Yesterday, I reserved a Nissan Leaf Ev. Due for release here in the UK in March. Nissan were asking for a refundable deposit of £257 to secure a car. I went for black, with the optional solar cell spoiler that can draw 2 watts of energy to add to powering the myriad of controls the car has. And this morning, in the cold light of day I realise that there’s no way i’d spend £23,000 on a new EV (and thats if we get the £5,000 government grant for it).
Its a fantastic, unbelievable car and I love it. Its powerful, comfortable, roomy for an EV. Just check the video post below. And its pure electric. Real, unbridled joy took over yesterday and before I knew it I’d secured myself one. Then I told my wife, who reminded me of why we should keep our cars as is, and I knew that the warm glow of owning a new car wouldnt last. You see, we already have a roomy estate car with a big boot for those long journeys - 10 years old and still going strong. And we have a Gwiz - a small urban runabout EV that is on still on its first set of batteries and has a ton of life left in it yet. And the gwiz can still fit the kids in it, amazingly, and you get free parking, and it you can fit 2 in a bay. And thats before you mention how cheap the car is to power. And we live in London. The Leaf wouldnt provide us with a big boot for those long journeys and you cant fit more than one in a parking bay. And its range is only 100 miles so it cant really become your only vehicle. Not while the infrastructure for EV’s remain as it is. And then there’s the small issue of £23,000 to buy the car which really should go on more important stuff, were we to have it anyway.
So, within 24 hours I realise I’ll have to let that lovely Leaf go. I knew I’d never get it when I put that reservation in. But boy do I love that car, and all my EV mad mates were ordering them. I’ll have to sit and wait for a third hand Tesla in five years that sets me back £10,000. In the meantime, if you want one, and I highly recommend it, go to Nissans preorder site and bag yourself one. And then let me come and film you telling me how wonderful it is. Not that I’m jealous.
Comments