NASHVILLE TENNESSEE - LEAF

[jwallace3]

...
Random side note, I wonder if a trip to Chattanooga is possible in a Leaf from Gallatin? It's about 145 miles... and I bet there's stations in Murfreesboro that we coud stop in.

On Plugshare it shows the Murfreesboro chamber of commerce as having a L2 J1772 charger as well as Nissan of Murfreesboro (not sure if it's for non-customers). Also in Manchester is Robert's Nissan, once again you probably would have to call and see if they minded you using their charger.

 

[TNleaf]

...
Random side note, I wonder if a trip to Chattanooga is possible in a Leaf from Gallatin? It's about 145 miles... and I bet there's stations in Murfreesboro that we coud stop in.

On Plugshare it shows the Murfreesboro chamber of commerce as having a L2 J1772 charger as well as Nissan of Murfreesboro (not sure if it's for non-customers). Also in Manchester is Robert's Nissan, once again you probably would have to call and see if they minded you using their charger.

You're right, I remember seeing that one, in addition to all of the dealerships listed on PlugShare. The big caveat with dealership chargers is that they aren't always open to their facilities being used as a "free charger." I would definitely call ahead (as many in this forum have recommended, especially in CA).

On another topic, jwallace3, have you gotten anymore information on your LEAF? We're both August months, and the scheduled manufacture month is June for my LEAF, but I wasn't sure if we get a VIN once it's manufactured, once it hits the boat, or when? Just curious if you've heard any updates.

 

[Herm]

Now if the battery will last 100,000 miles, approximately 2900 discharge / charge cycles for my 35 miles round trip to work daily commute distance; and the battery replacement cost will start plummetting and/or charge capacity start improving a lot; then this will be a truly ground breaking technology.

The Leaf's battery is probably good for 10 years of the average 12k miles/year.. or a total of 120k miles. The people that wont get this are those that cycle their battery 100% every day, or worse twice a day. Normally this type of chemistry is good for 1000-1500 cycles, at 73miles per cycle that works out to 73k-109k miles total. Per GM/LG, you dont want to exceed 65% of the SOC of the battery.

Basically the slower you drive the longer your battery will live.. Speed Kills!

Your 2900 cycles are partial cycles and not what I'm talking about.

 

[jwallace3]

[/quote]
On another topic, jwallace3, have you gotten anymore information on your LEAF? We're both August months, and the scheduled manufacture month is June for my LEAF, but I wasn't sure if we get a VIN once it's manufactured, once it hits the boat, or when? Just curious if you've heard any updates.[/quote]

Unfortunately no. The anticipation is killing me. I've been wondering about the VIN as well. Looking at the spreadsheet the later orders (Jan/Feb) before ours seem to be getting VIN's about 10-16 weeks after ordering which puts both of us right in that window with delivery 4-6 weeks later. I am still hopeful for a July (late) delivery. The latest May orders are showing August and September delivery dates which is 3-4 months from order to delivery. I keep thinking any day now I will log in to my DB and have a VIN and updated delivery date waiting for me. So far none of the March orders have updated with VINs, but the Feb orders have so we can't be that far behind.

 

[jwallace3]

On the topic of Chargers in Tennessee, I spoke with Stephanie Cox with Ecotality about charger placement at my office building. She said that they are having a hard time finding host sites in Tennessee and would take any help she could get in finding some. Evidently it's so bad that several of the Tennessee chargers may go to other states if businesses don't start offering to host in Tennessee. So if you know somewhere you would like to have a host charger please reach out to those people and get them in contact with Stephanie. Here is the email she sent me yesterday. Also, I have a pdf of the host package she refers to and can email it to anyone who would like to have it to email on to interested hosts. Just PM me on here.

Jack,
I do not think that HALO has reached out to us as of yet. Attached is the host package they would need in order to get these charging stations. We have plenty left and would love to site here. Please forward to the appropriate parties at HALO or make and email intro and I can reach out to them directly.
Thanks for checking in with me! I need all the site hosts we can find!!


Stephanie Cox
Stakeholder Services Area Manager - Tennessee
(615) 504-4928

 

[kelseypost]

Cool, thanks for the info @TNLeaf & @Jwallace. As far as the charger at our dealership, it's free to the public. I guess you can call ahead of time to make sure no one is using it, but I've only seen one car use it so far.

 

[jwallace3]

Cool, thanks for the info @TNLeaf & @Jwallace. As far as the charger at our dealership, it's free to the public. I guess you can call ahead of time to make sure no one is using it, but I've only seen one car use it so far.

Is that the one in Gallatin you're referring to?

 

[TNleaf]

I also spoke to Stephanie at the LEAF Tour in Franklin (back in March?) and she mentioned that Publix, Cracker Barrel, and few other businesses have mentioned interest in getting EV chargers installed.

One thing that we need to do ("we" being EV drivers/enthusiasts/etc) is be active and contact the owners/managers of business we go to often and places that we would like to see chargers installed. We have to let the owners know that we are interested and would use the facilities and in turn, hopefully give them business as well.

Other than speaking to the building manager at my work to get an EV installed, I haven't done much on speaking to owners or sending emails to building managers at facilities... maybe that will be my next task (after impatiently awaiting the arrival of my LEAF).

Is that the one in Gallatin you're referring to?

Kelseypost is from Newton Nissan in Gallatin, so I believe those are the chargers being referred to.

 

[kelseypost]

Yes, sorry... I was referring to our charger in Gallatin at 1461 Nashville Pike.

 

[kelseypost]

Oh and FYI, a McDonald's in Hendersonville contacted us (Newton Nissan) about bringing a Leaf to their grand opening. They said they're remodeling and making room for some EV chargers. But, they didn't say when the remodeling would be finished... so I guess we're just waiting until the big day. I wonder if ALL the McDonald's have plans for installing EV chargers? I can write a general letter that we can print off individually and send off to our local businesses, if you want.

 

[Leggedo]

I had a question for any Nashville Leaf owners, those of you that have already received your new Leaf. I live near Jackson in Medina, my new Leaf is showing delivery the week of July 6th. Regarding the receipt of your new Leafs, when you picked up the car at your Nissan dealer, did they explain the different extended warranty plans that were available to you? If so, did you purchase one of the plans offered; what plan did you take out; and what was the cost of the plan?

I am asking these questions because in reading the thread on this on the forum, there seems to be alot of confusion and many different opinions around the warranty plans that Nissan is offering on the Leaf.

Thanks, Leggedo

 

[kelseypost]

Unfortunately no. The anticipation is killing me. I've been wondering about the VIN as well....[/quote]


I emailed Justin about what you all mentioned here... here's what he said:

Hey Kelsey, Mr. Wallace should be able to get a vin number from his dealership about 2 to 3 weeks before the vehicle arrives. For example, in my experience, I have 3 customers whose vehicles will arrive in August as well and I have invoices on their vehicles but no vin number has been assigned to them yet. I also have a customer whose vehicle arrives the week of June the 14th, and I do have his vin now. Mr. Wallace's dealership should have an invoice now but probably no vin yet until we get closer to the end of June and the begining of August. I hope this helps a little.

 

[jwallace3]

Unfortunately no. The anticipation is killing me. I've been wondering about the VIN as well....

I emailed Justin about what you all mentioned here... here's what he said:

Hey Kelsey, Mr. Wallace should be able to get a vin number from his dealership about 2 to 3 weeks before the vehicle arrives. For example, in my experience, I have 3 customers whose vehicles will arrive in August as well and I have invoices on their vehicles but no vin number has been assigned to them yet. I also have a customer whose vehicle arrives the week of June the 14th, and I do have his vin now. Mr. Wallace's dealership should have an invoice now but probably no vin yet until we get closer to the end of June and the begining of August. I hope this helps a little.[/quote]

Kelsey,
Thanks for checking into that for me. I am still optimistic that Nissan is over-estimating an Aug delivery so if I were lucky enough to take delivery in July/early Aug I should be getting a VIN withing the next 2-3 weeks. Nissan of Rivergate is who I was assigned to by the website. I live in White House, but work in Hendersonville so it's good to hear that your charger is free! I don't head out that way much, but you never know. As far as a letter for local businesses, I think that would be great. It's difficult for me to come up with logical places around here to have chargers, at least for my use, except for work. I work in an office building across from the Hendersonville Library in the Indian Lakes development which is owned by Halo. Halo is who I am currently trying to get to participate in the EV project and at least get a charger at my office building if not several in the Indian Lakes shopping area.

 

[TNleaf]

Kelsey,
Thanks for checking into that for me. I am still optimistic that Nissan is over-estimating an Aug delivery so if I were lucky enough to take delivery in July/early Aug I should be getting a VIN withing the next 2-3 weeks. Nissan of Rivergate is who I was assigned to by the website. I live in White House, but work in Hendersonville so it's good to hear that your charger is free! I don't head out that way much, but you never know. As far as a letter for local businesses, I think that would be great. It's difficult for me to come up with logical places around here to have chargers, at least for my use, except for work. I work in an office building across from the Hendersonville Library in the Indian Lakes development which is owned by Halo. Halo is who I am currently trying to get to participate in the EV project and at least get a charger at my office building if not several in the Indian Lakes shopping area.

I'm glad to see your optimism, as our LEAFs will likely share the same boat over here, and possibly have close VINs. Seeing as people that reserved and ordered in May are also getting August estimates, maybe Nissan has gotten things in order.

 

[jwallace3]

My trek from White House/Springfield is about 21 miles each way so my commute is well within the range of the Leaf, even without charging at work. I just thought that it would be nice to top off again each day which would also allow me to use the 80% charge rule to extend battery life. I just can't really think of anywhere that I might go during the week where it would be worth while to plug up. Maybe the mall or Walmart? I keep telling myself to think about the weekends and where I might go and like to have a charger present. Any ideas?

 

[kelseypost]

Here's a letter that you can write to a local business about installing EV chargers. I don't know all the charging details about the Leaf, so I just tried to make it as basic as possible. Just tweak it and insert whatever company you'd like to send it to. I used Jim & Nick's as an example because they're awesome! Sorry, it's kind of long... shorten it if you want.

To our friends at Jim & Nick’s,

I’m so glad that your restaurant is so close to my workplace. I’m always telling my friends how I crave your special cornbread, and I often invite my coworkers to lunch with me so that they can experience the delicious recipe for themselves.

As of recently, I decided to purchase my first electric vehicle (EV), the Nissan Leaf. The number of Leaf owners in Nashville is growing rapidly, which means there is quite a demand for Leaf drivers to find charging stations in town.

If a restaurant owner, like yourself, would consider installing a couple of chargers in the parking lot, the benefits would far outweigh the cost. Since the Leaf needs to be charged for about 30 minutes, customers will come and dine at your establishment while their vehicles are charging.

Also, your business would gain lots of positive publicity. Your restaurant would be posted on multiple websites and forums, where EV owners map out locations & spread the word about places that support EVs.

I don’t know of any restaurants close by that currently have chargers. Can you imagine how simple it would be for a customer to make the “Where should I eat tonight?” decision if Jim & Nick’s was the only restaurant with chargers?

As a big fan, l would be even more elated if you would consider an opportunity to install EV chargers in your parking lot.

Your biggest fan,
John Doe

 

[LEAFfan]

Since the Leaf needs to be charged for about 30 minutes, customers will come and dine at your establishment while their vehicles are charging.

Kelsey, are you saying that the business may install a DC fast charger? I know of no businesses doing that, just the L2s. I'm sure you know that the DC charger will charge to 80% in about 20-30 min. However, the L2 charging dock or station, which most businesses will install will take a few hours depending on the SOC at the time.

 

[kelseypost]

Since the Leaf needs to be charged for about 30 minutes, customers will come and dine at your establishment while their vehicles are charging.

Kelsey, are you saying that the business may install a DC fast charger? I know of no businesses doing that, just the L2s. I'm sure you know that the DC charger will charge to 80% in about 20-30 min. However, the L2 charging dock or station, which most businesses will install will take a few hours depending on the SOC at the time.

Hmm, I'm not very knowledgable about chargers. I'm just a messenger in the Communications dept Are you asking if it is possible for business to install a fast charger? I'll ask Justin (he's our Leaf specialist). For now, we can just change the letter to say "a couple of hours" instead of "30 minutes."

 

[LEAFfan]

Most DC fast chargers (440-480V) will be right off the interstates, about 30 miles apart. It would be rare even if a dealer installed any of these. The L1 (110-120V) EVSE comes with the LEAF and that will take twice as long as the L2 (220-240V), which isn't a charger, but is called an EVSE, a charging station, or a charging dock because the charger for L1 and L2 are in the rear of the car.

 

[LEAFfan]

I had a question for any Nashville Leaf owners, those of you that have already received your new Leaf. I live near Jackson in Medina, my new Leaf is showing delivery the week of July 6th. Regarding the receipt of your new Leafs, when you picked up the car at your Nissan dealer, did they explain the different extended warranty plans that were available to you? If so, did you purchase one of the plans offered; what plan did you take out; and what was the cost of the plan?

Hi...I met you at the Riverview LEAF meeting in Mesa. I didn't have my LEAF yet. In my opinion, it's a waste of money to buy an extended warranty on the LEAF. You have a 3yr./36 month warranty to start, and most things, if they happen, will go 'bad' in the early going. My dealer in Tempe never even tried to sell me one of those, which I really appreciated. Brian Shirley, my sales person, and Randy Jacobs, the GM, treated me exceedingly well.