A LEAF in the Sunshine State

[xcel]

“We've managed to live with the car for a year and a half now. Our son is 9-months old and he's never been in a gas powered car.”

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Sept. 18, 2012

2012 Nisan LEAF – $35,200 to start and a 73 mile all-electric (or should we say only ) electric range.

For 2013, rumors of more range, larger or a different chemistry within its Li-Ion pack abound but to this date, Nissan is keeping very mum.

Enhancements added to the 2012 model include a standard battery heater, heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, heated outside mirrors and rear HVAC duct on all models. Also, a Quick Charge Port is now standard on the LEAF SL.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ratings for the Nissan LEAF reveal a 73 mile all-electric range and a 99 (MPGe) equivalency rating (combined city/highway), along with a rating of 106 MPG city and 92 MPG highway ratings.

In the above Nissan video release, a family from the Orlando, FL area was documented bringing a personal touch to the future of mobility.

Meet Shannon and Christin Monroe, their baby, and their LEAF.

The family decided to go electric with the Nissan LEAF 18 months ago and in that short period, have logged nearly 24,000 commuting miles traveling to work, running errands and driving around town.

Shannon Monroe:

“Orlando has over 300 chargers in the city so it is pretty easy to find a charge anywhere you go. There are more outlets than gas stations.

There is nothing we have given up by going to an electric car.

Life is just so much easier with this car. You just plan your day and go where you want to go.”

In fact, their son has never had a ride in anything but an electric car. Some might call him an eBaby!

Shannon’s wife Christin added:

"I can't imagine us having anything but an electric car in the future."

[psyshack]

How did there last road trip work out for them? Just asking?

[xcel]

Hi Jeff:

Probably a lot less expensive than mine did

In reality they have a second car for that but apparently have not had to go far in the 18-months since they purchased the LEAF.

Wayne

[herm]

I bet they have lost a battery capacity bar or two.. Orlando heat can be nasty in the Summer, but you do get a regularly scheduled thunderstorm in the early afternoon, then its nicely cool until nightfall.

[chilimac02]

That is some nasty humidity. I prefer the edge of the desert over here.

[herm]

After the afternoon monsoon its pretty nice in Orlando, cool and fairly dry, usually the winds die down just before nightfall and the fish start to bite.. you want to see humidity nothing beats the middle of the Everglades swamp in the middle of the night when I'm doing astronomy.. your hair actually gets sopping wet when the dew settles, and this is in the winter months.. in the summer the mosquitos would eat you alive. You get used to it, otherwise Miami is fairly temperate since its surrounded by ocean.

[KennyG]

Hi, all,

New guy here. This is my first post. I Just leased a 2012 Leaf SL. I'm REALLY happy with it. This makes me think I should move to Orlando... We go down at least once a year anyway.

I'm also learning hypermiling tricks along the way. I've already increased my average Miles/KWh from 3 something to 5.2. That works out to about 125 miles/charge. Anyone who can only get 78 miles should be ashamed of themselves.

As soon as I figure out how, I'll write a piece about my first month with Sparky, my Leaf.

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Welcome, Kenny! You are the 4th LEAF owner I'm aware of on the forums.

[iluvmacs]

Loving my Leaf every day... just at 5000 miles now in 9 months!