Leafs Over Texas!

[caffeinekid]

A bit of news about Houston's Leafs:

City of Houston to Launch First Municipal Electric Vehicle Car Sharing Program
http://newswirehouston.com/2012/08/22/c ... 0654296875

Pretty cool. The pics looked like something from iRobot!!!

Wonder if they will have any issues with such a potentially large population being trained on how to drive the LEAF "properly." 99% of it is just like any other car. However, that 1% could be problematic (e.g., turtle mode when unexpected, run to no charge, etc.)

Actually, that very issue was (and may still be) holding up full implementation of the fleet. Houston has also had Prii on the road for several years now. Some of them are plug-in conversions as well.

The problem with the Leaf in Houston is the relatively limited range. People assume that you have 70 miles of charge, and then you just charge it up with the 'ol L3 and you are on your way again, but the problem is that 70 miles is more like 50 (unless you really like to push things) and you have to implement L3 locations into your route. And L3 only charges you up to 80%, so if you are driving > 100 miles per day, you are charging at least twice with the L3. Add the heat here and things aren't so cherry.

[philaphonic]

A bit of news about Houston's Leafs:

City of Houston to Launch First Municipal Electric Vehicle Car Sharing Program
http://newswirehouston.com/2012/08/22/c ... 0654296875

Well, this program might be working. I visited the Tranquility garage again last Friday 9/14/12 (lunchtime again, when else would they unchain me from my desk) and noted about 20% of the dedicated spaces were empty.

One was taken up by this Prius converted to a plug-in:


And here's a closer look at a Gridbot brand of level 1 / level 2 EVSE:

[gmlawrence]

New 2012 Leaf Owner here Austin TX

http://instagram.com/p/PCWdT8gB9x/

Welcome! Also, do check out the Austin LEAF Google group. Check the wiki for lots of info on LEAFs.

Thanks I have found the Austin Forum to be informative I loved the Electric Car song. I didn't even know TMBG had done that song. So much for thinking I was a big fan.

[ecoobsessive]

I enjoyed meeting a few more LEAF owners at the San Antonio National Plug-In event today. Unfortunately, one "major leader" in the EV movement (not mentioning any names here, Nissan) was noticeably absent even though the program said they would be there, and the owners of their car were there. See: http://events.pluginday.org/p/salsa/eve ... _KEY=67966" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
At least the Volt and Mitsubishi dealers were out there showing off their cars. Tesla cars on display, too.

[yegua22]

Is anyone in the College Station area that owns a lef interested in participating at a study at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute? If you are please PM or email me and I will give you the details and see if you would like to participate.

Thanks
Jeremy D. Johnson
Research Specialist
Air Quality Program
Texas A&M Transportation Institute

[Pipcecil]

aww too bad I don't live closer =( my aggie blood wants to help!

[philaphonic]

Hi Texas mynissanleafers,

I've been gone awhile simply enjoying my Leaf and not checking in, but I thought this was something I should pass on to y'all. Just took my 2011 Leaf to Baker Nissan South (in Houston) for it's 2nd annual battery inspection, first state inspection, scheduled maintenance, and executive pillow fluffing. Aside from the outrageous prices one expects from dealer service departments, all went well. Except ... before driving it to BNS I took a red china marker pencil and wrote the position of each tire on the sidewall below the B in Bridgestone -- LF, LR, RF, RR. When I went to pick it up, I saw they had smeared some shiny stuff on the sidewalls and I couldn't read my markings easily. But when I got home I was able to read my marks, and the tires were in the exact same place -- no rotation. This happened to me (with my Prius) a few years ago at BNS's neighboring Toyota dealer, Mike Calvert Toyota. In two tests, dealers are oh for two!

Has anyone else done this? Is this a common issue? Would anyone else here like to give it try themselves and report back?

(I've called the service rep who handled my car and he is going to check on it tomorrow, he says, so we'll see what the fallout is.)

[leafwing]

But when I got home I was able to read my marks, and the tires were in the exact same place -- no rotation.

That's why two of my tires are worn out and the other two are in very good shape. Different dealerships, same result.

[1932highboy]

I mark my rims on all my cars when taking them in for rotation. I check out the marks before paying to ensure the work was done. Caught one dealership on my 300C. Made them refund my money for rotation.

[Stanton]

And the dealer DID rotate my tires when I asked them NOT to! Oh well, the Ecopias didn't last anyway and I had to replace them in preparation for my first (2 years) inspection later this summer.