Blog of RENAULT NISSAN Alliance

I'm a big fan of the pure electric vehicles but I must say the obvious, which is that the limited range turns off many Americans. I don't travel long distances, so for me limited range isn't a factor. In fact, I love the Twizy and would buy one if it were on sale here. Now that Renault has a line of much more competitive vehicles than in the 1980s, it would be great to have another European option to choose from. Any chance of this happening in the near future? From reviews read, the Clio Cup and Megane Sport sound like fabulous drives. America needs more innovative vehicles on the road by innovative automakers like Renault.

The Leaf is a remarkable accomplishment and Nissan is to be congratulated on it. However, prospective purchasers should be aware that it is not suitable for everyone.

To see why, read carefully, under Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) above, the answer to the question "How long will it take to charge the battery?" There are two answers given.

"Quick Charging" requires a three-phase, 200-volt power source which is very rare in residences; usually it is supplied only to industrial customers. For a residence it may involve digging up the street and negotiations with the power company. Cost will be in the thousands of dollars plus a similar amount for the charger itself, when it becomes available. So "Quick Charging" may be eliminated at this time.

More practical is the answer "Normal Charging" which requires only a single-phase 200-volt source, often available in a residence equipped with a large electric appliance like an electric clothes-drier or stove. However, even so an electrician will have to extend this power source to the garage and install a charger, for a total of well over a thousand dollars. Full charging time is 8 hours. Thereafter the Leaf will go 30 miles before the battery goes dead. This means that for commuting use, the maximum distance to work can be no more than 15 miles. (Unless your parking space at work is equipped with a single-phase, 200-volt outlet and a charger, another expensive proposition.)

So the Leaf is useful for commuting only if your workplace is not over 15 miles from home. And of course it is not useful at all for vacations or sudden emergency trips. However, it is fine for very specialized use as a second car.

Albert Z. K. Sanders

Dear Sirs:
Congratualtions. Beyond the economic results your company will achieve with this new car, our world requires more and more this kind of new cars which will free us from the oil which now dominates our economy.
Regards,

Eneko Orue
Venezuela

Wonderful, I wait for one!

Now what about the next Alpine?

I love to see new technology and the leaf is proof. Please bring down the cost and make it practical for the average american to experience this environmental car.

Hi,

I tried the Leaf last summer at the Nissan dealer. He doesn't have any to sell until next summer. For me, the electric car is still the futur and not the present.

Jacques Saint-Pierre
Canada.

Keep up the good work of creating affordable extended range electric vehicles. This is the future of personnal urban transportation.

Fabulous!!!!!!

I have had a Leaf for 8500 miles and 8 months.
I am completely pleased. It serves my 50-mile roundtrip commute at a cost of 2 cents a mile, about a buck, instead of the $8-9 I was paying.

With solar on the roof, it is completely covered.
The car rides well, is fun to drive and everyone in my family is happy with it. The daughters friends (20-year-olds) think I am cool, too.

In which three countries are you lunching the electric cars? Is nissaan also producing hybrid ?

It's great to see the Renault EV programme making such progress in Europe and also the betterway partnership in Australia and the impact Leaf is having in the USA. All good.
We're looking to get some advice on two very impactful EV projects we are initiating in my part of the world. First in Bhutan involves conversion of a small fleet of urban taxis in Bhutan to electric. Use of 100% hydropower makes it possible to convert to a full zero carbon fleet. Second project has potential for very significant scale (1000+ vehicles) in India and we have an informal research team and partnership of customers and providers of charging stations. Of course in India, we still need to generate the power and we're looking at tying an instate power generator (wind or hydro) to at least maintain the ZE ZC philiosophy.
Can you suggest someone in the R&D/Markets side of Renault with whom I could discuss these projects? Have looked at your research instritutes in Paris and/or maybe someone in Chennai/Delhi?
Many thanks