One week in the Leaf

It's just over a week since the Leaf landed. I am very pleased that we beat the largest lease company in the UK to get ours on the road -  if only by a week.

So far the range has not proved to be a major barrier - closest moment on range was earlier in the week when it got down to showing 8 miles as I arrived home after a day zipping across the Thames Valley. Although a trip to Manchester demanded that I get back in my E class for a day.

When driven hard ( and I cannot publish how fast it went but it was pretty quick ) and uphill on the A404 up to High Wycombe the range of the Leaf drops off at a rate of  a mile every 300 yards. The acceleration is really very impressive in normal drive mode with bags of torque. I think total range if driven this hard would be well under 50 miles.

If driven as intended and using the ECO Drive option 110miles actually works without the Aircon on. I found that I use the normal drive like a boost button and then settle back to ECo for most driving.

I have only charged 3 times and used it daily. Being an old motor trade laggard has lead my colleagues to run a book on how long the habit of “running on red" gets me into trouble. Some habits die hard even when it only costs £1.45 to fill it up!!!

We have now agreed the first of a series of trials with Local Authorities and Inner city service providers (some parking wardens) to see how this really works in a business application. I have to say the reception is pretty enthusiastic from nearly everyone I meet with it - the automotive equivalent of having a cute puppy.

Overall now the novelty of the milkfloat soundtrack has passed it just feels like a regular car - albeit a quick petrol auto - which you don't get to drive that often these days in this segment of car.

Today the Leaf is getting some graphics applied so I'll post some pics once we have it back.

The Leaf has landed!

Very excited here at Fleetdrive today as we took delivery of our Nissan Leaf. the "Buck Rogers " quiet electric whine as it pulled of the trailer was slightly intriguing as I wondered how all the pedestrians in Marlow High Street would cope without the added warning of engine noise!

It's fairly spacy in side - easily more room than a Golf or Focus in the rear.

The Spec of the car is starting to make it not look so expensive at £26k same spec for a Golf Diesel would be £23655 list and £21446 after discounts.

Car comes with Very comprehensive touchscreen satnav including links to Nissan to show you nearest charge point. You can even set up charging and see how charge is going on your phone or over the web. Rear Camera for parking is pretty useful and also has iPod connection etc. as you would expect.

One disappointment - seeing as this is a piece of fairly important automotive history. No one even gives it a second look. Unlike the Prius it lacks the quirky appearance which on second thought is really a big plus point for residual value (who remembers the original Honda Insight - now that was full on Buck Rogers and was out of date faster than a German cucumber).

My initial drive was fairly short but performance seems OK might be a bit different on the motorway - we will see over the next few weeks.

Looking forward to find out if range anxiety is real or just a figment of our imagination.

More next week once we have tried to run it out of charge a few times.

As usual brits got there first ( and made no money!)

We found this fantastic ad on ebay for possibly the first Hybrid car. Unbelivably it was Derek Trotters favourite manufacturer Reliant who developed a Hybrid Car back in the 80's.