Category Archives: Leaf

What are the best affordable electric cars?

November 23, 2023e-2008, Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, ZOERepost

Switching to electric motoring doesn’t have to be expensive – take a look at our favourite affordable models

Best affordable electric cars

Buying an electric car is an investment, but it doesn’t have to be a pricey one.

There are plenty of used electric cars on the market that come in at affordable price points.

As we move towards the 2035 ban on the sale of brand-new fuel-powered cars, more and more motorists are opting for an electric vehicle (EV).

There are plenty of luxury EVs on the market, but there are also some value-for-money options that won’t break the bank.

We’ve picked some of the best cheap electric cars that you might want to consider if you’re making the switch to an EV.

What are the best-priced electric cars?

Electric cars are typically more expensive than your average fuel-powered runabout, but you’ll cut costs on fuel by relying on electric charging.

Finding a used electric car is another way to cut costs – you might find a cracker of an EV that would be outside of your budget when purchased brand-new.

Don’t worry about battery degradation and health, either. Electric car batteries are expected to last up to 20 years and come with lengthy warranties.

The cost of running and charging an electric car will depend on your usage and how you plan on charging up. The average electricity tariff is usually about 30p/kWh.

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Researchers make surprising discovery about lifespan of EV batteries: ‘That was a shock’

November 13, 2023Charging, Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, OpinionRepost

A dead, irreplaceable battery is often the demise of an otherwise perfectly good piece of equipment, and it can be incredibly frustrating. New research shows, however, that the opposite may be true when it comes to the batteries running electric vehicles.

The Globe and Mail reports that a study done in March by Recurrent Motors Inc. — a Seattle-based battery analysis company — showed that overall, EV batteries are actually very reliable and long-lasting. In fact, they may last longer than the vehicles themselves.

The study took real-world data from 15,000 EVs of various makes and models in the U.S. By linking to the vehicles’ connectivity systems, the company took several battery readings daily, including charging activity, EV battery level, and estimated range.

The data showed that most EVs driven close to 100,000 miles still have at least 90 percent of their original range left.

“I was surprised how well batteries are holding up, and how relatively infrequently batteries are being replaced,” Liz Najman, researcher and marketing manager at Recurrent and the study’s author, told The Globe and Mail. “That was a shock.”

The publication did report, however, that Najman made sure to point out that individual vehicles vary and that Recurrent’s data is constantly evolving. This is mainly because most EVs aren’t that old, with nearly 30 percent currently on the road in the U.S. being sold just last year.

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10 Myths About Electric Cars That Owners Know Aren’t True

September 20, 2023Electric Cars, Hyundai, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Opinion, TeslaRepost

10 Myths About Electric Cars That Owners Know Aren’t True

Are electric cars going to ruin driving for everyone? If there’s one thing we all know, it’s that people don’t like change. Electric vehicles are an enormous change for the automotive world. EVs have been criticized, questioned, and insulted at every turn, yet the world is moving toward them and away from traditional ICE vehicles.

Why are electric cars criticized and questioned as much as they are? Consider the first person to drive a horseless carriage. Everyone around them still had horses to pull the wagons and get them where they needed to go. Were those with horses jealous of the person who didn’t need to feed and brush their method of transportation? Perhaps.

1EVs Don’t Have Enough Range

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that the average American drives 40 miles per day. Some people commute much further in one direction, while others stay at home and don’t have to drive anywhere every day. Most electric cars provide ample driving range to handle the daily commute and much more.

Common EVs Driving Range

Nissan Leaf	150 Miles
Hyundai Kona EV	258 Miles
Chevrolet Bolt EV	259 Miles
Tesla Model 3	310 Miles
Tesla Model S	335 Miles

Electric vehicle skeptics might have a point when it comes to road trips. It’s difficult to complete a road trip, especially if the destination is key, when driving an EV.

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Nissan is reusing batteries from old Leaf EVs to make portable power sources

September 13, 2023Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, NissanRepost

32-pound power source sells for $1,170 in Japan

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Batteries in older Nissan Leaf electric vehicles are getting a new life as portable power sources that can be used to run gadgets on the go or deliver emergency power in disasters.

Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co. has sold more than 650,000 Leaf EVs. Their batteries often retain a charging capacity longer than the car’s life span.

Nissan says it is using the old batteries in portable power sources it developed with electronics maker JVCKenwood Corp. and 4R Energy Corp., a company co-owned by Nissan and Sumitomo Corp. which works on ecological vehicles and power storage systems.

The 14.4-kilogram (32-pound) power source sells for 170,500 yen ($1,170) in Japan. Overseas sales are not yet set.

Each Leaf uses 48 battery modules. The portable power stations contain two modules.

Nissan officials said they are testing the batteries in Leafs after their owners stop driving them, and reusing those that can still hold a charge.

EV batteries use expensive rare metals and other raw materials, and their manufacture produces carbon gases, so reusing them for other purposes helps sustainability.

Balakumar Balasingam, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Windsor who isn’t involved in the Nissan project, said batteries can no longer be used to drive electric cars when their charge capacity declines to about 80%, but can still be used for other purposes.

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Street-racing in a Nissan Leaf is pushing Texans go to electric

July 25, 2023Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, NissanRepost

Teresa Porter pulled up to the red light and turned to eyeball the crimson pickup truck to her right. Her silver fingernails gripped the steering wheel. Her foot sank hard into the brake, ready to pounce on the accelerator.

“He came to play,” she muttered, turning back to face the road. Her brow furrowed under a mop of curly hair. Lil Jon’s “Get Low” pumped from her speakers.

When the light turned green, the pickup roared to life and peeled out with a screech. But it was no match for Porter, who quickly sprinted to the lead. “Smoked him off the line,” she said later of her victory.

The most unusual thing about this short one-block drag race? Porter’s car was silent. The winning vehicle was electric. A Nissan Leaf.

Cruising the main drag here on a Saturday night is more than a joyride for Porter, the 46-year-old founder of the Heart of Texas Electric Vehicle Association. A trash-talking, L&M-smoking gear head who spent her childhood fixing cars and hanging out at dirt-track races, she is on a one-woman, uphill mission to convince Central Texas to go electric.

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Ora Funky Cat UK review: electric hatchack comes up short on range, price and quality

July 19, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, ID.3, Leaf, MG, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Opinion, Renault, Volkswagen, ZOERepost

The first in a new wave of Chinese electric cars stands out for its looks but little else in a crowded market

There’s something to be said for making a splash when launching a new brand or product.

Good or bad, an eye-catching design and an interesting name can help establish a brand in the minds of the public and pave the way for future plans. So Ora is certainly onto a winner with the Funky Cat which not only has a name you won’t forget but brings a wide-eyed and unusual look that’ll stand out in most car parks.

Ora is one of a wave of Chinese brands setting their sights on the UK with a host of electric cars, and the Funky Cat is its first offering, aiming to compete with models such as the Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe, Volkswagen ID.3 and MG4 in the electric hatchback segment.

Volkswagen ID.3 electric car (Image: Volkswagen.com)

We’re largely past the days of Chinese cars being carbon copies of European models but there is an element of Mini to the Funky Cat’s front end and smidge of first-gen Leaf to the sloping, wide tailgate. It looks better in the metal than in photos, which don’t do its proportions any favours, but it still divided opinion during our time with it and is likely to be a bit of a Marmite prospect on the roads.

Under the funky skin, the Funky Cat packs a 48kWh battery and a 169bhp motor. That offers fairly middle-of-the-road performance, with 0-62mph of 8.3 seconds and the usual initial surge tailing off as speeds rise.

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ENERGY SAVER I’m a car expert – here’s the top five used EVs you can buy for less than £15k

June 22, 2023Cost of ownership, Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, NissanRepost

ONE of the biggest gripes about switching to an electric car is the hefty price of battery-powered models.

With more low emission zones appearing all over the UK, many motorists are finding that they need a cleaner car like an EV or a hybrid – but the problem is they just can’t afford to make the change from their petrol or diesel motor.

Recent research by carwow, the online platform for buying and selling cars, found that cost is a significant barrier to EV adoption – with 56% of consumers saying that the purchase price of an electric car is too high.

Handily, carwow’s automotive expert and YouTube star Mat Watson has shared his top picks for used EVs you can get your hands on for under £15k right now.

Nissan Leaf – £14,500

One of the original electric cars for the masses, the Nissan Leaf is a smart EV that comes with an impressive safety kit, a comfortable interior and a big, practical boot.

At this price you’ll probably only find the lower-range models, but an official 168 miles between charges should be enough for most.

The interior can feel a bit cheap in places, but a good driving position and good visibility make the Leaf easy to drive in town – the punchy electric motors certainly help here, too.

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The ten best-selling used electric cars in the UK

March 1, 2023Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Renault, ZOERepost

The number of electric cars on the roads of the UK are rising rapidly – and in turn sales of used EVs are also soaring.

A record 71,071 used battery electric cars were sold in the UK last year, a rise of 37.5 per cent on 2021. But which models were most popular with used car buyers? Well, since you asked… here are the ten best-selling used electric cars in the UK in 2022.

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Transaction figures have been provided by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), while all estimated pricing details are taken from our sister brand What Car?’s Used Car classifieds (which are powered by Auto Trader).

If you’re thinking of trying to bag a bargain, make sure you read our Used Electric Car Buying Guide.

1 Nissan Leaf (17,270 transactions)

It’s no surprise that the Nissan Leaf dominates sales of used EVs: the hatch has now been on sale for more than a decade, and spans two generations.

That also means that there are lots of options spanning a wide range of prices available. Early first generation models featured a 24kWh or 30kWh battery, with a 30kWh version arriving in 2016. They could be charged at speeds of up to 44kW.

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Nissan marks its 250,000th Leaf electric car with festive lights display

January 19, 2023Charging, Charging, Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, NissanRepost

Sunderland Plant’s Christmas decorations are powered entirely by vehicle’s vehicle-to-grid technology

Nissan is marking its electric milestone in lights, as it celebrates the 250,000th Leaf electric car rolling off its production line with a dazzling festive display.

The motor manufacturer is using electric vehicle technology as the sole power supply for its Christmas decorations at the entrance of the Washington production site, with a Leaf rigged up to tree lights to power them. Star of the show is a 32-foot high Christmas tree.

Nissan began building the Leaf EV at the Sunderland plant in 2013, and this year started to produce electric versions of the Qashqai and Juke models.

Like many of the latest electric cars on the market, the current Leaf has vehicle-to-grid – or V2X – technology, meaning it can become a mobile power supply for household products, which Nissan decided to demonstrate by using the Leaf as a power source for its festive display. The V2X system allows drivers to use electricity stored in their vehicle’s battery to power a variety of appliances, including a fridge-freezer, laptops and kettles, by using a three-pin plug converter that slots into the charging socket.

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The (Wonderful) Downside of Electric Cars

January 16, 2023Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, NissanRepost

It’s a lovely problem to have.

I’ve written regularly and enthusiastically about my 7+ years with a used Nissan Leaf. And for good reason. I firmly believe that purchasing this car is one of the single best things I have done for both my family finances and my own personal carbon footprint, in many years. (Yes, it’s used. Yes, I drive it as little as possible. And yes, I do own a bicycle.)

However, as my 2013 model starts to inch toward its 10-year mark, I am beginning to reflect more regularly on the one significant downside of electric vehicle ownership: And that’s the fact that I never have to take it to the shop.

No oil changes. No transmission fluid to worry about. And none of the mechanical failures I have previously had to contend with in similarly-aged ICE vehicles. I mean, sure, once a year I do have to get it inspected. But other than that, the maintenance I have had to do on my weird-looking blue steed is little more than occasionally changing a tire, and once having to switch out the 12v battery that runs the accessories. Leaving aside the money I save on gas, I am pretty sure I have saved thousands over the years in maintenance costs alone. So what’s the problem?

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