Motorcycle guy @ work looked at me as if I was an alien...

[eclecticflower]

...I think he noticed/found out that my car was an EV today. The motorcyle guy and his friend, F250 guy, stared me down as I walked to the building. Motorcycle guy had this intense confused/dissaproval look on his face. So, I 'gave him the nod' and waved. As if to say, 'hello I see you too' ....

...I dont really care about them and their situation. The car works for me so I drive it. What they choose to do for transportation has nothing to do with me....

There will always be haters, of every shape, size and persuasion - it's a free country and ignorance is bliss (sounds like there're a lot of blissful guys there!). You can choose to keep kindly engaging them as you pass or just ignore them. They could eventually fall victim to your charm and begin asking about your LEAF. The door needs only to open a crack, before it opens wide and the light shines in.

 

[RonDawg]

I haven't gotten hostility so much as silence. When I got my Audi, it was all "oohs" and "ahhs", but my Leaf is my first new car in which my friends and family have given one big collective "meh."

The notable exception is my father. He is absolutely fascinated with my Leaf. He can no longer drive so he's the person who has occupied the front passenger seat the most. He's always asking questions about how much it costs to run, what is the difference between the Leaf and the Volt and the Prius, etc. Just yesterday he was asking about Tesla (likely heard about them through news of their stock price). If he could still drive I would suspect he'd go out and buy one of those LEVs since his driving during the last few years he was licensed was strictly to the grocery and hardware stores, with no freeway driving whatsoever.

The only grief I get in Los Angeles is from people who insist on racing up to a red light and stopping rather than driving more leisurely and timing the lights properly. Many seem to think that it is rude not to race up to a red light. They pass me, sometimes rather aggressively, and race up to stop. I usually pass them in another lane while they are still waiting after the light changes to green. Very odd social custom.

I've also noticed that too. I then surprise them with my takeoff once the light turns green :lol:

One thing I've noticed is how driving habits I've developed in the Leaf have crossed over into my driving habits with ICEVs, particularly not racing up to already-red traffic signals.

Lots of signals in CA are activated by induction sensors in the pavement and are not on timers. I think this tends to encourage the race-up-and-squat habit. Of course there's no need if someone's already up ahead waiting, but a habit is a habit.

That may be the case but in the majority of cases doesn't necessarily trigger the signal change on demand, especially if the signals are synchronized. I think they are more to help the computer that runs the signals to be better informed about real-time traffic situations.

 

[RonDawg]

...I think he noticed/found out that my car was an EV today. The motorcyle guy and his friend, F250 guy, stared me down as I walked to the building. Motorcycle guy had this intense confused/dissaproval look on his face. So, I 'gave him the nod' and waved. As if to say, 'hello I see you too' ....

...I dont really care about them and their situation. The car works for me so I drive it. What they choose to do for transportation has nothing to do with me....

There will always be haters, of every shape, size and persuasion - it's a free country and ignorance is bliss (sounds like there're a lot of blissful guys there!). You can choose to keep kindly engaging them as you pass or just ignore them. They could eventually fall victim to your charm and begin asking about your LEAF. The door needs only to open a crack, before it opens wide and the light shines in.

I think in the OP's case a lot of the "hate" has to do with the fact that he's driving a "furrin" car in the heart of UAW-land. I suspect he wouldn't have gotten the same hate-stares had there been a bowtie on the grill and the word "Volt" on the hatch and fenders.

 

[CMYK4Life]

Thanks for your support guys. I needed to vent - you are the only EV owners I know!

Honestly today wasnt bad... getting 'stared down' isnt a big deal. Yesterday is what bugs me more... today just pushed me into 'vent' mode.

I am an engineer based in the corporate office. Yesterady I was doing some work in a plant about 7 miles north of my office. Projects frequently bring me to this plant. I am on a first name basis and have good rapport with everyone there.

While working at the plant I got a work related call from a co-worker and exited the building to get a better signal. As I was talking on the phone (standing near my car) one of the guys from the production floor was exiting the building for a 'smoke break' and came up to me during my call and asked 'So, when did you turn gay?'. I responded 'escuse me?' I didnt have the patience or time to talk any further with this idiot... I shook my head and discontinued eye contact and continued on with my call.

Before I got the car this guy and I had normal 'hows the weather, hows the kids, sports, and beer rapport.... Now, I am associated with a negative sterotype.

I dont blame the Leaf I blame people. I guess you could consider this complaining, I am not really looking for a solution to teh problem. I am just venting and sharing the darker side or front line of EV adoption in my area.

 

[supra410]

There will always be haters, of every shape, size and persuasion - it's a free country and ignorance is bliss (sounds like there're a lot of blissful guys there!). You can choose to keep kindly engaging them as you pass or just ignore them. They could eventually fall victim to your charm and begin asking about your LEAF. The door needs only to open a crack, before it opens wide and the light shines in.

Well put! Myself living is Oklahoma, people are fairly positively receptive of the car. I live in a rural area dominated by crew cabs & Camaros. I have yet to get a rude comment from a total stranger. Then again many folks around here probably don't realize it's an EV. My friend {with the h3} called it a "female body part" on wheels. For the most part I get positive reactions about the car. Range has been the only adverse reaction, until I explain my stand on that issue & how it really doesn't negatively affect me. I'm not a "smug" person. I'm a lover of all vehicles and my friends in my other automobile interests have been welcoming of the idea of Leaf ownership.

 

[supra410]

'So, when did you turn gay?'

Like I said in a previous post. I'm not a violent person, but that statement right there is qualification for a pop knot or two to be thrown at that person. People can be so close minded and ignorant that it's offensive.

 

[leafedbehind]

'So, when did you turn gay?'

Like I said in a previous post. I'm not a violent person, but that statement right there is qualification for a pop knot or two to be thrown at that person. People can be so close minded and ignorant that it's offensive.

So many great responses you could give to this!

"Your proposition is flattering, but I'm not interested."

 

[sorphin]

I've been fortunate in that here, no one has bothered me about driving an EV. In fact, most people I talk to are intrigued when I talk about the Leaf.

 

[rcyoder]

I've been fortunate in that here, no one has bothered me about driving an EV. In fact, most people I talk to are intrigued when I talk about the Leaf.

I'm starting to feel like one of the masses here at Caltech... There are 3 other Leaf's, a Model S, a Focus EV, 2 Volts, a C Max Energi and a few Plug in Prii just in the parking garage I usually use. (More in the other garages on campus.)

 

[thankyouOB]

i get that in Michigan some folks might be averse to foreign made, but LEAFy is now made in a border state, along with its battery.

the rest of it ranks up there with the stupidity that says Obama is a kenyan muslim socialist who wants to put a surrender monkey on the WH roof.
and that filling vacancies on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals is court packing.
or that climate change is the same thing that happened in Genesis to Noah.

 

[eclecticflower]

...I think he noticed/found out that my car was an EV today. The motorcyle guy and his friend, F250 guy, stared me down as I walked to the building. Motorcycle guy had this intense confused/dissaproval look on his face. So, I 'gave him the nod' and waved. As if to say, 'hello I see you too' ....

...I dont really care about them and their situation. The car works for me so I drive it. What they choose to do for transportation has nothing to do with me....

There will always be haters, of every shape, size and persuasion - it's a free country and ignorance is bliss (sounds like there're a lot of blissful guys there!). You can choose to keep kindly engaging them as you pass or just ignore them. They could eventually fall victim to your charm and begin asking about your LEAF. The door needs only to open a crack, before it opens wide and the light shines in.

I think in the OP's case a lot of the "hate" has to do with the fact that he's driving a "furrin" car in the heart of UAW-land. I suspect he wouldn't have gotten the same hate-stares had there been a bowtie on the grill and the word "Volt" on the hatch and fenders.

Yeah, I get that and what strikes me as most odd is that these self-professed, dyed-in-the-wool, union-label, apple-pie-eating, freedom-fighting, proud Americans are the first to lose sight of one of our country's most valued freedoms - choice. They've somehow totally forgotten the immigrants in their own gene pool (yep, they're descended from "furriners") and they perpetuate gang mentality; or this is just a group-incited, testosterone-fest. They're blinded to their own hypocricy.

 

[Rat]

Where I live EVs are popular and well-accepted, but I have a hobby, geocaching. Most fellow geocachers drive a lot, often hundreds or even thousands of miles chasing various goals, but I try to do almost all my geocaching within the Leaf's range. Recently in the main forum for geocachers someone asked if anyone had a geocaching blog. I put a link to mine, Electricaching, (without any editorial comment). I immediately got various negative comments and eye-rolling icons, essentially the same attitude described by the OP. I didn't bother to follow up on the thread because it's a hopeless case there, like promoting gun control on an NRA forum, but I posted some relevant facts in my subsequent blog posts in case any of them bother actually to read it.

I don't much care what others think of me or my choices, but I do care what the public thinks of EVs for the reasons stated in my blog, and mentioned here by many others with the same motivations. I think responding politely with facts is the right way to go.

 

[jelloslug]

I have had a few people ask the normal eco nut questions and my reply is "It could run on freshly harvested baby seal faces for all I care, just as long as it still cost $2.75 to fill up." That usually shuts them up.

 

[Nubo]

...As I was talking on the phone (standing near my car) one of the guys from the production floor was exiting the building for a 'smoke break' and came up to me during my call and asked 'So, when did you turn gay?' ...

Maybe he was looking for a date. :lol:

 

[Foible]

I didn't get any hate for my Leaf, I live in Oregon after all, but I did get some engineers questioning the fuel efficiency numbers. I ended up learning a lot about the supply chain for gasoline and electricity to prove that the Leaf is really better for the environment than an ICE.

 

[apvbguy]

I didn't get any hate for my Leaf, I live in Oregon after all, but I did get some engineers questioning the fuel efficiency numbers. I ended up learning a lot about the supply chain for gasoline and electricity to prove that the Leaf is really better for the environment than an ICE.

I live in what to many of you is enemy territory, this area is the 1% of the 1% and nobody has expressed anything but sincere interest in the LEAF and what it is. that said, on the roads I get the occasional looks from the red light racers, but I got the same looks when I drove any other [non EV] cars as well.
It is too bad that so many seem to be generating such negative responses, pioneers seem to get hit with a lot of arrows

 

[ENIAC]

I parked at our mall at the very end of a long row. The lot was empty. There were no other cars within 50 yards of me. When I returned a Ford 250 had parked next to me so close I couldn't get the drivers side door open. I had the crawl over the console from the passenger side. You can draw your own conclusions.

 

[eclecticflower]

I parked at our mall at the very end of a long row. The lot was empty. There were no other cars within 50 yards of me. When I returned a Ford 250 had parked next to me so close I couldn't get the drivers side door open. I had the crawl over the console from the passenger side. You can draw your own conclusions.

Do you mean a Ford truck? Surely, that good samaritan was just providing a you a bed in which to empty your trunktrash. How nice. Perhaps you should have obliged?

 

[ENIAC]

I parked at our mall at the very end of a long row. The lot was empty. There were no other cars within 50 yards of me. When I returned a Ford 250 had parked next to me so close I couldn't get the drivers side door open. I had the crawl over the console from the passenger side. You can draw your own conclusions.

Do you mean a Ford truck? Surely, that good samaritan was just providing a you a bed in which to empty your trunktrash. How nice. Perhaps you should have obliged?

Right, Ford F250 pickup truck. I didn't think to put my trash in the bed. That would have been a really good idea. Because I was a bit embarrassed standing in that open parking lot urinating into the gas tank of a Ford F250.

 

[davewill]

Do you mean a Ford truck? Surely, that good samaritan was just providing a you a bed in which to empty your trunktrash. How nice. Perhaps you should have obliged?

Right, Ford F250 pickup truck. I didn't think to put my trash in the bed. That would have been a really good idea. Because I was a bit embarrassed standing in that open parking lot urinating into the gas tank of a Ford F250.

Good ideas. All I could think of was hocking up a big one and spitting on his door handle.