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Nissan Unveils All-Electric LEAF

Posted by kdawson on from the made-right-here-in-the-U-S-of-A dept.

MojoRilla writes "In Japan, Nissan unveiled their all-electric LEAF (press release, and Flash site). Slated to launch in late 2010 in Japan, the US, and Europe, this car will have a 100-mile range, seats 5, has an advanced computer system with remote control by IPhone, and promises to be competitively priced. While this car's range won't work for everyone, it could be a game changer as a commuter car." Recharge time is 8 hours with a 200-volt power source, and "just under 30 minutes with a quick charger" (no further details given) to charge to 80% of capacity.

7 of 586 comments (clear)

  1. But ... by xjimhb · · Score: 0, Troll

    can I control the thing **WITHOUT** an iPhone? If it requires the iPhone, well, that would be a total deal-killer for me, as I will NEVER buy an iPhone.

    --
    Teen Angel - a Ghost Story
  2. Too many flaws.... by Darkness404 · · Score: -1, Troll

    There are too many flaws in it for it to be considered anything more than a tech-demo. The major one is the pathetically short battery life (I can easily go over 300 miles with a full tank of gas) and the fact there is no easy way of getting the car started if you get stranded. With my gas car, if I run out of gas I just call up someone or a repair place to lend me a bit of gas till I can get to a gas station, with this, do you honestly think someone is going to lug around 100 pounds of batteries? Also, in emergency situations this car will do more harm than good. Just look at the pictures before a major hurricane sweeps through, crowded streets, people running out of gas, etc. and in hardly-moving traffic, you aren't going to get near 100 miles out of it. Than there is the fact that maintenance will be -expensive-, other than changing oil my gas car rarely needs maintenance, in the 5 years the only thing that needed replaced was a belt, something that electric cars have too. But batteries do not hold a charge forever. The more you use it the more it comes to having an expensive repair, no matter how nice you are or how good you take care of your electric car it will need replaced.

    --
    Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
  3. Re:100 miles with or without A/C? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    many people like the idea of not just driving without relying on oil, but also not contributing to their city's level of smog.

    And just where do you think the power comes from when you plug into the wall?

    Switching from having gas cars to coal cars is probably a net gain, but not as much as the "zero emissions" advocates would have you believe.
    Not until we get our collective heads out of our asses and start building nuclear plants anyway.

  4. Doomed. by BitterOak · · Score: 0, Troll

    I'm sorry but the range and charging time aren't even close to being acceptable to the vast majority of users. How many people can afford two cars: one for the city and one for the highway? Yes, some families have two or more cars, but usually there are as many cars as commuters, so you'd still need an extra car for the highway. I think this car would have a very limited market. They wouldn't even be useful as pizza delivery cars for heaven's sake with that kind of charging time!

    Wasn't there a story on Slashdot recently about a car that had a range over 200 miles with a ten minute charge time? That would be useful. But stats like the one on this car will simply turn people off electric cars for good.

    --
    If I can be modded down for being a troll, can I be modded up for being an orc, or a balrog?
    1. Re:Doomed. by BitterOak · · Score: 0, Troll

      This car's range and charging time are suitable for 90% of commuters. You may think it's not, but your baseless opinions have nothing to do with reality.

      If you'd bothered to read what I'd said, you'd have seen that I don't claim the car would be insufficient for a commute. Instead what I said is that most people can't afford to have two cars: one for commuting and one for the highway. Maintenance, insurance, and garage/parking space make it impractical for most people. Or are you assuming that people want to give up the ability to leave the city on occasion?

      --
      If I can be modded down for being a troll, can I be modded up for being an orc, or a balrog?
  5. Re:Let's remember a few things for this discussion by Rockoon · · Score: -1, Troll

    We americans already have had an electric car on the market for a year and a half now that nails 231 miles per charge.

    You are going on about 100 mile range? ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?

    We are moving into generation 2 of these electric vehicles, and these Japs are still on generation 1, and it sucks? ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?

    --
    "His name was James Damore."
  6. Range, range, RANGE. by solios · · Score: 0, Troll

    Wake me up when I can drive home to visit my parents (250 miles, one way) without having to stop two or three times to recharge.

    Range is only reason I'd ever have to get a car, and it's the one thing the electrics refuse to deliver. I don't care what it looks like - I want to be able to drive from Pittsburgh to Corning or Virginia Beach or Jersey (yes, Jersey) on one charge.

    Hell, I can do it on one tank of gas. And the batteries are just as bad for the environment as the fuel emissions.... and gas cars are generally cheaper.

    Oh, and another point - how does one charge an electric car in a metro area where on street parking is iffy and unreliable at best and a driveway is one of those little luxuries that quintuples your mortgage?