Nissan Leaf electric car, test drives

[danwat1234]

Nissan has their new electric car coming out and they have this event called the Drive Electric Tour. Has anybody gone to one of these? There are a total of 23 events where consumers can test drive the Leaf and learn a lot about it.
You first sign in and get a yellow wrist band and then when your group is up you can start the tour thru a few enclosed structure where a tour guide shows you some of the technology of the car.

After these exhibits you can go on a test drive, and after that there is at least 1 car opened up so that you can mess with the controls and computer all you want (and look under the hood all you want as well!).

The car is a lot of fun to drive! Tons of torque at low speeds. I didn't have a chance to go on the highway with it.


What many people don't know is that you also can have the chance to win a Leaf. You make a 30 second movie on why you deserve to get the leaf and then Nissan posts this on their website. The person who recorded their video has to get others to vote on their video, and the person with the most number of votes wins an electric car!

Here is the link to the events thru December, I think you have to register and log in to see all the events, which go thru the end of March.
Nissan LEAF Electric Car | Events | Drive electric tour sponsored by the 100%25 electric Nissan LEAF


Also, could you look at my video and plz plz vote if you want to? I really want a go at winning this
https://www.drivenissanleaf.com/Win/...b=248ZRV8WHPN9

Cheers! And thank you for reading

[rickoff]

My vote is in. Hope that helps. Good luck

[danwat1234]

Thanks Rick

It is kind of a crummy video, it was on the spot and doesn't truly show what my projects would be for the car.

For instance, I would (try to) add cameras in the blindspots and connect them to the computer that refreshes the computer screen in the center of the dashboard, customized alarm system, train horns (under the hood so no additional air drag), gain 'root' access to the computer, ecetera!

With gaining 'root' access to the computer, mods and tweaks might be able to be made to the drivetrain, such as a larger battery pack and changing motor behavior. Very cool stuff for an engineering student like myself.


Oh and I made some videos while at the event of the car's controls, which include showing how much energy the heater takes, headlights, how quiet the windshield wipers are, ecetera.
youtube.com/danwat1234 --> click on "Date Added" to see the Nissan vids listed.

If anybody has question about the Leaf or electric cars in general, feel free to ask. I'm happy to help.

Finally, if you really like my Leaf video, plz pass it to friends for more votes

[rickoff]

What is the current, and true, freeway speed driving range of the Leaf?

[danwat1234]

Well, I suspect that it might be difficult to get 100 miles out of it.
According to this,
Nissan Leaf - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
even at 55MPH with the air conditioning on, only 70 miles was achieved, with the air conditioning on.
I don't think the air conditioning system takes much power either. The heater on the otherhand is a resistive heater so it takes gobs of power.

So if your like me and you drive above 60MPH all the time, i'd say 70 or so realistically, but I'm just guestimating.

[chughes372]

Vote for this guy

I voted for you and I sincerely hope you win! We need your kind of engineering to promote this vehicle and to improve it.
Am I the first 1 to vote for him!!?

[danwat1234]

Thanks chughes372 for voting for me. I only have until about 12/9/2010 to get votes, then the time is up.
Thanks everyone! If anyone wants a test drive, I live near Portland Oregon..

[Nadda]

I voted, good luck!