I like my Leaf, but I am also aware of its limitations, especially in cold weather. In my experience, 50% range reduction going from +5°C to -25°C is not an exaggeration. There are many factors that combine to make that happen - reduced battery capacity, reduced regeneration, rough snow-covered roads, denser air, increased need for heat while the heat pump becomes ineffective, and probably a few more.
DustanT wrote:..... I just want an electric car to drive me to work that's it, not taking it across the dang country or anything. I've wanted an electric car for 10 years now and still stuck on the same dilemma and sometimes it just is frustrating when people start going on about things that have nothing to do with A to B driving. The idea behind the car was to preserve my nice truck and save some money while enjoying the electric go cart. I don't understand how the leaf could not make a trip 34 miles traveling 75% at 55 mph or less. If I have to drive 65 on the freeway for 11.5 miles instead of 70 or 75 then so be it, not like it's going to make a huge impact on my travel time. If the car wont make it in the supper cold month of January or February that's what my truck is for. That's also my slow months sometimes only going to work 2 or 3 days a week. I have owned a few Prius and could always get more than rated, most of the time I got over 10 mpg over the sticker. I've even got 92 mpg on a 25 mile trip so I know how to make a car get a few extra miles if necessary.
16 miles at 55 mph or less
12 miles at 70 mph or less and
4 miles under 30 mph for the side roads in between.
We don't need air conditioning even in the summer, and heat from November through April. although heat on the morning trip would be low due to the heated garage and the car preheated. I might be able to park the car in the heated garage at work if it is skinny enough too.
Your first post from 2017 said something about selling your truck, so I assumed that was still going to happen and that the Leaf would need to reliably get you to work in any weather. If you have a backup vehicle you can use in the coldest weather, the minimum requirements for a car that will get you to work 90% of the time are considerably lower and the probability of finding one in your price range much higher. Now you just need to wait until one comes up for sale not too far away - or do what I did and look at cars while on vacation in a place where they are more common.