Leafs Over Texas!

[bluemoose]

Jimmy, I haven't seen anyone with a LEAF answer this question yet: How accurate is the speedometer and odometer? Could you please check with a GPS? Thanks!

great question! I was wondering that myself this morning as I was battling 35+ mph headwinds and watching my battery meter sink. It felt a little off but was probably the wind. It didn't occur to me at the time that I could check it against my smartphone speedometer. I will do that this afternoon and post an update. The odometer hasn't raised any red flags with the known mileage trips I've made so far, but I will check that also. Thanks for the idea!

[bluemoose]

Jimmy, I haven't seen anyone with a LEAF answer this question yet: How accurate is the speedometer and odometer? Could you please check with a GPS? Thanks!

Well, LEAFfan, here is what I found. Using 2 different Android GPS apps (SpeedView and My Tracks), I verified that all 3 were within 0.1 miles over the course of a 40+ mile trip, so it appears the odometer is dead on. The speedometer was another story. The 2 phone apps agreed completely with each other but the LEAF speedometer reported between 1.5 and 2 mph high (i.e. I was actually travelling slower according to the phone apps) across almost the entire range I tested in (20 to 65 mph). So now my question is which is accurate? And if the LEAF needs calibration, is it just mine? I'll definitely bring this up to my service tech. It should be interesting learning about the calibration process. I'll keep you posted.

[garygid]

The LEAF, internally, knows fairly well how fast you are going (the odometer is correct). However, the car is required to DISPLAY a higher speed to you, just as you describe. Your GPS-derived speeds are correct.

Cars carefully are designed to display, as accurately as they can, a correct ODOMETER reading, but an inflated SPEED value.

[AndyH]

The LEAF, internally, knows fairly well how fast you are going (the odometer is correct).

Well, the car knows how FAR we're going, anyway, that's all the odometer cares about.

However, the car is required to DISPLAY a higher speed to you, just as you describe. Your GPS-derived speeds are correct.

Cars carefully are designed to display, as accurately as they can, a correct ODOMETER reading, but an inflated SPEED value.

I haven't seen this in writing anywhere so can't confirm from a legal standpoint. My Euro cars have all indicated 3mph higher. I didn't have a GPS when I owned my RX7 so can't speak to Japanese calibration practices.

The car should be getting the speed from a sensor in the gearbox. The speedo error will increase as the tires wear (and a bit of odometer error should creep in) - the same number of revolutions carry the car a shorter distance.

[garygid]

Searching, I found:
Apparently SAE J1226 (1986?) says something like +/-2%, or -1%+4%, not clear. I do not have the text. Early rules apparently around 1910 in the USA.

The European ECR-39 apparently says -0% to +10%(plus 4kph)

So, to satisfy both, apparently manufacturers use about +1 to +2% for the USA and +2% to something slightly higher for Europe.

Rules vary for UK (mostly like European), and they only made some rules around 1988 in Australia.

[garygid]

Factory tires, pressure, standard pressure are used, and if you change those things (like different tires), then it appears to be your responsibility, not the car maker.

The basic distance-measuring mechanisms (revolutions of an axle, tires, driveshaft, etc.) are generally used to create an "accurate" (as close as possible) odometer. No problem, although tire pressure and temperature, car loading, and even speed will distort the "distance" per revolution just a little.

From that, the analog (magnet and spring) speedometer could be adjusted to read almost anything, and was not very accurate over a wide range of speeds.

Modern electronic displays could show the corresponding "accurate" (calculated) speed that the CAN buss data often reveals, but the DISPLAYED value is generally different, showing a value higher than the -0% European boundry and lower than the US (around) +2% boundry. Or so it seems, roughly. I think. Perhaps.

[gkalexdc]

Im going to ask a couple of questions, maybe someone on here can give an answer.
Q: How many LEAFS have been ordered in TX so far, and what months have they been submitted, and is there a spreadsheet specific to TX ?
Q: How many LEAFS have been RESERVED so far in TX. Is there a spreadsheet on this topic.

Thanks Everyone !!

[jhm614]

Im going to ask a couple of questions, maybe someone on here can give an answer.
Q: How many LEAFS have been ordered in TX so far, and what months have they been submitted, and is there a spreadsheet specific to TX ?
Q: How many LEAFS have been RESERVED so far in TX. Is there a spreadsheet on this topic.

Thanks Everyone !!

According to this article in the StartleGram, "We've got to have at least 500-plus Texas orders," said Robin Maas, Nissan's electric-vehicle operations manager in Texas."

As far as I know, there isn't a specific TX spreadsheet. And, in general, TX seems under-represented here at the forum. I'm not sure if we even have more than 1 or 2 Austin members, which seem odd. I think Austin has the most active EV community in Texas...

[sbgarcia]

OK, I just got done reading the last 26 pages and I have a question. What do you all think is a fair price for the Nissan Leaf?

[eddiey]

Wow, my dashboard says:

estimated Delivery:

Month of May 2011.

(Dallas, TX order from Texas Nissan Grapevine)

Too bad I am going to cancel my order... Going with the Volt instead.