The point is that the average trip people in America make is less than 100mi round trip, so the car services 90% of peoples needs. Those that need longer range all the time buy something else. If you make longer trips only occasionally then renting a car or having a second vehicle (most american families have at least 2 cars anyway) that can make the longer distances is the option (perhaps a plug-in hybrid?)

Also, looking into the future a few years Nissan + Renault (as part of the battery lease program) plan on having battery changing stations located frequently enough in larger city areas that you would be able to make longer trips by exchanging your battery part way.

http://chevroletvoltage.com/

I had the chance to drive a Mitsubishi MIEV EV prototype recently. It will likely be going on sale in Japan very soon and in Europe and the US within the next couple of years. Again, a boring experience. It just drives like one expects a car to, just quieter, smoother, and with a great turn radius. While lacking a bit in aesthetics from my perspective, it would be a very practical car. It fit my 6’4″ frame great and my short wife loved the driver visibility.

Does anyone know if this will be incorporated in the system?

The range is estimated at 100 miles but you should all know there is no way to give this a solid number. Driver 1 could drive like he is on a race track and get 40 miles from one charge while driver 2 could be closer to average and get 80 while driver 3 is a “MPG” nut and gets 110 miles. Just like a gas car mileage varies. The difference here is there is no easy way to stop and refuel.

Right now I average about 46 MPG with my Prius. When the world around me makes me angry I can drag it down to 43. When I am in my MPG nut moment I have pulled 52. These are all averages from a tank of fuel.

This car is designed to be a commuter car. Most Americas drive less than 32 miles to get to work. This will get you there and back. You will not be delivering pizzas with it. You will not visit the in-laws three states away with it. We are not there yet.

http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/#/car/index

For example:
Q:Is it true that the LEAF get rid of all fluids such as coolant, transmission, steering wheel, brake…?

A:Most of these funcs are electronic, without fluids or motor oil. It will have brake fluid and washer fluid, tho.

As for price, is the $30,000 before the government $7,500 rebate?

I want to like it, I really do. But, I’d have a hard time shelling out $30k and still paying $150/month for the batteries. I don’t pay $150/month in gas now. I’m all for the planet and getting off of imported oil, but (again), I need to run my own life a like a business to a certain degree. Like Nissan is using the Versa as the “mule’, you could buy a Versa for half the price and still spend less on gas then the battery lease.

I could get a Leaf for $30k or on the other hand, I could get a Versa for $15k and put that other $15k in my kids college funds. I am only a Family Guy and not rolling in that much money.

As a stay at home Dad, I’ll have to start to log my daily miles. I wonder how often I go near or over 100 miles. Also, I wonder about the recharge time. The article talks about over night. Is that 8 hours? 10 hours? 12 hours? What about partial charges during the day? Run some errands in the morning, come home, charge the car during lunch and afternoon nap time for the kids and go out again in the afternoon. Does a 3 hour charge get me 30 miles?

This is an exciting step in getting off of imported oil and opening the door to more EV production. I hope that there are enough people out there who can use this car and purchase it. From a price standpoint, it’s just not where it need to be for me. Also, the 100 mile range really only means daily use; not weekend trips to visit family and friends, not vacations, nothing really more then an hour on the highway to ensure a safe return home.