ERG4ALL
Well-known member
Regarding getting the QC port, we elected not to. For one those charging stations are very expensive compared to an L2. Thus, you will see more of the L2 at shopping malls, etc. in the future. Second, NIssan advises not to use the QC too frequently (i.e. limit to 1x per day). This causes one to question if even 1x per day might hasten degradation of the battery. Third, Nissan has made no commitment about being able to upgrade the LEAF as newer battery technology, controllers and chargers come along. I suspect for a price you'll be able to upgrade but at this time there is no guarantee. Fourth, as the car ages it will not only decrease in value like any other car, but there may also be an obsolescence factor that will lower the trade-in value even more, much like we've seen in the personal computer revolution. We're treating the LEAF as our "starter EV", so we decided to lease rather than purchase. In three years we still can purchase the LEAF if we want, or we can get something else. It may be a little more expensive but at least it is some insulation against the unknown. It all depends on your particular use of the car. In our case, we live about 200 miles from a major metropolitan area (Phoenix), so we're hoping to see a 300 mile range become affordable in the next three years.
The May issue of Car and Driver had the following...
"A123 (a battery manufacturing company) is aimed at optimizing the battery's power, energy, and life through the use of nanostructured materials that provide a high surface-area-to-volume ratio. Experimental solid-state (also known as thin-film) cells increase the surface area even more. The potential energy density of these micron-thin ribbons is four-to-five times that of today's Li-ion batteries. As with integrated-circuit manufacturing, the cell materials are deposited one thin layer at a time in a vacuum. The result is an incredibly light, dense cell."
The May issue of Car and Driver had the following...
"A123 (a battery manufacturing company) is aimed at optimizing the battery's power, energy, and life through the use of nanostructured materials that provide a high surface-area-to-volume ratio. Experimental solid-state (also known as thin-film) cells increase the surface area even more. The potential energy density of these micron-thin ribbons is four-to-five times that of today's Li-ion batteries. As with integrated-circuit manufacturing, the cell materials are deposited one thin layer at a time in a vacuum. The result is an incredibly light, dense cell."