Electric Cars Hit the Market
Electric cars have arrived, with the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt both being released at the end of 2010. These will be the first mass produced electric cars, as opposed to the hybrids that have been for sale in previous years. Which of these two cars should you buy if either?
How Far Can These Electric Cars Drive On a Single Charge?
2010 Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is advertised as 100% electric, running 100 miles before needing to charge. The Chevy Volt runs on battery power for only 40 miles before a small petrol engine takes over, making it more of an extended-range hybrid than a fully electric car. This means that the Nissan Leaf has the environmental benefit of being a zero-emissions vehicle, while the Volt is only partially zero-emissions. The Chevy Volt, however, can drive a total of 300 miles before needing to be charged, making it a more versatile car.
Roadside Assistance for Electric Cars
Nissan is going to offer an unlimited roadside assistance plan costing about $18 a month, to help alleviate fears of getting stranded on the road without power. If the vehicle runs out of power, Nissan will pay for the vehicle's towing and charging fees. Meanwhile, Chevy says that the Volt will have a roadside assistance plan standard to Chevy vehicles and will also come with their OnStar service.
The Price of the Chevy Volt Compared to the Nissan Leaf
The Chevy Volt will be coming out with a price tag of $41,000. The base models of the Nissan Leaf are expected to be priced at $32,800. This price difference could be the deciding factor for many consumers. GM (Chevy) is trying to compensate for the larger price tag by making the lease price comparable to that of the Leaf. The cost of both these cars are offset by the $7,500 federal tax rebate. But one also has to consider the cost of having a charging station installed into one’s garage, a job requiring a licensed technician and a permit from the city. Because of its complex engineering including the extra parts required for a combustion engine, the Volt is predicted to cost more in maintenance than the Leaf. One benefit of the fully electric Leaf is less maintenance requirements than traditional cars.
Range Anxiety, Charging Time, Roominess & Limited Releases
2010 Chevy Volt
Another consideration for many consumers is “range anxiety“. Range anxiety is the fear that the battery will die out miles from a charging station. In this respect, the Volt wins out because of its backup engine. Leaf buyers, meanwhile, will have to plan on shorter trips, and seriously consider the locations of charging stations on road trips. This may not be a problem for the average driver, however, as most people drive less than 100 miles a day anyway.
Since the Leaf has a larger battery, it takes 16 hours to charge in a 110-volt station or 8 hours at a 220-volt station, while the Volt only takes 8 hours to fully charge at 110-volt charging station or 4 hours at a 220-volt station. As far as
the battery warranties go, the Leaf and Volt are tied, as both companies are offering an 8 year 100,000 mile battery warranty.
Electric Car Performance
One might wonder about the performance of these two vehicles. Well, being electric cars, they are much quieter than the vehicles one may be used to. According to many reports, these cars handle driving conditions quite well, providing for a smooth ride, negotiating traffic and climbing hills with ease. The Nissan Leaf claims to go from 0 to 60 mph in ten seconds, while the Chevy Volt claims to take only 8.53 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph.
One last consideration for prospective buyers is size. Chevy Volt has room for only four passengers, while the Nissan Leaf can comfortably fit five.
Home Charging Station
Release Dates for the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt
These two cars will be released in only a few cities to start, and then go national within the coming months or even years. The Leaf will have a bigger initial release, with presales up to 17,000 while Chevy is only releasing 10,000 Volts during the first year. Basically in comparison, the Chevy Volt would be a better all purpose, long-range vehicle, while the Nissan Leaf is more environmentally sound. These cars will each appeal to slightly different consumers, and thus, both have the potential to go a long way down the more environmentally friendly road.
All things considered, the cost benefits of these vehicles would take many years to realize. The convenience of home charging is a perk, and they are much quieter and cleaner machines than gas cars. Whether they will catch on, no one knows, but it is a promising opportunity for environmentalists.
Image sources: aol.com,
insideline.com,
autolanddaily.com,
leaf-age.com
