Hi, I'm brand new to this board, but I'm thinking about getting a Leaf, and have been doing a lot of reading both here and elsewhere. Based on what I've read, I'm somewhat 'on the line' of whether a Leaf would end up being practical for me, so I wanted to get some opinions.
Here are some important facts to know about me:
1. I live in southern California. So, I'm thinking weather is not really much of a factor. We may get a few days over 100 where I live, but it's probably less than 10 a year. In summer, it's mostly around the 90 degree range where I am during August, but proabably in the mid to high 80's during July and September. Less than that the rest of the year. The coldest it ever really gets when I'm driving is probably 45 or 50.
2. My commute is 50 miles round trip. It is mostly highway, however because of traffic there is a mix of full-speed highway, stretches of 40-45 mph and a couple stretches of 5-10 mph. It takes me an average of 45 minutes each way, if that helps in terms of average speed. There is an approximately 500 foot elevation change spread over the 25 miles each way. It's a mix of up hill, downhill and level each way, but difference in elevation at origin and destination is about 500 feet.
3. I do not have a practical way to charge at destination. I will have a level 2 charger at home.
4. I do travel quite a bit, and LAX is 42 miles from home. I will be using a parking service that will charge at destination when I do go to the airport (Wally Park).
5. I occasionally visit friends in Hollywood, which is 33 miles each way from home. I would like to be able to do the round trip on one charge, but I'm uncertain if that's practical. I could charge at destination if need be, but if I could avoid it, it would be more convenient.
What I have described accounts for probably 80% of my driving. Another 10-15% is just in errands around town (no problems with mileage), and the remaining 5-10% would be other trips to visit other friends/family.
I am married and would be keeping an ICE vehicle which would primarily be driven by my wife.
Thoughts? I think I would be a good candidate for the Leaf, and the thought of going completely electric is really attractive to me. I'm just a bit on the fence about whether it's really practical for me. Based on what I've told you, am I fooling myself, or will is probably work out for me?
Here are some important facts to know about me:
1. I live in southern California. So, I'm thinking weather is not really much of a factor. We may get a few days over 100 where I live, but it's probably less than 10 a year. In summer, it's mostly around the 90 degree range where I am during August, but proabably in the mid to high 80's during July and September. Less than that the rest of the year. The coldest it ever really gets when I'm driving is probably 45 or 50.
2. My commute is 50 miles round trip. It is mostly highway, however because of traffic there is a mix of full-speed highway, stretches of 40-45 mph and a couple stretches of 5-10 mph. It takes me an average of 45 minutes each way, if that helps in terms of average speed. There is an approximately 500 foot elevation change spread over the 25 miles each way. It's a mix of up hill, downhill and level each way, but difference in elevation at origin and destination is about 500 feet.
3. I do not have a practical way to charge at destination. I will have a level 2 charger at home.
4. I do travel quite a bit, and LAX is 42 miles from home. I will be using a parking service that will charge at destination when I do go to the airport (Wally Park).
5. I occasionally visit friends in Hollywood, which is 33 miles each way from home. I would like to be able to do the round trip on one charge, but I'm uncertain if that's practical. I could charge at destination if need be, but if I could avoid it, it would be more convenient.
What I have described accounts for probably 80% of my driving. Another 10-15% is just in errands around town (no problems with mileage), and the remaining 5-10% would be other trips to visit other friends/family.
I am married and would be keeping an ICE vehicle which would primarily be driven by my wife.
Thoughts? I think I would be a good candidate for the Leaf, and the thought of going completely electric is really attractive to me. I'm just a bit on the fence about whether it's really practical for me. Based on what I've told you, am I fooling myself, or will is probably work out for me?