissan could use you in their tech dept, cuz....
I seems zeroto60times.com has the 2014 Nissan Leaf Acenta at 11.3.
Gettin' faster every year, huh? Looks like going backward to me.
Thanks to fracking, my fuel bill is doin' just fine, and I can even drive more than 100 miles without having to spend 8 hours or so at a gas pump.
What rude comments am I making? I didn;t say anything about 30mph or cargo capacities. All I said was that your Leaf doesn’t have the power to do much more than commute a couple people.
Yes, electric vehicles are good, and not every left-ist idea is bad, they’re just usually supported for the wrong reasons. Electric vehicles are great for someone who drives a few miles to work in the morning, a few miles home, with maybe a grocery stop on the way. Who can afford the still-high (despite subsidies) price on the vehicle. But from a price-value perspective, they’re still just a rich man’s toy.
Electric vehicle owners spend 5 seconds plugging in their car in the evening and 5 seconds unplugging them in the morning.
Close ‘nuff fer gubmint work.
We can be forced at the point of a gun to buy anything now.. No sarcasm.
Mankind cannot destroy a planet, but we can die trying :)
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