The Nissan LEAF is Auto123.com’s Green Vehicle of the Year for 2012. There is a lot of negative energy surrounding electric vehicles, but I believe this to be a technology worth pursuing, particularly if you are a gearhead. Ask yourself what other type of powerplant provides 100% of the motor’s torque at full load and zero rpm?
That does not mean the fully electric vehicles like the Nissan LEAF will not hit the market without a few hiccups. Governments in three provinces (Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia) provide rebates and/or grants to purchasers, helping offset the extra costs of solving those potential hiccups.
Nissan LEAF, as all EVs (electric vehicles), requires a plug-in and the optimized charge voltage is 220 volts. Most of our houses have 220 V going in, but getting it past the fuse panel can be one of those hiccups I was mentioning.
It isn’t easy being green
Electrical code specifics are set out provincially, but there are standards accepted by every province, so setting up that dedicated charge line may take a bit of time to get done. Along the way, you will need to do a general survey of the electrical service going into your house and the amount of energy your lifestyle requires.
For example, if you live in a new house with an unfinished basement, running a dedicated 220 V line to the garage should not be difficult or expensive. If the basement is finished it still isn’t a big deal, just a bit more costly.
The other extreme is a 100-year-old house that has only had minimal upgrades done to the electrical system. To get that 220 V plug in, you may need to run a heavier line in from the power company as well as upgrade your electrical panel. That, in turn, may lead to other upgrades required by the province’s electrical code.
Most of us live in houses that are somewhere between these two extremes. Perhaps the power supply to the house is adequate, but the panel requires and upgrade. Or maybe like me, the panel would have been fine except that the electrician cheated and put a 48-breaker cover on a 36-breaker box so I didn’t have a choice on upgrading the box.
If you live in a condo or rent an apartment, buying a Nissan LEAF will require even more effort since most outside parking spaces have 110-volt outlets and leaving an expensive charging station out in the open creates a whole new set of problems.
Underground parking spaces can be a bit easier to deal with, since the power supply into the building is often adequate. The expense will be in getting it to your parking space. The solution could be as simple as trading spaces with someone who parks close to the electrical service panels.
No matter how you look at it, vehicles like the Nissan LEAF are here to stay. All we have to do is learn how to enjoy them!!
That does not mean the fully electric vehicles like the Nissan LEAF will not hit the market without a few hiccups. Governments in three provinces (Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia) provide rebates and/or grants to purchasers, helping offset the extra costs of solving those potential hiccups.
Nissan LEAF, as all EVs (electric vehicles), requires a plug-in and the optimized charge voltage is 220 volts. Most of our houses have 220 V going in, but getting it past the fuse panel can be one of those hiccups I was mentioning.
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| Nissan Leaf (Photo: Nissan) |
It isn’t easy being green
Electrical code specifics are set out provincially, but there are standards accepted by every province, so setting up that dedicated charge line may take a bit of time to get done. Along the way, you will need to do a general survey of the electrical service going into your house and the amount of energy your lifestyle requires.
For example, if you live in a new house with an unfinished basement, running a dedicated 220 V line to the garage should not be difficult or expensive. If the basement is finished it still isn’t a big deal, just a bit more costly.
The other extreme is a 100-year-old house that has only had minimal upgrades done to the electrical system. To get that 220 V plug in, you may need to run a heavier line in from the power company as well as upgrade your electrical panel. That, in turn, may lead to other upgrades required by the province’s electrical code.
Most of us live in houses that are somewhere between these two extremes. Perhaps the power supply to the house is adequate, but the panel requires and upgrade. Or maybe like me, the panel would have been fine except that the electrician cheated and put a 48-breaker cover on a 36-breaker box so I didn’t have a choice on upgrading the box.
If you live in a condo or rent an apartment, buying a Nissan LEAF will require even more effort since most outside parking spaces have 110-volt outlets and leaving an expensive charging station out in the open creates a whole new set of problems.
Underground parking spaces can be a bit easier to deal with, since the power supply into the building is often adequate. The expense will be in getting it to your parking space. The solution could be as simple as trading spaces with someone who parks close to the electrical service panels.
No matter how you look at it, vehicles like the Nissan LEAF are here to stay. All we have to do is learn how to enjoy them!!