drive electric tour 10/8-10/10 @ OC Auto Show (Anaheim)

[eddiey]

Can someone check the following if they're going there tomorrow:

1) Car stereo sound quality (Use CD if possible, not radio)
2) Bluetooth A2DP support
3) Headlights (this may be hard to check) but the quality of the lighting.. bright enough?
4) Cost of carwings in the future?
5) Quality of live traffic data

Thanks

 

[jaimev]

The VIN number of one of the exhibits cars I saw was: JN1AZ0CP5BT000082

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzC1y-uoA7A[/youtube]

Anyone know how to decode the 4th through 8th digits (vehicle attributes)? Am I right in assuming this was the 82nd production car?

I also shot 2 other videos:

The Nav screen settings menu:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4G0C4v73fM[/youtube]

And the Leaf iPhone app:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4FMuNoIpNc[/youtube]

 

[cdub]

Can someone check the following if they're going there tomorrow:

1) Car stereo sound quality (Use CD if possible, not radio)
2) Bluetooth A2DP support
3) Headlights (this may be hard to check) but the quality of the lighting.. bright enough?
4) Cost of carwings in the future?
5) Quality of live traffic data

Thanks

re carwings...i asked in santa monica and they said "very affordable" - whatever that means.

 

[garygid]

Does the "Traffic" come from CARWINGS, or an XM subscription?

Will CARWINGS traffic include much more detailed information, including main streets, and not just freeways?

 

[cdub]

Does the "Traffic" come from CARWINGS, or an XM subscription?

Will CARWINGS traffic include much more detailed information, including main streets, and not just freeways?

I'm going to try to make it down to Anaheim today... that's a question I'll ask.

I don't have a drive time... how is it for walk ins?

 

[garygid]

Early Saturday morning (9 to 10) there were no lines, easy for walk-ins, it would seem. Sunday should be even easier.

 

[evnow]

I'm going to try to make it down to Anaheim today... that's a question I'll ask.

I don't have a drive time... how is it for walk ins?

If you are still reading this - will Leaf play music from the SD memory card.

 

[BruinLEAFer]

I'm at the drive electric tour and some quick comments:
1. Bluetooth audio was possible with my iPhone but for playback only-no song selection; pause/play only.
2. CD player plays cd-rw and mp3 discs. No DVD mp3 discs, though.
3. No mounting holes for front license plate bracket.

 

[BruinLEAFer]

There are 2 SD card slots labeled "A" and "B map." The B slot was occupied. I inserted an SD card into the A slot but could not access it using "AUX" button. I didn't make any further attempts to try to access it as my interaction was brief.

 

[TRONZ]

Nissan did a great job on this event! There was no confusion by reps or delays to drive. We showed up on time and waited all of about 90 seconds to get put in a drive group. The road course was longer and more varied than Santa Monica. I got a chance to "feel" the LEAF at highway speeds (don't ask). Steering was perfect and had great progressive rate and exceptional on center feel! Drove hands off (thank you green lights) and the LEAF tracked like an arrow even under braking. Interestingly, I was about to confess to my wife about "pushing it" in a 40 zone... only to find out she went 20mph faster than me! :twisted: Too funny!

 

[BruinLEAFer]

None of the reps had information about subscription fees regarding CARWINGS after the first 36 months. I'm inclined to guess that it works on the same AT&T network as the Kindle, so hopefully it will be inexpensive.

The iPhone 4 IPS display is amazing. When I first saw it, I thought that it was a dummy model with a sticker of the LEAF iPhone app. The sunlight washed out every large screen display used to show LEAF videos, but the iPhone screen was brilliant at any angle. The LEAF specialist stated that more than one iPhone could access your LEAF and that there would be a web based interface as well.

No LEAF partners, such as AV or ECOtality, were present. However, SCE was there. She recommended to get in touch with them to upgrade to a smart meter prior to delivery of your LEAF if you live in a service area that has not yet made the switch.

 

[Adrian]

Just drove a Leaf this morning at the Anaheim Auto Show. I loved the acceleration, and how smooth the ride was. I can't wait to take delivery of my very own hopefully in December.

 

[garygid]

Smart Meter caution:
If you have (or are planning to install) a PV generation system, the PU-offered "smart" meter might not "run backward". Some meters do not properly detect or "subtract" your out-going power.

 

[EVDRIVER]

Smart Meter caution:
If you have (or are planning to install) a PV generation system, the PU-offered "smart" meter might not "run backward". Some meters do not properly detect or "subtract" your out-going power.

I don't get it. Whenever solar goes in you order the proper TOU meter from the utility that works backward. With PGE even the standard meter goes backward but they don't tell you that unless you ask a tech. If your solar people don't have you do this then you are using the wrong company.

 

[garygid]

My point was that one's PU might not yet HAVE a run-backwards TOU meter to offer you. Two years ago that was a problem, and I think it still is, at least for some PUs.

 

[LEAFfan]

Smart Meter caution:
If you have (or are planning to install) a PV generation system, the PU-offered "smart" meter might not "run backward". Some meters do not properly detect or "subtract" your out-going power.

We have a 'smart' meter and our utility said we have to have a second meter for the pvs at no charge to us and it will spin in reverse.

 

[LEAFer]

The digital smart meters don't spin, of course. But they also don't necessarily run in "reverse". Instead they record the "use" and the "production" with two separate data fields, both continuously incrementing from zero. We don't have PV (yet). One data item continuously increments, and a second one is fixed at 0 on our meter. The meter cycles thru several data fields on its display continuously, including those two. (Our PU is SMUD.)

 

[tomguy]

I can confirm that Southern California Edison does not currently have the capabilities of installing a smart meter for those with Solar panels on their house. I already had a SCE tech come out and he told me the reason was their current software cannot distinguish the different data coming from the smart meter. Currently their software can only read the meter going one way. My parents actually had a smart meter installed at their home but once they got their solar installed, SCE installed the old meter back. It was actually a digital meter, but not a smart meter (I had SCE CSR check this too).

But supposedly sometime next year they should have the updates in place so they will swap out my meter with a smart meter.

 

[xtremeflyer]

I can confirm that SCE does allow smart meters for houses with Solar Panels. Below is my latest bill. Notice the negative numbers. You may want to call and ask for someone else. (BTW, I'm not in a Smart Meter region, I specifically requested the TOU rate and they came and installed it for free). I have not yet enquired about the second meter yet.


Your rate: TOU-D-T-APSE
Billing period: Aug 12 '10 to Sep 14 '10 (33 days)

Delivery Charges
Energy-Summer On Peak
Lvl 1 (1% to 130% of bsln) -130 kWh x -$0.03224 = $4.19
Energy-Summer Off Peak
Lvl 1 (1% to 130% of bsln) 242 kWh x $0.05251 = $12.71
DWR bond charge 112 kWh x $0.00515 = $0.58
A/C cycling discount = -$0.50

Generation Charges
DWR
Energy-Summer On Peak
Lvl 1 (1% to 130% of bsln) -33 kWh x $0.03763 = -$1.24
Energy-Summer Off Peak
Lvl 1 (1% to 130% of bsln) 62 kWh x $0.03762 = $2.33
SCE
Energy-Summer On Peak
Lvl 1 (1% to 130% of bsln) -97 kWh x $0.29541 = -$28.65
Energy-Summer Off Peak
Lvl 1 (1% to 130% of bsln) 180 kWh x $0.07510 = $13.52

Energy Charge Total $2.94

 

[EVDRIVER]

Who in their right mind gets solar without a reverse TOU meter unless they are asleep at the wheel. Sure, "I'll take 10kw of solar and no reverse meter, thanks. And I won't notice either". Is this really a debate or question on this unrelated topic?