Drivng a Nissan Leaf 3 is an eye-opener
Take electric cars. They are boring, slow and, well, not real cars.
Granted, their eco credentials are laudable, and the financial savings attractive. But still.
Well, my experience of the Nissan Leaf 3 — the third generation since 2010 — was an eye-opener.
It’s quiet. And smooth. Quiet and smooth in a way your ‘normal’ car isn’t. There is only the slightest whirring of noises.
The test drive laid on by Nissan was pretty spectacular: first along the French Riviera, from Nice to Monaco, and then around the famous Monte Carlo Rally, the mountainous Col de Turini.
You press a button to start the car, an appropriately simple action for such a hassle free car. The ‘gear-stick’ is a round disk with three settings: drive (forward), reverse and B mode (which, I gathered, is a recharging setting when going downhill).
It’s hard not to be distracted from the car driving through famous parts of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit — the casino, Lowes hairpin corner and the tunnel.
You pass tourists lounging in outdoor cafes sipping €6 espressos and €15 glasses of beer and glamorous ladies out walking their toy dogs.
The Nissan Leaf glides around the tight bends and narrow streets, in a satisfying and utterly pleasant way.
The Col de Turini is a decent test for the car, given the endless number of hairpin bends, tight spaces and jutting rocks.
The Leaf takes the demands in its stride, with strong handling and reassuring breaking.
Coming downhill, you slot into B gear. You immediately feel a drag effect, as if you are being pulled back slightly. As you break, you recharge the battery in the car.
As you reach the bottom of the circuit and the road levels out, the driver is tempted to be a bit cheeky and knock off the eco mode on the steering wheel.
Here you are hit with a real treat, and a surprise one at that.
Putting your foot down on the throttle, the car flies off, with a jet-like sensation.
And there’s another quality to that sensation, and it is one of lightness.
The biggest selling point for two of the three new Leaf models is the extended battery life — always an issue for prospective buyers. Nissan claims the new battery can now reach 250km, up from 199km in the last model.
Now, that depends on where you are driving. On a motorway, at motorway speeds, that would drop. As would having the heating or air conditioning on.
Even still, Nissan say this reach is the “best in class” and they hope it will copperfasten its position as the best selling electric car in Europe.
The charging network is a common major concern for drivers.
The ESB say there are 1,200 public charge points available across the island of Ireland, including fast charges on all major motorways (Leaf should charge to 80% in 30 minutes), located every 60km or so.
Cork is one place leading the charge here, with the Drive4Zero campaign. There are some 70 charge points and free parking in Q-Park’s four Cork car parks, each of which have two chargers installed.
The cost savings are significant. There is a zero rate of VRT, there is an initial purchase grant of €5,000 and reduced road tax.
ESB estimate that an electric car costs 1-2 cent per km compared to 10-12c for conventional cars.
The purchase price for a new electric is the only thing that is more expensive than conventional cars.
ESB estimate the total cost of ownership is 37c per km for a conventional car, compared to 26c per km for the previous model of the Leaf.
The costs are set to change next January, with ESB set to charge drivers €17 monthly for unlimited access to standard chargers, with a fast charge costing €7.50.
Nissan research indicates the average Leaf driver does about 50km per day.
It certainly would be an attractive car for the commuter and, if you have the money, an excellent second car.
One concern this driver would have is ironically based on its quietness. In busy estates, with kids running around the place, I would be nervous, particularly reversing.
That concern aside, the blinkers are off.
Three new Leaf models will be on sale from January. The Leaf XE will cost €21,490 (ex dealer charges), Leaf SV €23,990 (+€3,000 for the extended battery) and the Leaf SVE €26,390 (+€3,000 for extended battery).
