Archive for the ‘Hybrids, Electrics and other “Green” Technology’ Category

Nissan’s Leaf is Growing On Me

Posted: November 9, 2010 in Hybrids, Electrics and other "Green" Technology, Nissan
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When I attended the Nissan Leaf Electric Drive event in Century City this past October, I was a non-believer. I may not be ready to buy into the high voltage pitch; however, I think there are plenty of LA drivers for which this car makes sense.

The Zero Emissions tombstone logo at the Century City Electric Drive event.

The Leaf is an utterly boring car. While this may sound like a slam, it’s not. Nissan has worked magic to make this car drive just like every other subcompact four-door hatchback economy driving appliance. The fear of driving an all-electric car almost vanishes when you get behind the wheel.

The Leaf is about the size of a Versa, but 100% of the Leaf is unique, including the razor-finned headlamps.

Everything seems familiar in the Leaf and if you’ve ever driven a Prius (which is likely if you’re considering the Leaf), even the center drive mode knob is familiar and can be mastered on the first drive. The only thing missing is the sound of four hamsters thrashing around in a so-last-century internal combustion engine.

When you press the start button, the car sounds a melodious chirp and the brightly-lit digital instrument panel springs to life and you’re ready to go. Nudge the selector knob to drive, press the accelerator pedal and without fanfare, you are driving the future. The electrons jump from the laminated (to manage heat) 24 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to the “high response” 80kW AC synchronous electric motor.

The Nissan Leaf Shift Knob. It feels good in your hand and it's very simple to use.

If you’re like me, you have no clue what that means. What I took away from my drive was that the Leaf accelerates briskly, stops and drives like an ordinary car with real-world, every day driving range. The 0-60 time is not spectacular – just under 10 seconds. The range is between 62 and 138 miles (average 100), depending on your use of climate control, driving style, speed, cargo and topography. Flat = good, hill = bad. The highly accurate range indicator is continuously calculating how much further you can go. There is no guesswork here.

The interior plastics and fabrics are made from post-consumer recycled materials. The driver’s seat lack the 16 power adjustments you’d find on a Porsche; but it has the normal seat adjustments you’d expect on an economy car. It’s just as comfortable, or uncomfortable as an economy car. I’m 6’1” tall and my legs just fit. The usual engine drone doesn’t exist; instead, road noise annoys you.

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Honda Uses Insight to Create the CR-Z

Posted: September 23, 2010 in Fuel Economy, Honda, Hybrids, Electrics and other "Green" Technology, Mazda
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I’ve always loved the idea of a weekend sports car. Something you take out early on Sunday morning, drop the top, wind your way up Laurel Canyon and then hit Mulholland Drive at reckless speeds and hope that you don’t get zapped with a radar followed by blue lights.

Years ago, I had just such a car. My bright red 1974 Porsche 914, with 911 rims shod in high performance Pirellis, could handle the job and more. With the Targa top off, it was a little slice of sunshine heaven. Alas, my little Porsche was challenged for space. There was no room behind the seats, no cup holders, no insulation and the glove box was good for, uh, gloves.

My 1974 red Porsche 914 - I miss it, but not the repair bills.

The mid-engine design meant I had front and rear trunk space, like the current Boxster. The rear trunk was just large enough for the Targa roof. The front trunk carried the car cover and a gym bag. This wasn’t the car for a run to Costco.

Two-seat sports cars always pose a dilemma for car shoppers. Anything from a Mazda MX-5 Miata to a Porsche Cayman to a Ferrari F458 have the same trade-offs. You can fit two people, but there isn’t much room for anything other than a couple overnight bags and small leather goods from Louis Vuitton. The fun quotient for these cars is through the roof as much as practicality flies out the window. They are personal expressions of the driver and the mechanical vibrations create pure driving ecstasy.

It’s easier to justify one of these indulgences if you have a mulit-car household or if you’re lucky enough to have a garage full of cars so you can choose a different one each day of the week. (more…)

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