It was reasonably priced and started with the 2011 model year (I had one!). The Roadster was the only Tesla available at that time, and the Model S was released for the 2012 model year, but the base model cost 2x+ the cost of the top-trim Leaf.
It was popular because it wasn’t trying to impress anyone, and had the price tag to back it up.
Ehh the range was fine, I had a pretty degraded battery (nearing the required threshold for battery replacement) and it still got 75-80 miles on a charge consistently, and 5+ miles per kilowatt. The battery chemistry got a refresh in… 2013? To help defend against this. I live in the place that was most impacted by this, actually. The battery really doesn’t appreciate being fast charged in 115F (air) temps.
Afaik gen 2 still lacked active cooling, unless they fixed that. I’d like to get another gen 1, do a battery swap and heat pump upgrade, and enjoy it. That car was fantastic, other than wishlist items like AWD and getting more power (gotta go fast), it was perfect.
Well Nazi musk didn’t help.
People who did want electric didn’t want a Tesla.
And other options were less easy to find
But there are still good alternatives.
Like the Rivian
And the Olinia (still being developed in Mexico and inexpensive).
Probably others.
But Rivian seemed pretty popular
Anyone worried about the price of gas is not buying a $150,000 Rivian.
If you can charge at home, a used car with 50-100 miles of range is plenty. Much more affordable than buying new, too.
Me, looking at every Nissan dealership nationwide for the last 15 years: …
Nissan makes electric cars?
I didn’t know this. They sure don’t advertise it very well.
Wasn’t the Nissan Leaf the most popular EV pre-Tesla? Or am I just plain wrong…
They sold 650,000 of them.
It was reasonably priced and started with the 2011 model year (I had one!). The Roadster was the only Tesla available at that time, and the Model S was released for the 2012 model year, but the base model cost 2x+ the cost of the top-trim Leaf.
It was popular because it wasn’t trying to impress anyone, and had the price tag to back it up.
The first gen ones had a weak range and batteries failed because they lacked temperature control.
Gen 2+ are fine and really cheap used with 60,000 miles.
Ehh the range was fine, I had a pretty degraded battery (nearing the required threshold for battery replacement) and it still got 75-80 miles on a charge consistently, and 5+ miles per kilowatt. The battery chemistry got a refresh in… 2013? To help defend against this. I live in the place that was most impacted by this, actually. The battery really doesn’t appreciate being fast charged in 115F (air) temps.
Afaik gen 2 still lacked active cooling, unless they fixed that. I’d like to get another gen 1, do a battery swap and heat pump upgrade, and enjoy it. That car was fantastic, other than wishlist items like AWD and getting more power (gotta go fast), it was perfect.
I totally forgot about the leaf.
The Leaf was the first mass-produced affordable EV in the states
Well, technically the GM EV1 probably holds that title, but I agree with you in spirit.
Not mass produced, not available for most of the country, lease only and every car was crushed.
The EV1 was supposed to have demonstrated that EVs were not viable.
Not VIN 212, check out youtube channel, the Questionable Garage.
Ehh the EV1 wasn’t really mass-produced, it was also lease-only so GM could crush them for that sweet sweet oil bribe money.
Fuck you, GM.