Cannonball Run in the Leaf

Sesshoumaru · 07-09-2011 10:11AM #1

http://www.esb.ie/electric-cars/electric-car-news-and-events/electric-car-press-releases/ESB-ecars-powers-up-for-cannonball-run.jsp

More than 150 supercars will participate in the Cannonball Run passing through 14 counties, stopping in Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Westport and Kilkenny. ESB ecars will power the all electric Nissan LEAF car by plugging into charge points along the route, demonstrating that journeys in an electric car around Ireland are possible by using the charging infrastructure which is already installed.

Some people have ingrained beliefs that EV's can't do longer journeys. Good to see ESB ecars dispelling that myth. Once I have some free time I'm looking forward to doing something similar myself.

dr.fuzzenstein · 07-09-2011 10:25AM

So all the other car will set off, the Leaf will run out of juice within a hundred miles after driving at about 70 km/h have to recharge for at least a half an hour and finally arrive two days after the rest?
My bet.

Bandara · 07-09-2011 10:35AM

Its going to be such great crack driving it in the leaf

:rolleyes:

Sesshoumaru · 07-09-2011 10:39AM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

So all the other car will set off, the Leaf will run out of juice within a hundred miles after driving at about 70 km/h have to recharge for at least a half an hour and finally arrive two days after the rest?
My bet.

Their timetable is online. Are you saying it will be different from their timetable? I would be 100% certain their car has already done at least 1 dry run. I very much doubt they would take part, only to finish on the back of a flatbed truck. It is a publicity exercise for them after all.

Friday 9th September
Start line 10.00pm, Merrion Square
Tour stop in Mondello, 11.00pm
Fast charge Monasterevin, Kilkenny
Tour stop Waterford, 2.30pm
Fast charge Dungarvan
Tour stop Cork, 7.00pm
Overnight charge in Cork

Saturday 10th September
Depart Cork and fast charge in Limerick
Tour stop in Bunratty, 12 – 2.30
Fast charge in Galway
Tour stop Westport, 6.30
Overnight charge in Westport

Sunday 11th September
Depart Westport and fast charge in Galway
Launch of fast charge point in Topaz Athlone, 12.00pm
Tour stop and charge in Kinnitty, 1.30
Finish line: Kilkenny, 5.00

Sesshoumaru · 07-09-2011 10:46AM

Hammertime wrote: »

Its going to be such great crack driving it in the leaf

:rolleyes:

I'm glad we've moved on so

Used to be you couldn't do long journeys, now we can just complain that it's not "great crack".

Anyways looking through the list of accepted cars, there are some fairly ordinary cars in there as well. The Renault Megane and Mini Cooper look fairly ordinary to my eyes. Not that I personally care either way, just pointing out you don't need to have a fossil fuel powered super car to have fun driving around Ireland.

Accepted cars

Personally I think it would be great fun to do it in an EV like the Leaf. I bet the Leaf will also draw a lot of crowd attention compared to a significant proportion of the other cars taking part.

Anan1 · 07-09-2011 10:53AM

Sesshoumaru wrote: »

Some people have ingrained beliefs that EV's can't do longer journeys. Good to see ESB ecars dispelling that myth.

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

So all the other car will set off, the Leaf will run out of juice within a hundred miles after driving at about 70 km/h have to recharge for at least a half an hour and finally arrive two days after the rest?
My bet.

Sesshoumaru · 07-09-2011 10:57AM

Anan1 wrote: »

Sarcasm is easy enough to miss on the interweb

Still though, opinions like that are common enough and deeply ingrained!

Bandara · 07-09-2011 11:00AM

Sesshoumaru wrote: »

Hammertime wrote: »

Its going to be such great crack driving it in the leaf

:rolleyes:

I'm glad we've moved on so Used to be you couldn't do long journeys, now we can just complain that it's not "great crack".

Anyways looking through the list of accepted cars, there are some fairly ordinary cars in there as well. The Renault Megane and Mini Cooper look fairly ordinary to my eyes. Not that I personally care either way, just pointing out you don't need to have a fossil fuel powered super car to have fun driving around Ireland.

Accepted cars

Personally I think it would be great fun to do it in an EV like the Leaf. I bet the Leaf will also draw a lot of crowd attention compared to a significant proportion of the other cars taking part.

Call me crazy but if I'm doing the cannonball run I don't want to do it in a leaf, a micra, a double decker bus or a motor home.

Sesshoumaru · 07-09-2011 11:02AM

Hammertime wrote: »

Call me crazy but if I'm doing the cannonball run I don't want to do it in a leaf, a micra, a double decker bus or a motor home.

I won't call you crazy. I'll just say each to their own. What floats your boat doesn't necessarily float other peoples boats.

Anan1 · 07-09-2011 11:05AM

Sesshoumaru wrote: »

Sarcasm is easy enough to miss on the interweb Still though, opinions like that are common enough and deeply ingrained!

Went straight over my head, I feel a bit stupid now!

Bandara · 07-09-2011 11:08AM

Sesshoumaru wrote: »

Hammertime wrote: »

Call me crazy but if I'm doing the cannonball run I don't want to do it in a leaf, a micra, a double decker bus or a motor home.

I won't call you crazy. I'll just say each to their own. What floats your boat doesn't necessarily float other peoples boats.

I'd say about 99.9% of peoples boat would float a hell of a lot happier doing the cannonball run in something other than a leaf !

650Ginge · 07-09-2011 11:20AM

Hammertime wrote: »

Sesshoumaru wrote: »

Hammertime wrote: »

Call me crazy but if I'm doing the cannonball run I don't want to do it in a leaf, a micra, a double decker bus or a motor home.

I won't call you crazy. I'll just say each to their own. What floats your boat doesn't necessarily float other peoples boats.

I'd say about 99.9% of peoples boat would float a hell of a lot happier doing the cannonball run in something other than a leaf !

Don't bother speaking for 99.9% of people, they/we can manage without an official spokesman thanks.

I think it would be cool doing it in the leaf.

listermint · 07-09-2011 11:22AM

650Ginge wrote: »

Don't bother speaking for 99.9% of people, they/we can manage without an official spokesman thanks.

I think it would be cool doing it in the leaf.

Not me , i prefer the sound of an engine. Call me crazy!

TestTransmission · 07-09-2011 11:26AM

650Ginge wrote: »

Don't bother speaking for 99.9% of people, they/we can manage without an official spokesman thanks.

I think it would be cool doing it in the leaf.

I think you're part of the 0.1% somehow, aren't you a Prius owner?

PaudyW · 07-09-2011 11:31AM

sure their stopping every hour, hour and half. you d be quicker greener and probable more craic on a bus

Bandara · 07-09-2011 11:46AM

650Ginge wrote: »

Don't bother speaking for 99.9% of people, they/we can manage without an official spokesman thanks.

I think it would be cool doing it in the leaf.

Your hardly impartial now are you?

keithclancy · 07-09-2011 11:53AM

They should change it from "Cannonball Run" to "Tightrope walk"

Do-more · 07-09-2011 11:58AM

listermint wrote: »

Not me , i prefer the sound of an engine. Call me crazy!

You could always use one of these!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_shlwEHubQ

Skip to 45secs in.

(I know it probably won't work with the leaf :rolleyes:)

Sesshoumaru · 07-09-2011 12:48PM

Hammertime wrote: »

Your hardly impartial now are you?

How are you more impartial? Does it even matter? You like what you like, end of!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9NqSuk5gjQ

These guys obviously got a kick out of driving 1254 km in 24 hours in a Leaf.

Guy:Incognito · 07-09-2011 12:49PM

listermint wrote: »

Not me , i prefer the sound of an engine. Call me crazy!

Yeah theres nothing I like more than the sweet purr from a 1.3 Corrolla.

-Chris- · 07-09-2011 12:59PM

I think that's completely W.R.O.N.G.

Fine, do a PR stunt where you drive around Ireland in a Leaf, but including a car like that in the Cannonball Run just doesn't sit right with me.

Every car on the run should be droolworthy, fodder for a teenage boy's bedroom wall. They need to raise the bar.

Wossack · 07-09-2011 01:06PM

^^^ agree

wouldnt mind it if it was one of those tesla roadsters, for example, but a leaf?

Lord Derpington · 07-09-2011 02:00PM

Dont mean to hijack but,
does anyone know what route the cannonball takes?

On there site the only map they link to is this one and it isnt all that useful.
I would like to know if it is going to go through towns or is it gonna be a complete waste and go the motorway the whole way?

Like for example that red line goes through the middle of Carlow, would be handy to take a break early on if it meant i got to see this beauty

Berty · 07-09-2011 02:09PM

Folks the Leaf wont be able to charge along route anyway because the charge points will be full of illegal parking. Knowing ESB they will drag along a big charging unit on a truck with them, ruining the idea of clean fuel.

Sesshoumaru · 07-09-2011 02:17PM

Beer Baron wrote: »

Folks the Leaf wont be able to charge along route anyway because the charge points will be full of illegal parking. Knowing ESB they will drag along a big charging unit on a truck with them, ruining the idea of clean fuel.

All the day time charging will be done using FCP's, which are either in filling stations or Nissan dealers.

Lord Derpington · 07-09-2011 02:46PM

Sesshoumaru wrote: »

All the day time charging will be done using FCP's, which are either in filling stations or Nissan dealers.

Yup there is a full list of charging points in Ireland here

Sesshoumaru · 07-09-2011 02:53PM

greenfly wrote: »

Dont mean to hijack but,
does anyone know what route the cannonball takes?

I took a screenshot of the ESB route, not sure if that helps

keithclancy · 07-09-2011 03:05PM

I count 10 charging points operational outside Dublin.

Saab Ed · 07-09-2011 06:34PM

Sesshoumaru wrote: »

Personally I think it would be great fun to do it in an EV like the Leaf.

Why?

YouTookMyName · 07-09-2011 06:39PM

Going to get everyone i know to park outside the charge point in Westport.

Atlantic Dawn · 07-09-2011 07:51PM

Sesshoumaru wrote: »

Some people have ingrained beliefs that EV's can't do longer journeys. Good to see ESB ecars dispelling that myth. Once I have some free time I'm looking forward to doing something similar myself.

I'd define longer journeys in Ireland as atleast being capable of a single journey from the east to the west coast of the country without the need for a half day refuelling/recharging operation, this is not possible right now without stopping and charging. I fear their publicity campaign with this "race" only makes the weaknesses in the car more apparent. A horse and cart would be the next slowest mode of transport on 4 wheels, would probably do Dublin to Galway in 2 days with a couple of stops for a snooze and oats along the way

Cannonball Run in the Leaf

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