GaslessInSeattle
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 6, 2011
- Messages
- 1,566
tps said:IMHO, less range is the wrong way at this point. When QC infrastructure is built out, it will be less of a problem. But for the next few years, more range is definitely a plus. As more QC stations are added, the CHAdeMO socket on the LEAF will look like less of a waste and more of a necessity.Herm said:they are offering a much lower cost product and only 11 miles of range less.
Actually, now that I'm seeing just how radically I have been over estimated my sense of need in terms of range for around town stuff and reading how most folks travel around 40 miles a day (turns out we are pretty average), I think there is a niche for a smaller lower range vehicle. The challenge is going to be in finding where the actual sweet spot is in terms of economy and capacity for the mass market. Add a vast charging network, and equation could tilt even more toward shorter range for a metro vehicle. The future is not going to bring us a one size fits all EV, but rather a plethera of options, some smaller, some bigger than the LEAF.
In the future, when a long distance EV (200-300m) is available for around 40-50K, I can see pairing that with one that only gets, say only 50 miles. On average, we are driving the LEAF about 50 miles a day, well within the 80% charge range for overnight charging; add in some opportunity charging and the LEAF is actually well beyond our needs for a metro vehicle, which means we are paying a premium for a lot of unused capacity on average. If you had told me this just months ago, I would never have believed you!
For now, the LEAF is a good middle ground, especially once QC is available as we will be able to push the battery on occasion for long trips and continue to have zero range anxiety for metro driving.
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