nsps wrote:Hi all, I'm a Salt Laker looking to join the EV world with either a Leaf or an i-MiEV. (I've test driven both and am still shopping around.) Seeing as this winter provided a pretty good test, I was wondering if those of you up north were happy with how your Leafs survived some of our tougher snow storms.
Thanks!
nsps- you still with us? Sorry for the lengthy delay. This winter was nasty, a few good snowy periods, but mostly just cold COLD COOOOOLD. (Canadians laughing now) We switched charging timer to charge to 100% every day, which reminds me, I should go switch back to 80% right now! That, of course was to squeak out the max range, 2011s don't have the battery heater.
As far as driving in snow, it's all about the tires. Unfortunately, the Bridgestone Ecopias, tho rated M+S, leave some to be desired. I guess they were chosen for their very low rolling resistance. My wife is super careful winter driving whereas I don't mind sliding around a little, so long as I don't hit things, in HER car. We have a long gravel driveway that does not get plowed. When the snow gets deep, the flat, smooth bottom of the LEAF (which is very cool) rides up on the snow, as it flattens it down, further reducing traction at the tires. Any kind of car will do this but I think that full flat bottom, like a huge sled, might make it worse. All that said, Kelly only got stuck in our unplowed driveway ONE time all winter, and never anywhere else. ML