Why We Moved to a Chevy Bolt from a Nissan Leaf

[RonDawg]

Yes, liquid heating/cooling is better, but conditioned air would be good enough.

I thought the Kia Soul EV used "conditioned air" (via a fan under the rear false floor that uses air that would be exiting the cabin) and yet is still having degradation issues?

[AndyH]

Yes, liquid heating/cooling is better, but conditioned air would be good enough.

I thought the Kia Soul EV used "conditioned air" (via a fan under the rear false floor that uses air that would be exiting the cabin) and yet is still having degradation issues?

Has KIA had a class action yet? Or 15% loss in a year? The battery pack will still age - but it'll age faster when it's hot. the Soul and all hybrids I've seen so far have uses air from the passenger cabin. This works pretty well since lithium likes to be in the same range of temperatures as humans.

[Evoforce]

Yes, liquid heating/cooling is better, but conditioned air would be good enough.

I thought the Kia Soul EV used "conditioned air" (via a fan under the rear false floor that uses air that would be exiting the cabin) and yet is still having degradation issues?

Has KIA had a class action yet? Or 15% loss in a year? The battery pack will still age - but it'll age faster when it's hot. the Soul and all hybrids I've seen so far have uses air from the passenger cabin. This works pretty well since lithium likes to be in the same range of temperatures as humans.

No, this is not working well in hot climates. The vehicle still gets hot when not being driven. A vehicle sits most of the time. Heat from the streets, hot enclosed garage, temps that build in an enclosed vehicle, charging, etc.

[edatoakrun]

Please post comments RE the Kia Soul on the appropriate thread:

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=13531&p=513071#p513071

[Marktm]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I've earned a lot from this forum and have tried to make a contribution.

I don't earn enough to use the tax credit. I'd be a fool to buy. That's why we leased. At first I was angry. We buy our cars. We never finance them. From this forum I learned leasing made sense. I am glad we leased.

Paul

As others, I appreciate the time and effort to document your Leaf journey. I've owned a 2012 Leaf for two years (a lease return). It has been in Houston, TX since new and had an average of .46 ahr loss per month on the original battery. I received a new "Lizard" battery 13 months ago and has since lost an avg. of .44 ahr/mo. Obviously don't know the driving habits of the previous owner - although the miles/year are similar and also from the charge records, similar QC sessions - and 240 VAC charging is really easy (slow) on the 2012! Overall, I'm very satisfied - it is an amazing piece of engineering - IMO - for it's time.

However, after driving a friend's Bolt for over 240 miles on a one charge highway trip, with four people, it shows how much (affordable and available) EV technology has come. Very impressive vehicle! If it had bi-directional CCS protocol, I'd buy one tomorrow.

[IssacZachary]

I don't earn enough to use the tax credit. I'd be a fool to buy. That's why we leased. At first I was angry. We buy our cars. We never finance them. From this forum I learned leasing made sense. I am glad we leased.

Paul

Sorry if I'm derailing the thread. But I thought you got the tax credit regardless of income. Anyhow that happened to me in Colorado with my used Leaf. The Colorado tax credit was more than what I owed in taxes so I got a check for about $900 for the difference even though I hadn't paid a cent all year in state taxes. I'm not sure how the federal tax credit works because my car was used.

[LeftieBiker]

I don't earn enough to use the tax credit. I'd be a fool to buy. That's why we leased. At first I was angry. We buy our cars. We never finance them. From this forum I learned leasing made sense. I am glad we leased.

Paul

Sorry if I'm derailing the thread. But I thought you got the tax credit regardless of income. Anyhow that happened to me in Colorado with my used Leaf. The Colorado tax credit was more than what I owed in taxes so I got a check for about $900 for the difference even though I hadn't paid a cent all year in state taxes. I'm not sure how the federal tax credit works because my car was used.

Federal tax credits require the same amount at least in taxes owed as you are given. State rebate credits are just that - instant or mailed rebates.

[IssacZachary]

Thanks! That definitely ends my own personal aspiration of buying a new long distance EV such as a Bolt. I had to take a wage cut and am definitely not going to owe that much to the IRS nor make enough to pay more than $200 or so on a car payment. I do wish the Leaf could go bit further.

Now its time for me to get back to designing that range extender.

[LeftieBiker]

If you have tens of thousands of dollars in Roth IRAs, you can convert some of them and be faced with a steep tax bill. No, me neither.

[GetOffYourGas]

Actually, you have to have the money in Traditional IRAs which you then convert to Roth IRAs. I think I'm going to do this just to be safe - I will be kicking myself if I only get a part of that $7500 for the Bolt I bought this year.