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It& #39;s been a year since we bought an electric car, a 2018 Nissan Leaf. So if you& #39;re at all EV-curious, hit me up and I& #39;ll give you honest answers. For now, an FAQ:
1) First things first: what did you pay for it and did you get a rebate?
We took out a loan for a little less than $19k, minus our trade-in. But this spring we did get a $7,500 tax rebate. So that puts us at about $11,500.
We took out a loan for a little less than $19k, minus our trade-in. But this spring we did get a $7,500 tax rebate. So that puts us at about $11,500.
2) How many miles do you get and isn& #39;t winter driving scary?
We get about 160 when fully charged, and I was really concerned it might be half that in the winter. But it& #39;s actually closer to a 15 percent shave in the Leaf.
We get about 160 when fully charged, and I was really concerned it might be half that in the winter. But it& #39;s actually closer to a 15 percent shave in the Leaf.
It& #39;ll fully charge to 160 and just tick away faster in the winter because the heater is on. And now I don& #39;t even think about it anymore. I& #39;ll plug it in, set the timer to heat up the cabin half an hour before leaving, and keep the heater blowing the whole time. Total comfort.
But even if I was getting only 80 miles, as I feared, when do I drive that far in a day? There& #39;s a lot of mileage anxiety out there, mostly based on older EVs and miscalculations of how much we actually drive. So we& #39;re not driving to Duluth in winter, and why would you.
3) Don& #39;t you have another car, a gas car?
We do, a 2012 Suburu Outback. So we could drive to Duluth in winter if we wanted to. But when that car runs aground, we& #39;ll see. (See question 4.)
We do, a 2012 Suburu Outback. So we could drive to Duluth in winter if we wanted to. But when that car runs aground, we& #39;ll see. (See question 4.)
4) Do you love it?
I do. Drive an electric car for a while and suddenly a gas car feels like driving a go-kart made from a leaf blower and left-over Ikea parts. It& #39;s quiet, it accelerates immediately, and the only work it requires is plugging into the wall a couple times a week.
I do. Drive an electric car for a while and suddenly a gas car feels like driving a go-kart made from a leaf blower and left-over Ikea parts. It& #39;s quiet, it accelerates immediately, and the only work it requires is plugging into the wall a couple times a week.
5) Wait, you plug it into a regular outlet?
We do. I had researched all the places I could charge quickly around town; now I can& #39;t even remember what those are called. We could have a charger installed in the garage and recharge much faster but honestly where are we going.
We do. I had researched all the places I could charge quickly around town; now I can& #39;t even remember what those are called. We could have a charger installed in the garage and recharge much faster but honestly where are we going.
6) Sure you& #39;re saving on gas, but how much more electricity are you using, and isn& #39;t that electricity mostly from coal?
Our electric bill went up maybe $10 a month on average, enough to notice but no one& #39;s canceling Disney+ around here to make up for it, let& #39;s put it that way.
Our electric bill went up maybe $10 a month on average, enough to notice but no one& #39;s canceling Disney+ around here to make up for it, let& #39;s put it that way.
As for the electricity itself, we opted into @XcelEnergyMN Windsource program a few years ago, which requires Xcel to acquire the equivalent of our monthly use from wind sources. It costs a little more than usual but again not enough to cramp your style and we& #39;re happy to do so.
You can opt in at any percentage of your usage, and after getting the Leaf I boosted us up to 100 percent.
8) What about those batteries, are they a huge trash problem waiting to happen?
Yes and no. They are recyclable, and usually have a lot of life in them, though it& #39;s currently more expensive than mining new materials. Like the cars themselves, these costs should continue to fall.
Yes and no. They are recyclable, and usually have a lot of life in them, though it& #39;s currently more expensive than mining new materials. Like the cars themselves, these costs should continue to fall.
Let& #39;s be honest, the EV market is growing and the infrastructure around them will be built just like the infrastructure around gas cars: pipelines, refineries, gas stations, repair shops, junkyards, etc.
