tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022888953328060401.post2189182589926782985..comments2024-03-29T03:11:21.548-07:00Comments on DaveinOlyWA: TDI's Will Outlive MankindDaveinOlyWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745403231379474738noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022888953328060401.post-21762035869068489892015-11-04T11:12:01.751-08:002015-11-04T11:12:01.751-08:00I have a friend and a co-worker who also jumped on...I have a friend and a co-worker who also jumped on a 2015 close out deal after I told them the details. Without the deal, all 3 of us would not be EV drivers and owners. I didn't even look at the other EVs on the market because of the price, as most manufacturers sold only a few as compliance cars.<br /><br />The combination of a 24 kwh battery, low gas prices, and too much production generated the ideal conditions for us to buy. A 60 kwh battery would likely increase demand significantly. But all 3 of us only use ~10 kwh roundtrip per day, so a 2015 LEAF would work for us for a long time. Your needs max out the current battery, so a larger battery is almost a must.Leonard Yanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13797649147732910750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022888953328060401.post-69749687629808310742015-10-29T18:08:31.024-07:002015-10-29T18:08:31.024-07:00Thanks for the comments Leonard and I would normal...Thanks for the comments Leonard and I would normally jump on a 2015 close out deal but stories are leaking about a 60 kwh LEAF due out in a few years! Now that is what I want!DaveinOlyWAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16745403231379474738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022888953328060401.post-3079233763596968822015-10-27T11:26:41.316-07:002015-10-27T11:26:41.316-07:00I am a new LEAF owner (bought 10/3/2015) and my tw...I am a new LEAF owner (bought 10/3/2015) and my two ICEs are a 2006 New Beetle TDI and a 2009 Jetta Sportwagen TDI.<br /><br />I am not embarrassed to drive my TDIs, because I use 98% renewable diesel (Propel Fuels Diesel HPR "green diesel" - Neste Oil NEXBTL) that became available in early 2015 around where I live. That means that 98% of the CO2 generated by my TDI would be used by the plants to grow that fuel. So the non-cyclic part of it would be refining the plants into renewable diesel and transporting it from Finland/Netherlands/Singapore to the US. (Before 2015, I was using 20% biodiesel, which is largely non-cyclic, but still better than 100% dinosaur diesel.) In comparison, my LEAF uses electricity from the grid in California, 44% of which comes from burning natural gas, 6% from burning coal, and 15% from "unspecified sources" (2014 data).<br /><br />So why did I buy a LEAF? The main reason was the HOV sticker, after several failed carpools and the current carpool not being happy with the time spent in traffic. Combined with the clearance prices on 2015 LEAFs right now ($5k dealer discount + $5k NMAC cash w/ 0% APR for 6 years), the government incentives ($7.5k federal tax credit + $2.5k CA rebate), and free charging at work (again, bad for the environment because I'm using peak grid power, but $0 fuel costs), I am paying $100/month for a new car with an HOV sticker. If my current carpool (without a DL) continues, I get that $100/month back since I'm doing all the driving. Finally, having an EV allows me to switch to the EV rate, which according to my historic data usage, would save me $50 per month.<br /><br />So because of economics, politics, and traffic, I have actually become worse for the environment, and I put all this info in my CVRP survey (who knows if anyone will read it). If they were to give my diesel an HOV sticker for using 98% renewable diesel, I would have stayed in it and be more green.<br /><br />As for the NOx issue, the 500k cars in the US is estimated to emit 10k - 40k tons of NOx per year, instead of the expected 1k. In comparison, the UK emitted 350k just for energy production (a lot from coal) and 1000k total in 2013. (The reason the US doesn't generate much NOx for energy production is cheap natural gas)Leonard Yanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13797649147732910750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022888953328060401.post-44696205424582103722015-09-25T11:53:09.650-07:002015-09-25T11:53:09.650-07:00Thanks for the comments, Tom! Ya, its been a pret...Thanks for the comments, Tom! Ya, its been a pretty big mistake on VW's part and I can't for the life of me fathom how they thought they would never be caught. The only possible explanation is they felt the penalty would simply not be all that bad which leads me to believe that the fix is not very expensive but then again, if it wasn't that much more money, why take the risk? <br /><br />Guessing the fix will affect performance taking the "fun" out of driving them. Looks like all the Priuses will soon have a lot of company in the slow lanes :)DaveinOlyWAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16745403231379474738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3022888953328060401.post-22816044667113636502015-09-24T08:36:52.360-07:002015-09-24T08:36:52.360-07:00I have a TDI..only it's an '04 Passat so i...I have a TDI..only it's an '04 Passat so it's before the "clean diesel" program. <br /><br />While it is a great road car and now that most all of the sulphur has been removed from the fuel, it's way cleaner than it was when sulphur was 550 PPM..(won't smoke now, ) I am embarrassed to drive it after this horrific act on VW's part. I can't imagine ever buying anything from VW..the deceit has just been too great. <br /><br />(I drive my Leaf 95% of the time, using the Passat to go to my WI place as the distance is too great for the Leaf..but a Tesla would make it!! Donations anyone? Ha Ha.)<br /><br />I was aware of the meat issue and personally only eat meat about twice a month, which is about the number of times I drive the Passat!!<br /><br />Enjoy your blog.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />TomAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06405012851275076781noreply@blogger.com