abasile
Well-known member
Yesterday morning I accidentally charged our LEAF to 100% (we'd like a better charging timer interface with user selectable SOC). By evening, we still had more than 80%. So, what better way to get rid of unwanted charge than by going for a joyride?
I decided to try one of our local dirt roads, Tank Rd., which is in fair condition yet not graded. With the LEAF's relatively high clearance and lack of protruding drivetrain components such as exhaust, I was confident in my ability to navigate such a road without damage.
Somewhat foolishly, I continued on Tank Rd. down a somewhat steep, uneven slope to a lone house in the woods. As I'd been there many times on foot and on backcountry skis, perhaps I was partially oblivious to the gravity of descending that hill in an expensive 2WD car with marginal tires. My intention was to climb back up the hill gently so as to avoid getting stuck in a rut or high centered. However, on a couple of such attempts, the car quickly lost traction and I had to back down. For a brief moment, I worried that I might have to suffer the embarrassment of asking someone with a big 4WD to help tow the car out of there.
Not fond of that idea, I backed the car a bit further, chose a line carefully, and decided to gun it. With tires spinning yet making forward progress, the LEAF climbed back up the hill in a giant cloud of dust, with no apparent damage. At no point did I press the button to disable the traction control. Too bad no one else was around to take a video! The below photograph does show remnants of the dust cloud, though.
Just for fun, here's a photo of the LEAF about to traverse a small, dry creek bed on the way back. No problem at all due to the good clearance.
I decided to try one of our local dirt roads, Tank Rd., which is in fair condition yet not graded. With the LEAF's relatively high clearance and lack of protruding drivetrain components such as exhaust, I was confident in my ability to navigate such a road without damage.
Somewhat foolishly, I continued on Tank Rd. down a somewhat steep, uneven slope to a lone house in the woods. As I'd been there many times on foot and on backcountry skis, perhaps I was partially oblivious to the gravity of descending that hill in an expensive 2WD car with marginal tires. My intention was to climb back up the hill gently so as to avoid getting stuck in a rut or high centered. However, on a couple of such attempts, the car quickly lost traction and I had to back down. For a brief moment, I worried that I might have to suffer the embarrassment of asking someone with a big 4WD to help tow the car out of there.
Not fond of that idea, I backed the car a bit further, chose a line carefully, and decided to gun it. With tires spinning yet making forward progress, the LEAF climbed back up the hill in a giant cloud of dust, with no apparent damage. At no point did I press the button to disable the traction control. Too bad no one else was around to take a video! The below photograph does show remnants of the dust cloud, though.
Just for fun, here's a photo of the LEAF about to traverse a small, dry creek bed on the way back. No problem at all due to the good clearance.