Two Seat Version of the Leaf

[EVDRIVER]

My LEAF has a rear seat?

[ERG4ALL]

Nissan could remove the rear seats and use the same everything else to keep the cost down and offer added batteries as a option. To be clear, if the back seats were removed in this "two seat option", then the batteries would be mandatory or else something like the Mini Cooper GT would have to be done. I have a Mini Cooper and was considering the two seat GT version which is the same chassis as the regular Mini. I asked a Mini rep why they had a bar across the back area where the seat was. The answer was that because there was no seating accommodation and seat belts, they specifically wanted to make it near impossible for anyone to ride back there. Because the LEAF back seat can accommodate three people the car should be able to withstand another 450 lbs. of batteries, which could add somewhere around 50 more miles of range.

[evnow]

The Nissan LEAF would be way too big for just 2 people....

Yet we regularly see older people/couples driving around in huge SUVs ...

[lion]

But those folks don't care about gas mileage etc, why haul all that extra car around if the max capacity is 2 people? Plus those people might use that SUV on the weekends to haul cargo, kids, impossible to tell

[evnow]

Plus those people might use that SUV on the weekends to haul cargo, kids, impossible to tell

Right. That is the reason 2 seater cars have tiny markets - people buy cars based on their 90% need, rather than 50%.

EVs already are a niche, and if you create a niche within a niche with a 2 seater, they might just sell a few hundred a year. That just adds enormous cost to Nissan.

[lion]

I'm not disagreeing with you, I also don't see Nissan changing the LEAF to fit just 2 people. Smart ED, Scion IQ EV, Lit Motors C-1, Fiat 500e, plenty of EVs out there if you want something small.

[1932highboy]

I did this a year ago. http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb3 ... d7ade0.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Nubo]

I know that there are cars where the rear seats are not really functional. You'd have to cut your legs off at the knees to sit there.

Yeah, I have never understood such cars. In fact it just pisses me off to even look at them. If I want a 2-seater, I'll buy a 2-seater. I loved my Miata!. But phony rear seats are perverse.

Between equipment and a 175-lb dog we load up the LEAF pretty good on a regular basis. I'd love to see them come out with a 2-seat EV convertible sportscar. That could be brilliant.

[cwerdna]

The Nissan LEAF would be way too big for just 2 people....

Yet we regularly see older people/couples driving around in huge SUVs ...

In my area, it doesn't matter the age.

If you come to my neighborhood and sit around at certain intersections or the supermarket parking lot, almost every single battering ram of death class SUV (aka full-sized ones w/curb weight of 5000+ lb. e.g. Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade, Navigator, Hummer H2, Excursion (aka Ford Exxon Valdez) and increasingly Sequoia, etc.) is being driven solo or w/minimal cargo and passengers. They're old (actually very few), middle aged and young.

This phenomena seems to be way worse in my neighborhood than what I observed when living in the Seattle area.

[jdomm]

I wanted to jump on this discussion because I was thinking it just the other day. Most people I know use their Leaf to commute to and from work... and the occasional errand. They are usually by themselves. I two person "commute" electric vehicle would be an ideal option for them. Get rid of the back seat and required space, and you're going to reduce the weight of the car, increasing its range too.