Recently there was a story published online talking about the longer range Nissan LEAF. Reading the story gave me the distinct impression that the story was mostly speculation likely built from bits and pieces of casual conversations from various Nissan employees.
It mentioned the SL getting more than double the range with possibly a more powerful motor as an option while the lower trims would see a smaller increase in range, all for a small increase in price.
I am hoping its all speculation and mostly false and the biggest reason is there is very little wrong with having an EV that gets 85 miles of range on a charge. A huge majority of commuters could easily make that work for them which would include nearly all their personal driving needs as well.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am all for longer range! Its the "small increase in price" comment that worries me. Ongoing battery tech improvements coupled with volume manufacturing should drive costs down in 2017. The sticker price is still a roadblock for many and Nissan cannot lose sight of the fact that a cheaper 85 mile LEAF would still be in high demand. Am I suggesting a new trim, the LEAF E for economy that keeps the 85 mile range but cuts the price several thousand from the current price? Yes, that is EXACTLY what I am saying!
Keeping shorter range EVs on the road means that public charging stations will still fill a need but the current setup is not working and we need to figure out a better way or the system will fail to receive the necessary funds to maintain itself. High power AC units combined with creating a "boutique" like atmosphere can accomplish this. Maybe "boutique" is not the right word but what if the charging station was not a station and was more like a center? Abandoned gas stations would be the right footprint. Have several charging stations both high power AC and Fast charge DC and design it like Starbucks. Make it attractive to want to hang out for an hour. Free wi-fi, data stations for laptops, music, and even enclaves sufficient enough for a 2-4 person impromptu EV owner's meeting to swap stories and share experiences.
But a longer range is still needed. Range variety will bring more customers in. There is a balancing act between the high sticker price and the perceived utility of the car. Too short a range with a high price, too high a price with ANY range, and simply not enough pegs for the board all tend to reduce the potential customer base. But if done right; Nissan can cover most of the market by doing at least 3 ranges. 85, 125 and "about 200" I think is the sweet spot. Tesla is a great car but for most, you are paying a huge premium for battery capacity that simply is not used very often. Most of us simply do not have the cash to pay for something that exclusive. If you do, great! but for the rest of us, Nissan; allow us regular people to have an effective 2 EV household that covers nearly all our driving needs without having to sell the house to afford it!!
In a world where everything leaves one feeling less and less secure, there is a hole to fill with respect to EV range..Sure for 100K one can feel secure in having a 200+ mile fuel tank, but as you said David..not many can afford the price...so...if Nissan can get that range, they will fill the perceived security hole for around 1/2 the price, which will be a good thing.
ReplyDeletekeeping the shorter range (and much cheaper) EV on the market when the longer range LEAF is released will spur the growth of 2 EV households. What I vision is the smaller, shorter range LEAF for a great price used primarily as single occupant commuting with the larger, more expensive longer range LEAF as a family car for the weekend excursions
DeleteThough I think that your dedicated EV cafe concept is still a reach, if one major restaurant chain committed to adding DCFC EVSE to a significant number of their restaurants throughout the region on a reasonable timeframe, that would be deserving of our support. Whether McD's, Shari's, or ........Starbux, we need a decent place to spend 20 minutes to an hour, not some cold dark corner of an empty lot. Walgreens' effort, though noble, was terribly uneven and though their locations are marginal for DCFC, they are generally awful for Level 2 EVSE.
ReplyDeleteI used to think that way too Jay but let me relate a recent experience. I go to Walgrens because 1) need a boost just in case 2) have 2 hours to kill before my next job. So I plug in there but there is nothing to do so I go across the street (which is not as easy as it sounds) to hang out at Jack in the Box doing some work, eating, etc. It would be nice if it was an all in one affair. Picture a lounge with food, refreshment, easy chairs, data centers and a big board that displays everyone who is charging and their status including estimated time to their designated charging goal. This makes hanging out a much easier thing to do!
DeleteSure we would love more range, but not at the cost of a heavier battery. We have a small PV system, the BMW is higher efficiency, and it would be in our garage if we could afford it. I'm not sure why there aren't 'lectric lounges around either, or at least Wi-Fi at the charging stations.
ReplyDeleteTesla did it right with the SC network. They made sure there was food, shopping, etc. very close by. Its not too late to change new sites. Its not like there a very large preexisting presence!
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