I live in London. My commute is 12 miles each way. I like green tea. I tick many of the boxes that mean the electric Nissan Leaf should suit me down to the ground.
It does. Over the past month I’ve used our electric vehicle a lot and it has fitted comfortably into my routine without a hitch, despite not being able to charge it up at home.
Having charging points at the office means I can plug the Leaf in when I arrive in the morning and by the end of the day, its full charge of a claimed 120 miles is enough to last me a weekend’s worth of local trips.
It has made me think that I could probably manage full-time ownership of a Leaf without charging facilities at home, but maybe that’s a crazy idea. I’m interested to hear if any electric vehicle owners do this, so get in touch if you do and tell me how you manage.
I’d wager that the Leaf is one of the most relaxing cars to drive in London. You can’t do anything about the horrendous traffic, but you care a lot less about that when you’re cocooned in a bubble of serenity.
Read our previous reports below
Why do electric cars need to be serviced?
Servicing has always bothered me when it comes to electric cars. I mean, what actually needs servicing?
Glance at the Nissan website and, amid the inevitable oil change and fluid checks, the only relevant work for a Leaf in the first service – due after 12 months or 18,000 miles – seems to be for screenwash. At £99, that’s an expensive way to get your screenwash topped up. Still, I called up Ancaster Shepperton Nissan, who were very helpful and explained that they also do a check on the battery condition and tyres, so there’s that.
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Cobnapint
The great British screenwash rip off
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166mpg or 250mpg
As a footnote the 24Kwh Mk1 seems obsolete after just a few years as newer Leafs and Zoe's have added 30% to the range. Just think was possible in another 4 years, futures bright for EV's.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
LP in Brighton
Need to stop thinking in MPG
Compare this with around 1 mile per kWh for a typical small petrol car and you'll get some idea of just how efficient an electric car is.
For all practical purposes, you can ignore the electricity costs associated with electric cars. This cost will be small compared with the depreciation (or lease cost) of the battery. So if you're comparing the running costs with a conventional car, it's the lease cost + electricity cost per mile travelled that's important.
The Apprentice
I would hope on a dealer
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2 year service
Thing is cars only need the above done every 2 years (Audi do but charge £330 for a 2 year 24,000 mile on an A3) so you should be able to safely get away with a £90 service every 2 years.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
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Simon Williams 90,000 Mk1
Only take a couple of years to pay for itself and you'd have a have a car capable of going onto 200,000, afteral most ICE's wouldn't go that far without a big bill.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
Ski Kid
probably best to sell and buy another seconond hand
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Exception to the rule
Emmm never seen one that cheap before.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
Ski Kid
yep know what you mean xxxx
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Stats?
Based on you paying full price, accepting Less than £3500 cash for a 3 year old Leaf with 30,000 miles. Emmm might not be the best but talk about milking it
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
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