There are many techniques we can use to make sure we get the best range from our electric vehicles (EVs). In fact, most of the very same techniques can be used for non-EVs to but strangely, very few seem to want to reduce their fuel consumption in spite of petrol and diesel costing well over … Continue reading Extending EV Range Through Regen Braking
Since getting my Nissan Leaf I have constantly bumped up against people that say that the Nissan Leaf is no better than a good, modern diesel in terms of the CO2 and other emissions. The argument is that a car powered by electricity is not 100% emissions free. The emissions are just shifted away from … Continue reading Is Electricity a Good Way to Power a Car?
The first year of owning an electric car for us has been a bit of a mixed bag. The car itself has been great and we use it for our everyday, local trips but using the car for anything over its typical max range of 80 miles (40 miles each way) requires a bit of … Continue reading Our 1st Year with the Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is in many respects a technological marvel. Aside from the EV aspects of the car itself it is, as far as I know, the most “connected” car on the market today. Whilst driving the car records the power usage statistics and if you agree, it uploads these stats to the Nissan servers … Continue reading CarWings Simply Doesn't Work for Power Use Statistics
Now that our car looks like it is on the way (estimated delivery early April) we have to decide whether to get a Quick Charge Home Pod. British Gas (BG) are Nissan’s partner as pod suppliers and installers and so we had BG round to inspect our electrical system and to discuss how and where … Continue reading To Pod or not to Pod?
This test was to see how feasible it is to do an 80 mile trip in the Nissan Leaf on a full charge. The course was a circular route from Saltash, Cornwall and from there to Tavistock, Launceston, Bodmin and back to Saltash. This route is mostly fast A road but mostly quite twisty and … Continue reading Test: 80 miles on a full charge
This test was to drive the Nissan Leaf at as close as possible to 70mph to assess range at that speed. The test was performed on the A38 from Saltash to Ashburton and back to Saltash, a distance of 55 miles. This road is a dual-carriageway A-road and has a speed limit of 70 mph. … Continue reading Test: Real World Driving at 70mph
In the UK the introduction of EVs (electric vehicles) into the market is being supported financially by government. This support is taking place in two major ways: firstly owners are getting a 25% or £5000 discount (whichever is less) on the purchase of new qualifying EVs, and secondly the government is financially supporting the development … Continue reading Plugged-In Places: A Wasted Opportunity?
Many years ago I started to hear in the media about Hydrogen fuel cells and how they would revolutionise transport; removing our dependence on oil and making the car clean and environmentally friendly. 10 years on I am still waiting. I suppose that if you think about it there was always going to be little … Continue reading The Start of an Era?
