Why would anyone buy a nissan leaf right now???

[DougWantsALeaf]

719 Leafs in Sweden. Combined, Norway (711) and Sweden outsold the US in Leafs in Dec I believe.

https://cleantechnica.com/2022/01/06/sw ... w-records/

I find it humorous how often now articles will step around talking about the Leaf, even when it continues to sell pretty well. I feel like ev reporters kind of want it to go away.

Over 1100 Leaf sales in Germany in December.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/cleantechn ... ember/amp/

[mallthus]

I get the feeling they think Leaf still some legs. I do think the Ariya will oddly sell Leafs, just because it's cheaper and good enough for many needs.

I think you're on to something there.

Lots of very exciting new EVs coming to market in the coming 24 months, including the Ariya, the BMW iX, the Lucid Air, and the EV trucks from Ford, Hummer, Bollinger, Rivian, etc, The recurring social media buzz I'm seeing though is "cool, but $100k. I wish automakers would make cheap EVs." which, of course, is the exact niche the Leaf exists in, but the Leaf gets no buzz because it's not sexy. Still, if the sexy new EVs get people to see EVs as practical options for ownership, then even a modicum of research will lead people to the Leaf, especially the 62kw models.

[EatsShootsandLeafs]

Got 17k on our 2020 SV. No issues at all.

The winter range is despicable, as expected. 40 miles in cold weather highway driving can take 50% out of the pack. Meanwhile, the stupid range estimate still reports that 50% is good for 70 miles, as if it’s a cool summer evening.

Lease up in the fall and unless car market changes by then we will buy this out.

[DougWantsALeaf]

Leaf sales still strong in New Zealand.

https://thedriven.io/2022/01/28/tesla-m ... es-toyota/

[dmacarthur]

Lots of very exciting new EVs coming to market in the coming 24 months, including the Ariya, the BMW iX, the Lucid Air, and the EV trucks from Ford, Hummer, Bollinger, Rivian, etc, The recurring social media buzz I'm seeing though is "cool, but $100k. I wish automakers would make cheap EVs." which, of course, is the exact niche the Leaf exists in, but the Leaf gets no buzz because it's not sexy. Still, if the sexy new EVs get people to see EVs as practical options for ownership, then even a modicum of research will lead people to the Leaf, especially the 62kw models.

2 good friends of mine just bought new Leafs, not on my say-so, just wanted a decent EV for not too much $$ and looked around at what was available on the lots. I did warn them about chademo but they are plenty smart and plan to charge at home most of the time and they each have other travel vehicles if needed.

[frontrangeleaf]

They could sexy up the Leaf a little - without going over the top - and put a lot of the whining and grumbling to rest.

More weight to the steering, a tweak to the optics, more control over torque steer, it wouldn't take much. It's already a fun car to drive compared to the typical ICE commuter. CCS would help too, of course, but this first and foremost a commuter car. Always has been.

I really think they're missing the boat on that. Easy peasy, and not that expensive either. Fun to drive, all electric, sporty little commuter car. Just goose the sporty part.

Edit: I forgot the affordable part. Absolutely need to hit the price target. Not too pricey, or it turns into something else entirely.

[gcrouse]

I think a lot of it is just that the Leaf has been around for so long it's lost the novelty factor. At the end of the day it's still the most affordable family EV on the market with a reasonable range as long as you aren't driving more than 75-100 miles on a fairly regular basis.

I think what's more interesting is that Mazda's late to the market California only EV with 100 miles of range is even getting some takers.

[OldManCan]

At the end of the day it's still the most affordable family EV on the market with a reasonable range as long as you aren't driving more than 75-100 miles on a fairly regular basis.

Agreed but with the caveat that Leaf + easily can do 200 miles on a daily basis with L2 charge at home at night. I think many are writing it off as a town car with limited range.

[gcrouse]

At the end of the day it's still the most affordable family EV on the market with a reasonable range as long as you aren't driving more than 75-100 miles on a fairly regular basis.

Agreed but with the caveat that Leaf + easily can do 200 miles on a daily basis with L2 charge at home at night. I think many are writing it off as a town car with limited range.

With the base level (not plus), I'd be a bit iffy on trying to plan a 4 hour road trip with it - i know for the folks most hesitant to consider electric vehicles the range anxiety becomes a huge concern. One of my buddies won't consider anything with less than 400 miles of range that's no more than $30k. I think that's a bit extreme given what people actually drive but with where be lives and the distance to stores and all - I'd probably want 280 miles in order to consider one to account for the range drop in winter since my 2016 SL only makes it to and from his house (approx 30 - 35 miles away) with a QC on the way there and back and L1 at his place due to 55mph up and downhill stretches.

I think 280 miles of range is probably the magic number for those on the fence to consider an EV more than a town car.

[knightmb]

I think 280 miles of range is probably the magic number for those on the fence to consider an EV more than a town car.

The magic number is always shifting. Years ago, 100 miles was the magic number (which the early Leaf could do in theory if driving around town at speeds under 50 mph and no climate control) but then it jumped to 200 miles once it was seen that an EV could just be a "car" and not require anything weird to function. Once the lack of oil changes, filter changes, belts, blah blah, became apparent, then people wanted more and more EV transportation and thus wanted to do more with it, so the magic number of mileage continued to go up. Now that EV are all coming with either +200 miles of range or some options to get you +200 miles (Plus for Leaf for example), now people want it to do more, so the magic number is moving up again to +300 miles. Hence why the Ariya will be coming out in options for +300 miles of range. I'm sure, given enough time and advancement in battery technology, 300 miles will seem like nothing because everyone will be driving a +500 mile range EV as the base. Just like everything else that gets better over time, EVs have a long way road of improvements that can be had for years to come.