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Not sure I understand why you are doing that Walt :?:[/quote]
Tim, a comprehensive answer will be sent to you in a report. Anyone else who wants it can send a request to
[email protected]. This report also tells how to set up your own project to satisfy a vital objective. That objective is to transform automotive transportation from engine-driven vehicles to motor-driven vehicles and their energy supply to hydro-, solar- or wind-generated electricity. The purpose is to eliminate the increasing disease, injury and death, caused by automobile exhaust.
This 83-year-old and his spouse cares deeply about what is happening to their grandchildren and all people who are or will increasingly suffer from the diseases caused by the toxic components of automobile exhaust. Google "The Health Effects of Automobile Exhaust" for access to the many medical and related reports on this subject. We also care deeply about the increasing amount of physical injury and number of deaths, caused by climate-related catastrophes. These events are increasing in number and severity because of the copious quantities of greenhouse gases that engine-driven vehicles spew out. Google "The Effects of Automobile Exhaust on Global Warming" for science-based reports on this subject.
I have found that one of the best a way to get engine-driven vehicle owners to buy an EV is to enable them to deal with an owner rather than a dealer's sales persons. They are frustrated by the latter, who generally know very little about a new EV, let alone the condition of a used one. From personal experience I know that not even authorized Nissan dealer service departments have the equipment, training or authorization to perform a detailed analysis of a Leaf's battery for example. The battery of even a new Leaf should be thoroughly analyzed with the aid of Leaf Spy before purchase, particularly those that may have sat on a lot with a full charge for an extended period of time. Such storage degrades EV batteries, another little-known fact. It is this kind of knowledge that engenders the trust that many potential buyers need before they will take the step into newer automobile technology.
We are also concerned about the amount of injury and the thousands of deaths that result annually from the ownership of both engine-driven and electric vehicles, whose manufacturers compromise crash safety for less important benefits. That is why I recommend 2011 and 2012 Leafs with an overall 5-star, crash safety rating for family use. I recommend 2013-2015 models for commuters and other owners who do not frequently carry passengers, because of such features as B-Mode which increases range. The driver's seat in these models is still rated 5-star, but all passenger seats have been down-rated to 3-stars. Apparently this was done to squeeze out more room in the cargo compartment, some cost in shorter hoses and cables and a little extra range. The vast majority of families do not need the added range, because they travel less than 40 miles per day (95% of travel) and use their engine-driven vehicle for the remaining 5%, can get by with the original cargo area and would gladly pay a little more for a safer vehicle for passengers, frequently their children.
This information may be disquieting to Nissan management and to some owners, who were not aware of this fact when they purchased one of these models. However, my code of professional ethics does not allow me to conceal this information and allow others to unwittingly fall into this trap that a sales person would not disclose for fear of killing a sale. The DOT-EPA sticker reveals this but buyers frequently do not see this for various reasons, some related to selling techniques.
Please do not misinterpret my comments. I am grateful to Nissan for taking a risk by jumping out ahead of other manufacturers and giving us this vehicle as means to replace deadly, engine driven vehicles. All I am asking is that Nissan recover the Leaf's 5-star safety rating by making the necessary changes in design.