GaslessInSeattle said:
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Nissan has, IMHO, really blown this. depending on how they deal with this going forward, we may never buy another Nissan... it's really quite sad and mind boggling to me. Someone needs to interrupt the board meeting, tap Carlos on the should and whisper "we have a problem" in his ear... the guy is just too smart to let so many years of investment go up in smoke by not standing behind their product.
I find Nissan's behavior so far incomprehensible; it's like watching someone commit suicide in slow motion. George, someone needs to write a letter, open or otherwise, to the head of Nissan North America if not Carlos Ghosn himself. I'd started writing one making the same points as you, that Nissan was destroying all the goodwill (especially from new customers) they'd earned by building the first mass market BEV, as well as the fact that once this info moves from enthusiast forums to the mainstream media, anti-EV bloggers and radio ranters, it won't just be the Leaf or even Nissan that will be engulfed by the fallout -
all EVs will suffer, because none of the above or the general public is likely to draw fine distinctions between battery chemistry or cars with/without TMS.
I decided not to write the letter. As I'm an EV enthusiast in general rather than a Leaf owner, I thought it might carry a bit more weight coming from someone who is.
I've been amazed that we haven't been seeing this mentioned outside of 'our' forums, but it's inevitable that it will be, and perhaps until it does Nissan will continue to stonewall. So, if a Leaf owner were to write such a letter, you might include a time limit (August 1st, say). If someone senior from Nissan hasn't got up on his/her hind legs by that point and publicly acknowledged that there is a problem and that, even if Nissan hasn't yet decided how to handle it, they guarantee that will stand behind their cars and their customers, then the letter will be sent to Consumer Reports, car mags and various mainstream media outlets.
George, I happen to think you'd be ideal for this, but there are several others here who are capable, informed enthusiasts who want nothing but the best for the car and Nissan, and don't want to see them throw away everything they've gained. Someone needs to give Nissan a wake-up call, because they seem to be asleep with the plane on auto-pilot; it's just a matter of time before they run out of fuel and crash. If we're lucky, they won't take all other EVs with them.