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Took my preschool son to OMSI (http://www.omsi.edu/), our local science museum today. Trip was previously planned, but as it turned out two other exciting things went on display there today: Samson, a complete T-Rex skeleton enjoying its first public exhibition -- and the Nissan Leaf tour (http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/tour.jsp?zipCode=97202)!

Unfortunately dozens of photographers, gawkers and "important people" were crowded around the car for its local debut, and my son's attention span was running short. I didn't get a terribly close look inside but it was still great to see it in person. 3 Observations:


Cargo area looks BIG for a car of this size. Looks longer front-to-back than that of a Prius, though of course I had no opportunity to measure it.
MFD in the center of the dash is HUGE! Must be about 12".
It looks a lot more like a Versa than the pics give away. There are a lot of surface styling cues (headlights, subtle creases in the sheetmetal, etc.) that distinguish it and make it look a bit more futuristic, but in person it looks a lot more like a "normal car" you see on the road daily than Nissan's photos, taken at artistic angles, might lead you to believe. I know Nissan is saying this car is based on a different car than the Versa, but its size, shape and proportion look an awful lot like the Versa hatch. It even has the same weird corner window at the lower front of the driver's door as the Versa!


Personally, I don't think that last point is a bad thing. It's going to look less "weird" to Joe six-pack than the Prius does, and after renting a Versa last month I thought it was a pretty decent little car.

Also, just did the math on ownership cost. WOW!

First off, I generally dismiss new cars out of hand as not worth the $. I've done the math over and over, and the extra depreciation, finance and insurance costs of a new car far outweigh the extra maintenance costs of a 6-8 year old car. Even the fuel savings of a new hybrid don't make it financially worthwhile versus a nicely aged non-hybrid -- nope, not even using my standard assumption of gas costing $4/gal. Of course it's NOT all about the money, but I do have a limited budget and must do the money math FIRST.

My assumptions, some of which are concrete and some are just educated guesses: 100mi effective range per 24kWh charge. Nissan's claim is based on a driving cycle that is optimistic for average drivers, but as a hypermiler I'm assuming I can still eke out 100 miles. $0.087/kWh for 100% renewable energy from my utility. Current finance rates from my credit union at 4.5% for used vehicles, 4.0% for most new vehicles, and 3.5% for new green vehicles. $24,000 purchase price after all tax credits are included (which could be high). $1200 depreciation per year (which might also be high). 1c/mile maintenance cost. Same insurance cost as a new Prius.

The result? Owning a Leaf is as cheap as any other commuter car I would consider. My calculations put the TCO at about $275/mo assuming 10,000 miles per year. That's as about $70/month less than our cost on the Golf TDI, and as cheap as anything else I've looked at. Other cars on which I've done the math and which come within $50 of the Leaf are the 2004 Matrix, 2004 Prius, 2002 Focus non-Zetec, 2003 HCH, 2001 Civic LX and 1998 Civic. And unlike the cheapest cars on my list (Civics) the Leaf is a hatch, which can be very useful even in town.

The biggest uncertainty is maintenance cost (virtually nil month to month, but someday that pack might need replacement). Yet even if I'm wrong by half on that point, the Leaf is one of the cheapest commuter cars I can own.

Again, WOW. This is pretty mind blowing. With the high buy-in cost I would not have thought the Leaf would be so financially attractive. Of course the environmental benefits, including the ability to power it virtually carbon-free, are a big plus. Good thing I have almost a year to think about it!

Hi Dan:

___That is absolutely and totally cool that you had the chance to see it live and in person!!! I hope it made an impression on your son as the vehicle he wants to own and drive someday as well too.

___Any pics by chance?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Thanks for doing the math -- that outcome was my impression, too. :)

Glad to hear someone else is coming to the same conclusion. I keep looking at it and thinking I must be doing the math wrong somewhere.

Thanks for your time spent informing us about the Leaf Dan. You do better than the manufacturer has so far. I am sure this car is going to sell well? Will be interesting to see how dependable they are over a year or so. :woot:
Cheers
Hal

A quick question though on calculating the TCO. I seem to remember reading somewhere that Nissan is going to lease the battery pack instead of selling it with the car to lower costs and protect the consumer against having to replace a battery pack. Do you know how much they are going to lease it for? If so, did you factor that in for your cost of ownership?

I know several manufacturers have talked about leasing the packs to consumers, but I haven't heard any confirmation that Nissan will be doing that with the Leaf. My assumption is that I am buying the car outright, pack and all.

It would be best to buy it outright.

Hi Dan:

___That is absolutely and totally cool that you had the chance to see it live and in person!!! I hope it made an impression on your son as the vehicle he wants to own and drive someday as well too.

___Any pics by chance?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hey Wayne,

Glad you're interested in the LEAF. We wanted to share some photos of the tour that we've uploaded to our official Flickr page here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44813421@N08/

Depending on what area you live in, you could have a chance to see the LEAF in person too. It's in Arizona this week and then moving east. All the tour dates and event information can be found on the official site here (http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf/events). Just enter your zip code.

We'd love to see you at the tour, so let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks!

Nissan LEAF Tour

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4156022220_6163a6f897.jpg

Hi Eric:

___Welcome to CleanMPG!

___As you can tell, you have quite a few CleanMPG fans and future purchasers waiting in line for it actual release right here in this thread.

___For a little CleanMPG background, I am linking just a few of the stories we have uploaded on the Leaf in just the past 2-months. And that that little known midnight release (US CST) you were probably involved with that only a few of us were awake at the time to put together in a fashion worthy of the Leaf :D As well as the Leaf gallery Nissan provided us in mid-November. Absolutely incredible and we keep our eyes on this one closely ;)

Nissan first to unveil affordable BEV_to the masses! (www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24005)

Nissan LEAF Photo Gallery (http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=631)

Nissan scholarship competition launches in conjunction with Nissan LEAF Tour (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26852)

Renault-Nissan alliance signs yet another Zero-Emission partnership (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26786)

Renault-Nissan signs another BEV_partnership Guangdong Province (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26600)

Renault-Nissan signs BEV_partnership with city of Saitama Japan (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26598)

Nissan starts registration for Japanese hand raisers of Nissan Leaf BEV (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26536)

Nissan Leaf... What’s in a name? (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26349)

Nissan’s Leaf heading to Mexico... (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26243)

Nissan’s Leaf BEV_on tour near you! (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26064)

Nissan and Sumitomo begin Li-Ion recycling business (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26030)

BEMs, BEV’s and PHEV’s FE_equivalent (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25764)

Nissan taking reservations for its Leaf BEV (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25491)

Nissan in Tokyo (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25713)

___Some of the CleanMPG staff including myself will see the LEAF in Detroit early next week but I hope that Nissan and yourself will allow one of us the opportunity to partake in the full-fledged press-launch when that time arrives sometime later this year or early next!

___Good Luck

___Wayne