1st gen Leaf as 1st EV?

The Undecided One

Hi All,

I've started looking around for a car to replace our ageing Mazda 5 1.8 petrol and came across all the posts on this forum praising the Leaf's.

Would a first gen Leaf be a viable option for a 1st EV?

Our budget would be max 10k.

We usually drive short journeys around town, 10 km return to the kids school (3 times a day), 10 km return to where I work (wife drops me off). Now that I think of it they all add up. This week my wife has racked up 150 km over 3 days.

What would a realistic range of a Leaf be?

How does it work in the winter time, how badly does using heating limit range?

We live in a rented house, how big of a job would the installation of a charging point be? If moving out would I have to pay again to have it taken down or would it be of benefit to the landlord for future tenants?

Thanks for any replies!

The Undecided One

The Undecided One wrote: »

Hi All,

I've started looking around for a car to replace our ageing Mazda 5 1.8 petrol and came across all the posts on this forum praising the Leaf's.

Would a first gen Leaf be a viable option for a 1st EV?

Absolutely depending on your requirements.

The Undecided One wrote: »

Our budget would be max 10k.

If you could stretch another 2K this below leaf would be much better, it's the updated model with much improved battery and darker interior and more efficient heater which uses a heat pump. You might even get them down and another few hundred.

Gen 1 leafs can be got for 8,500 but my advice is to get a updated model with better battery etc, a Ge1 even with degraded battery should still see 80 Kms winter and 100-110 Kms Summer.

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/nissan/leaf/used-2014-142-nissan-leaf-acenta-118-dublin-fpa-1740690704322810595

The Undecided One wrote: »

We usually drive short journeys around town, 10 km return to the kids school (3 times a day), 10 km return to where I work (wife drops me off). Now that I think of it they all add up. This week my wife has racked up 150 km over 3 days.

What would a realistic range of a Leaf be?

I can get 130 kms in a 2015 with 67,000 Kms. But driving more normally about 110-115 Kms.

The Undecided One wrote: »

How does it work in the winter time, how badly does using heating limit range?

If your trips are that short it won't matter. It can knock about 10 kms at about -3 Deg C, this is the model with heat pump and funny enough the lower the temp the less effective the heat pump is but it's ideal for our climate.

The model without heat pump I'm not so sure but it could be a good 10 kms also at higher temps where the heat pump might loose 2-4 Kms.

The Undecided One wrote: »

We live in a rented house, how big of a job would the installation of a charging point be? If moving out would I have to pay again to have it taken down or would it be of benefit to the landlord for future tenants?

Every time you move you have to move the charge point ( called EVSE )

Find out what cable to use and run it yourself from the consumer unit , mount the charge point to the wall and get the electrician to connect it either end.

You'll need permission to do this. Alternatively, you can purchase a portable EVSE also known as the "Granny Cable" which will charge off an extension lead but much slower but good over night for your range.

It's also good to get a night meter installed so you can benefit from cheap electricity but that might not be possible in rented property.

Switch to Energia, 15.8 C per Kwh day and 6.5 cent Night.

goz83

I would echo what mad_lad said above. But I would say that you can get a 1.5 Gen Leaf with your budget....if you buy in the UK. They are from the second half of 2013 and have the eco button on the right side of the steering wheel. Search for the Acenta (SV) model.

cros13

For the best ownership experience... especially for your first EV... go with the Gen 1.5 and leave the Gen1s for 2nd cars for existing EV households who know the tradeoffs.

sgalvin

Ref budget
I ran a Mazda 6 1.8 and you'll save annually ~€3000. At €10k the car is actually free after 3 years.

Ref rented house.
I told the landlord I was getting an external socket fitted and that's how I left it afterwards.
Any competent person could disconnect the socket and mount the car charger unit in its place until you move out.

Charging unit.
As previously said a "granny" charger is available. This will add 10km range per hour plugged in comes with a normal 3 pin plug you could plug into an external socket or anywhere else for that matter. The permanent unit will add at least 16km per hour plugged in.
Either option will cost ca €400 for the charger unit.

The Undecided One wrote: »

Hi All,

I've started looking around for a car to replace our ageing Mazda 5 1.8 petrol and came across all the posts on this forum praising the Leaf's.

Would a first gen Leaf be a viable option for a 1st EV?

Our budget would be max 10k.

We usually drive short journeys around town, 10 km return to the kids school (3 times a day), 10 km return to where I work (wife drops me off). Now that I think of it they all add up. This week my wife has racked up 150 km over 3 days.

What would a realistic range of a Leaf be?

How does it work in the winter time, how badly does using heating limit range?

We live in a rented house, how big of a job would the installation of a charging point be? If moving out would I have to pay again to have it taken down or would it be of benefit to the landlord for future tenants?

Thanks for any replies!

mordeith

The Undecided One wrote: »

Would a first gen Leaf be a viable option for a 1st EV?

Our first foray into EV is a first gen Leaf (131). Now it was bought as a second car and we still run an ICE but generally that sits in the drive for most of the week. My wife uses the Leaf for work (short commute of around 20km round trip). She can do this for two days on one charge. She'd get three days but she likes to err on the side of caution! We have a home charger so it's no biggie.
We also use it for all the trips to the local towns and any other trips within a half an hour drive. We could use it for longer trips of course but I'm not willing to be stuck at a full / non-operational charge point with two kids.
The car itself is a joy to drive although I find myself trying to clutch if I've been driving the ICE for a few days! The pillar on the driver's side is pretty wide and causes a bit of blind spot for me but not much of an issue.

The Undecided One

Thanks again for all the replies, each one of them is steering me more and more towards a Leaf.

If I was to drive from Limerick to Dublin airport how long would I have to park up at Junction 14 to charge for? I understand I won't make it to Dublin on a single charge so I'd like to know how long would I have to add to my journey time?

If I leave the car parked up at the airport for 2 weeks will the battery drain significantly?

Could anyone recommend another make/model that might be an alternative to the Leaf for a family of 4?

goz83

The Undecided One wrote: »

Thanks again for all the replies, each one of them is steering me more and more towards a Leaf.

If I was to drive from Limerick to Dublin airport how long would I have to park up at Junction 14 to charge for? I understand I won't make it to Dublin on a single charge so I'd like to know how long would I have to add to my journey time?

If I leave the car parked up at the airport for 2 weeks will the battery drain significantly?

Could anyone recommend another make/model that might be an alternative to the Leaf for a family of 4?

20-30 minutes will give you 80% battery (depending on battery level prior to charge).

The battery will be fine parked up as long as it is not 0 or 100% .

The Renault Zoe is another potential but I would stick with the Leaf.