Archive for June 14th, 2010

At a claimed 100 miles of driving range and a $25,280 price tag, the Nissan Leaf is one of the most attractive electric vehicle propositions out there.  It’s cheap to own and charge and is at the bleeding edge of zero emissions technology.

But would you still be interested in this electric wonder-car if the driving range were only 47 miles?

That’s exactly the problem Nissan faces as they try to manage expectations for the battery-powered future they so desperately want to lead.

Unlike gasoline-powered cars, the driving range of electric vehicles can vary dramatically with changes in the weather.  That’s mainly because the heating and air conditioning systems rapidly drain energy from the battery pack, trading miles of driving for a comfortable cabin.  Battery packs also have difficulty charging to a full 100% in cold weather when their chemical reactions are slowed by low temperatures.

The 100 miles of driving range that Nissan has quoted until now is based on the EPA’s “LA4″ testing cycle, which is designed to simulate urban traffic in Los Angeles.  Commute on any stretch of road other than the 405 freeway and your mileage will undoubtedly vary.

Forbes was at a press event in Japan last week when Nissan unveiled a detailed list of scenarios to help drivers outside the City of Angels know what to expect:

• Cruise around leisurely at 38 miles per hour on a comfortable, 68-degree day in San Francisco and the Leaf’s driving range jumps to an impressive 138 miles.
• Crawl along in dense traffic at 6 miles per hour on a hot, 86-degree day in San Diego with the air conditioner at full blast and the Leaf’s range wilts to a mere 47 miles.
• Jog among suburban traffic at an average speed of 24 miles per hour on a warm, 77-degree day in Orange County and you’ll make it for 105 miles, provided you don’t turn on the A/C.
• Suffer through a 95-degree heat wave in Nashville while traveling at 55 miles per hour with the A/C on and you can expect a range of about 70 miles.
• Skate around Manhattan on a 14-degree winter day at an average speed of 15 miles per hour and you’ll make it for about 62 miles.

Not all of these scenarios are flattering but Nissan is quick to remind that electric vehicles do have a few nifty tricks up their sleeves.  Leaf drivers, for example, can use Nissan’s iPhone app to pre-heat or pre-cool the car while it’s still plugged in to a charging station.  This makes the car more comfortable for the driver’s arrival and minimizes the need for air conditioning while on the road, preserving the battery’s charge for driving.

And don’t worry: Japan’s third-largest automaker assures that the radio and windshield wipers and other electronic features have a negligible impact to driving range.

New technologies often require new thinking and we think that Nissan was wise to be transparent and set expectations before the Leaf come to market this winter.  How has this new information affected your interest in the car?

Another runaway vehicle?

Local Louisville news station, WLKY reports that a Kentucky woman was driving on Interstate 64 with her twin daughters when she claims to have experienced sudden unintended acceleration in her 2008 Chevrolet Equinox.  Marlene Taylor says that she set the cruise control and then watched in horror as the vehicle began to accelerate uncontrollably to 90 miles per hour.

Taylor called 911 through her vehicle’s OnStar system and was instructed to put the vehicle in neutral.  She claims that she was unable to do so and the operator asked her to engage the parking brake and to try pulling up on the accelerator pedal with her foot.  Taylor again claims that neither maneuver worked.

The Kentucky Highway Patrol was dispatched to help and finally caught up to Taylor’s vehicle around mile marker 58.  After thirty miles and twenty minutes of intense driving, one officer positioned his cruiser in front of the Equinox and was able to bring the situation to a halt.  It is unclear if Taylor was able to stop the Equinox on her own or if the highway patrol officer had to use his cruiser to forcibly slow the vehicle.

Marlene Taylor has since hired attorney, William McMurry who announced, “We simply want the manufacturer to investigate thoroughly.”  No lawsuit has yet been filed, though McMurray says that he has already contacted General Motors to request a full investigation.

With so few details available at this point, it’s unclear if the incident was staged or real.  Why did Marlene Taylor’s car not accelerate past 90 miles per hour, for instance?  Why also did her attempt to place the transmission in neutral fail?

Toyota experienced a similarly sensational episode in March when Prius driver, Jim Sikes led police on a wild chase on the freeways outside San Diego.  Electronic and physical evidence from the Prius later suggested that there were significant holes in Sikes’ story, backed up by large debts and a former business associate who alleged that Sikes was an untrustworthy con man.

Time will tell if Marlene Taylor is the new Jim Sikes or if her harrowing experience means that automakers still must work to convince a nervous public that there are no ghosts in their machines.

UPDATE: General Motors refutes Taylor’s claims following an investigation of the vehicle.  Click here for the full story.