Thread: Brzi pogon: 2011 Nissan Leaf (dio 2)

Upravo sam završio provesti nekoliko dana s 2011 Nissan Leaf. Prošlog tjedna sam opisao kako sam polako vozio sve-električni automobil iz Los Angelesa do moje kuće u Santa Barbari – udaljenosti od 111 milja. Tek sam ga napravio jer je baterija skoro potpuno ispražnjena. Ono što me najviše impresioniralo bilo je točnost procijenjenog raspona prikazan na visokoj tehnologiji digitalne nadzorne ploče.

Nakon što je dokazao da auto može putovati preko 100 milja na punu naboj, onda sam vozio list kao da je običan auto s benzinskim pogonom. Potrebno je 24 sata za potpuno punjenje baterije pomoću ugrađenog punjača koji je spojen na 120-Volt utičnicu u mojoj kući. Onda sam ga vozio u ekonomično modu 30 milja na autoputu na granici brzine. Predviđeni raspon je pokazao 75 milja na kraju mog putovanja. Nastup je bio pomalo spor jer sam mogao osjetiti kako me akcelerator drži unatrag od ubrzanih ubrzavanja. Izrada 18-kotača u jednoj fazi osjećao dobro kao raspon počeo rasti!

Na povratku od 27 milja sam vozio u regularnom modu kao da sam u sportskom automobilu. Nisam bio razočaran – izvedba je više nego prihvatljiva. Jer imate maksimalni zakretni moment na bilo kojoj brzini, motor odmah reagira. Nisam imao problema s prometom koji je bio iznad ograničenja brzine. Nije iznenađujuće, ova vrsta vožnje se isušuje i navedeni raspon je bio samo 29 milja do kraja mog putovanja. U suštini sam skoro prepolovio svoj domet na oko 60 milja vožnje velikom brzinom.

Tijekom sljedećih nekoliko dana uživao sam u vožnji lista po gradu – dobro se rukuje i prilično je prostran. Također mi se sviđa izgled auta, iako je moja žena mislila da je ružna. Ne bi mi bilo žao da posjedujem jednu ako nikad nisam vozio više od 70 milja u danu.

Iskreno, najveće razočaranje za mene je bila cijena punjenja. Potrebno je 1. 4kW na 120 volti za punjenje. Plaćam 29 centi po kWh uključujući poreze, itd tako da me košta oko $8 da se u potpunosti napuniti list — o istoj cijeni po milji kao automobil uzimajući 45 MPG. Shvaćam da je u mnogim dijelovima zemlje stopa je daleko niža, a tu su čak i teško diskontiranim električne cijene. Ako ste dovoljno sretni da živite u tako naprijed razmišljanje području, električni automobil radi puno manje skupo.

Najveće iznenađenje? Otvorite kapuljaču-prosječan ne-tech osoba će misliti da je redoviti benzinski motor, potpuno s radijatorom, rashladni spremnik i ono što izgleda izuzetno poput Cam Cover.

Ive just finished spending a few days with a 2011 Nissan Leaf. Last week I described how I slowly drove the all-electric car from Los Angeles to my home in Santa Barbara – a distance of 111 miles. I only just made it as the battery was almost fully discharged. What impressed me most was the accuracy of the estimated range displayed on the high-tech digital dashboard.

After proving the car could travel over 100 miles on a full charge I then drove the Leaf just as if it were a regular gasoline-powered car. It took 24 hours to fully recharge the battery using the built-in trickle charger hooked up to a 120-volt outlet at my house. I then drove it in the Economy mode for 30 miles on the freeway at the speed limit. The predicted range showed 75 miles at the end of my trip. The performance was somewhat sluggish as I could feel the accelerator holding me back from accelerating too briskly. Drafting an 18-wheeler at one stage felt good as the range started to increase!

On the return 27-mile trip I drove in regular mode as if I was in a sports car. I was not disappointed — the performance is more than acceptable. Because youve got maximum torque at any speed, the motor responds instantly. I had no problem keeping up with traffic traveling well above the speed limit. Not surprising, this kind of driving is draining and the stated range was only 29 miles by the end of my trip. Essentially I had almost halved my range to about 60 miles driving at high speed.

During the next couple of days I enjoyed driving the Leaf around town – it handles well and is quite roomy. I also like the looks of the car, even though my wife thought it was ugly. I would have no qualms owning one if I never drove more than 70 miles in a day.

Frankly, the biggest disappointment for me was the cost to recharge. It takes 1. 4kW at 120 volts to charge. I pay 29 cents per kWh including taxes, etc so it cost me about $8 to fully recharge the Leaf — about the same cost per mile as a car getting 45 mpg. I realize that in many parts of the country the rate is far lower and there are even heavily discounted overnight electric rates. If youre lucky enough to live in such a forward thinking area, an electric car works out much less costly.

The biggest surprise? Open the hood – an average non-tech person would think its a regular gasoline engine, complete with a radiator, coolant tank and what looks remarkably like a cam cover.