First Nissan LEAF on eBay Motors did not sell

Posted on April 1, 2011 by jpwhitehome

Click to Enlarge

The first Nissan LEAF to go up for sale on eBay did not sell. This could be because of an unrealistic reserve price set by the seller, however the maximum bid placed provides us with insight as to the demand for this vehicle.

Several blog posts have indicated that price gouging is occurring in California, with dealers selling above MSRP to the tune of $50,000 per vehicle and buyers wanting to jump the line offering new owners $70,000. If the eBay sale is anything to go by, Continue reading →

Posted in Electric Car, Nissan LEAF | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Why I Hate Car Salesmen

Posted on March 30, 2011 by jpwhitehome

I purchase a vehicle infrequently. My current vehicle I have had 7 years, the previous 9 years. One main reason is that it is just cheaper to drive till they are worn out, one has many years of payment free driving. In fact my last two vehicles were purchased with cash so no payments for many years. Dave Ramsey would be proud 🙂

Another reason I buy infrequently – I am reminded of each time I buy a vehicle. Dealing with Car Salesmen is such a awful experience. I believe most people hate this experience, but for me, a very poor negotiator, it is especially painful. I always coming away feeling I’ve been robbed, and the feeling is probably founded in truth.

It started with the salesman’s revelation that the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit is only available to those who lease. Continue reading →

Posted in Nissan LEAF, Opinion | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Nissan LEAF – Scrunching the numbers

Posted on March 28, 2011 by jpwhitehome

Does the Nissan LEAF actually save you money?

Click to download spreadsheet

Quick Answer – Yes, if the cost of Gas is above $2.86 and the government offers incentives to the tune of $10,000.

If it wasn’t for the Government incentives, the financial case for the EV doesn’t add up. They are simply too expensive without the incentives right now. Hopefully costs will come down over time, the incentives won’t last forever.

How I compared the LEAF to an equivalent Gas vehicle.

There are a number of factors I considered in figuring out if it would make financial sense to purchase a Nissan LEAF instead of a gas vehicle.

  • Fuel consumption of each vehicle – I used EPA “combined”numbers only.
  • Cost of Fuel – Gas vs Electric. This is where the savings are.
  • Free fill-ups – Stores have indicated they will offer free charging.
  • Depreciation – LEAF costs more, so will depreciate more.
  • Maintenance Costs – Fewer moving parts should mean lower costs.
  • Capital Cost – Paying cash? The LEAF costs more so you have less money to invest.
  • Financing Cost – Not paying cash? The LEAF’s higher price means higher interest payments.
  • Insurance Cost – Nissan claim it’s cheaper to insure, I checked it out.
  • Level 2 Charger Cost – Installing a charger in ones garage is recommended.
  • Government Incentives – In Tennessee up to $10,000 is available.
  • Taxes – The LEAF is pricey, so you pay more sales tax.

I created a spreadsheet to compare a similarly outfitted Nissan Versa against the LEAF and also the Chevy Volt. Feel free to download the Excel Spreadsheet. Continue reading →

Posted in Cost Benefit, Electric Car, Nissan LEAF, Opinion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Nissan LEAF Test Drive

Posted on March 27, 2011 by jpwhitehome

The LEAF in action - click to enlarge

On March 26th 2011 Nissan held a test drive event for their all electric car, the Nissan LEAF at Franklin TN.

The Event

This was a source of disappointment. Nissan set up a series of tents on the Parking lot of their Headquarters in Franklin TN. It was a cold and damp day and the tents had no form of heat. Punters had to be content wearing multiple layers of clothes as they listened to a sales pitch and lined up to drive the LEAF’s. I had a 1pm appointment time scheduled. Other than quick registration, the appointment didn’t assure you of a  place in line or any priority, one lined up with walk-ins. The ‘refreshment’ lounge consisted of a cup of instant coffee and a packet of cheez-its. It made me feel the event was done on a tight budget. The guy delivering information about the car and the logistics of the event was both upbeat and informative. He was the only spark of life I saw that day (other than the car which is great BTW).

Battery Pack Mockup - Click to enlarge

The LEAF reservation system

I am on the list of 20,000 people who have first refusal on a  new vehicle. I have not taken advantage of this yet since I would never buy a vehicle without seeing it in person and have a test drive. Continue reading →

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