Range Anxiety Analysis

I posted the other day that I actually made it to work and back and that I'd share some analysis of the range. So here it is.

There are some different options for getting to work and back. There's a 25 mile one way route on back roads and a 30 mile highway route on the Mass Pike and 128. I tend to leave between 5:15 and 5:45am so there's no traffic on either. The highway will take me about a half hour and the back roads 45 minutes or so.

Running on Empty

Our family has lots of lessons. Currently the kids have (combined) the following activities: Kumon reading, Karate, a Bo weapons class, Russian Math for algebra and geometry, piano lessons for each, drum lessons, drama class, science club, and the town theatrical production. This translates to a lot of running around town.

Passing with Flying Colors

Yesterday was the big test. Can I get to work and back? If not we basically have a $405/month eco friendly doorstop...or giant Mophie Juice Pack for my iPhone...and I'd be investing in a high intensity headlight for my bike.

Bun Warmers

Sunday was cold.  Really cold. Like, Antarctica cold.  And on top of that it was windy as hell.  On the plus side, Wachusset should have pumped out boatloads of snow for a base we can enjoy later this year.

Anyway, we decided to bail on running outside and instead piled the family in the car and headed to the gym at the Y.  An excellent opportunity to test out the climate control on the LEAF.

Can We Get There From Here?...And Back Again?

Range anxiety. The giant roadblock for the current generation of electric vehicles. Unless of course you have a hundred grand lying around for a Tesla.

The EPA average for the Nissan LEAF is 75 miles on a full charge. But an average of what? The average of 65 and 85 is 75. 65 will get us both to work and back (a little more comfortably for me). But 75 is also the average of 45 and 105 and 45 will leave me somewhere in Sudbury on my way home.

Charge it to my Account

OK. So maybe we were a bit too anxious to get the car home. Decided we didn't need (or want?) to wait for an electrician to put in the 240V outlet. Hey! it charges off regular 120V. So what if it takes 21 hours? We can manage our schedule around that. And anyway, the first quote was for $1450. That was a bit more than the $250ish I was hoping and want to get a couple more quotes before I write a check.

So we drive home from the dealer. Run some kid drop-off and pick-up errands. And then for the inaugural charging. We promised to let Leland do it so I unpacked the charging cable, read and promptly ignored the voluminous warning label taped to it. Plugged it into the wall and handed the other end to Leland.

Taking the New Baby Home

The whole process of getting our new 2013 Nissan LEAF took about two weeks from the time when Limey said, "You know, I've been thinking. Maybe you're right. Maybe we could do an electric car." This kicked off a week of online research and a whole lot of Facebook messages back and forth exploring all sorts of calculations.

The End of an Era

Limey confessed last night that he was surprisingly sad about giving up his 2003 Maxima SE. Now, I will admit to being irrationally attached to the 2004 Honda Odyssey we are keeping, but that has 220,000 miles of childhood on the odometer. The Maxima, to me, was always just too precarious. Either I was worried about an expensive repair or hitting a traffic jam.

The Deed is Done

Trade in assessed. Credit check performed. Paperwork signed.

We are now the proud lessees of a 2013 Nissan LEAF.

Delivery to be scheduled momentarily.

Let the adventure begin.

Location:Milford Nissan