Save your money and buy a Tesla!! Well wait a couple of years when the Model S will be $30k. http://www.teslamotors.com/models/ With a range up to 300 miles and 45-minute QuickCharge, the Model S can carry five adults and two children in quiet comfort – and you can charge it from any outlet, without ever stopping for gas. World’s first mass-produced electric vehicle offers performance, efficiency and unrivaled utility for a base price of $49,900*, making it the only car you’ll ever need. - Up to 300 mile range - 45 minute QuickCharge - Charges from 120V or 240V - 5 minute battery swap Three battery pack options offer a range of 160, 230 or 300 miles per charge. With the 45 minute QuickCharge or a 5 minute battery swap, you can drive from LA to San Francisco, Washington to New York or take even longer road trips in about the same time as in a conventional car. - Seating for 5 adults + 2 child seats - Unique hatch for oversized items - 60/40 flat-folding rear seat - 2nd trunk under hood Model S offers 100 percent torque, 100 percent of the time without jerky shifting and a fraction of the noise and harshness of internal combustion engines. This smooth and constant power delivery, combined with the sporty handling of the chassis and suspension, leads to a superior driving experience. - Pure electric - 2X as efficient as hybrids - Proven powertrain from leading EV Mfr. - 17 inch infotainment touchscreen The Model S powertrain features a liquid-cooled, floor-mounted battery pack and a single-speed gearbox, delivering effortless acceleration, responsive handling and quiet simplicity -- no fancy clutchwork or gear-shifting required. Model S costs about $4 to fully charge – a bargain even when gasoline is $1 per gallon. You can listen to Pandora Radio or consult Google Maps on the 17 inch touchscreen with in-car 3G connectivity.
However much you run down the battery does not change the cost per mile. And the electricity to charge is really not the main cost as you can see even at 15 cents it would get 61mpg equivalent. The real cost is the battery replacement cost and the fact that it will lose capacity over time by a great deal. The Li-Ion battery can take about 1000 cycles total. If you use it for 100 miles that will get you to 100K miles but if each cycle only gets you 40 miles then you might get 40-50K out of it. Anyone who has a laptop and uses the battery often will tell you after two years or so their laptop does not last the 3 hours it used to. also I don't see an upgrade in this technology soon because I think this is actually the first car with a Li-Ion mass produced.
The battery is the issue, but the technology will be getting better. This is generation one essentially. DD
Do they offer the leaf in a longer wheel base, preferablty with a short bed and 4x4? If so, I am in. What do you do during a hurricane or bad storm when the power is out? You cannot leave your house in fear of all the charging stations being "Out of Service" At least with my gas-guzzling truck I can pack the bed w/ reserve fuel and get out of dodge. I would LMAO the next time we have manditory evactuations and I hit Huntsville and there are 10,000 Leafs on the side of the road because they had hit their 100 mile mark and couldnt go any further.
Probably one of the many reasons that the South, specifically the Gulf Coast, will be among the last places to adopt electric vehicles.
Now that ride looks nice. As someone mentioned earlier, the technology will only get better, so I am okay waiting for one for several more years.
Well, if initial pre-orders are any indication, I'm not sure it's much of a bust initially. I really wanted to get the Tesla Model S (an electric that goes 0-60 in about 5.5 seconds ain't too shabby), but the ranges on these things keep me away from them - especially with the 300+ mile road trips I take. It's looking more and more like my next car will still be fully gas-powered. Blah.
