Video idea: next time you guys have a more modern EV, have Mary do a follow-up week in it to compare and contrast. Great job Mary. I like your down to Earth review style
Agreed here. This reminds of me of the first EVs that had low range and the range anxiety was a real thing. Most EVs these days are going to give you a lot more than the Leaf does as far as range goes. Mary is spot on here, the Leaf is good for someone who uses their car to run around town, not commute.
The more the Mary-er. Sorry, I just had to. I definitely agree. It's very common for EV content creators to be very either or. They are either EV enthusiasts or they are EV haters. This channel often tends more towards the enthusiast, which I usually don't mind, however I also find it very refreshing to renew my perspective as a novice. 9 years ago I was a fresh EV owner, with a medium/small battery. After 4 years I switched to get one that could tow trailers. While my primary reason to switch was to tow trailers, I have also learned to appreciate the larger battery for more range, as well as more power at relies chargers. I very much agree with the essentials of this video. - Driving an EV, I'd recommend to always be mindful about charging. Understand your vehicle, and know your primary options, as well as backup alternatives. (Once you get used to it, it's usually not difficult or much work at all, but it's very different, and can feel alienating and stressful in the beginning). - To have an EV, I think it's important to have a plan for convenient charging for every day use. Primarily where you park over night, but alternatively at your work place. Essentially be able to reliably charge what you need for daily driving while being parked, and importantly, without feeling that you are forced to wait, because you have other things to do anyway. - One thing I think is often misjudged, is how some people think they need the fastest level 2 charger if they switch to an EV with a large battery. Yes if you regularly use most of the range and need to fully recharge yes you need fast charging. I would however argue that you only need enough to recharge (slightly more than) the average you use, and you'll eventually get a high state of charge again. If you have a small range, it's much more important to recharge, because you don't have much range left after an average day.(I used to have a charger that defaulted to 1.4 kW after any drop of power, and it could go weeks before I bothered to push a button to increase it to 2.3 kW, because 1.6 was enough.) If I regularly come home late with a low state of charge, and plan to do a long trip the next day, of course I need more power, but if I expect to drive less than 30 miles/50 km, even 1.6 kW for 6 hours is probably enough
Yeah she was being a good sport in the beginning with the "intro" commentary skit to answer questions a lot of folks who never owned an EV would ask. But yeah, having more presenters on this channel would be great!
This small hatchback has more usable room in the back than a Tesla 3. We have a 2022 Leaf SV plus. The plus with a bigger battery has 210 miles of range. We like the surround view camera, rear proximity sensors, solid metal roof, real door frames and buttons for control. It’s a great around town car, not great for long road trips. For road trips we use a Subaru Outback. To summarize, if you have a garage for level 2 charging (ex. Dryer outlet) this is a great second car. Overnight charging is usually all you need. We’ve never had to look around town for a charger.
I don't think most media outlets are shouting loud enough that at-home Level 2 charging should be a prerequisite for EV ownership. Almost all of the charging problems Mary experienced would be irrelevant if she could charge it to 90 or 100% overnight. The fact that the Leaf is the ONLY CHAdeMO equipped new vehicle on sale makes it all 10x worse; every CHAdeMO plug was occupied by someone who could've taken a CCS-only charger. The folks at Ford *finally* figured it out when they offered to cover installation of at-home charging with new EVs, instead of providing "free" public charging. Other EV manufacturers need to figure out how to include an at-home charger in the monthly payment, whether it's a rebate or a voucher type agreement.
It's a bit of a cruel joke to throw the new ev owner out there with a chademo. But on the other hand, $9/mo. Tesla is almost certainly the best choice for someone new to EVs and leaf would be right down near the bottom. But... All that said, entertaining video!
@@thedopplereffect00I only have level 1 at home for my Bolt. I drive very little during the week, but I go about 170 miles most Saturdays. I rarely need to go to a L2 public charger because I can usually charge for a few days at home before the next 170 mile drive.
Good video Tommi/Mary, this is good to get a perspective from a young driver who travels 80 miles daily for work, she is in the 5% that do, most videos on youtube of EV driving is by older people and sometimes 2 generations difference in ages the experience is always very different, the older driver/owners are usually 90% of the time set up at home for charging, so its like set it and forget it, virtually no planning in Mary's case, she has to plan all the time and with Boulder being one of the most plugged in cities in the USA, its even a pain in the ass to find a charger with the video example just shown, she did well, she kept it all laid back and easy and took it in stride and gave us the facts ,no fluff or drama like the average EV UA-cam owner does,Mary is breath of fresh air to the TFL team you were wise to hire Mary she has a bright future ahead of her 👍
Honestly (sounds of thunder as I've been a car nut since I was a baby 50 years ago) one of these is perfect for my commute. I said it, I don't like it, but I said it. Ideally, we all have something like this to bang around in traffic, where they're perfectly suited, and then we have a big SUV, van, truck, or luxury gas car for going long distances or on vacation, or going camping or towing trailers or any other activity where you need more space and range.
I owned a Nissan leaf for 3 years. It was the perfect car for commuting back and forth to work. Dirt cheap. It was also very comfortable and functional inside. I didn't care about CHADEMO because I never used it. The only reason I got rid of it is because my family was growing and we needed something with more space to hold cargo and bigger kids
I agree completely with Zoe! Just one suggestion, please please please, Mary get in the habit of always driving with both hands on the wheel at 3and 9 o'clock, it literally may save your life and/or someone else's someday.
Not sure I’ve watched a more hypothetically relatable video. This was a great watch. The reality of this group of people is great. No BS, just honesty. Keep it up.
This was really fun and interesting. Thanks Mary! The insights of a new EV owner are interesting to see. Don’t currently drive an EV, but thinking maybe in the next two years. Hope to see more of Mary on camera, guys. Keep up the good work!
Long charge times at home aren't so bad. It doesn't really matter whether it took 4 hours, or 7 hours to charge, as long as it's ready in the morning. If you regularly travel long distances, the charge cable can be adapted to plug into a standard 240 volt outlet, exactly the same as an electric stove, or electric cloths dryer. That will allow a 7.5 kW charge rate, which will "absolutely, positively charge it over night". Outside temperature extremes, whether really hot, or freezing cold, will affect fast charge rates, but have little effect on home slow charging. You want to charge at home as much as possible, because it only costs ~1/3 as much as charging at a public DC fast charging station. If you were gong to buy an electric, try to get something with a CCS or NACS charge port, because it's much easier to find a (functioning) charging post, than trying to find a CHAdeMO charger.
Nice change of pace having a female POV in a video. Also nice to have a complete noob use EV for first time, probably very similar to my experience. Another good vid TFL, see you down the road Mary, welcome to TFL!
Cool video although I suspect her experience would be better if her first EV experience was with a Tesla or one with NACS. Or alternatively, she was setup for home charging.
The main idea is to show experience of a young driver who can afford $9 a month payment but cannot install a level 2 charger at home since doesn't own the house or cannot afford the installation. Mary is atypical driver since she has 80 miles commute which is not so common. She simply had to make it work and share the experience. Good job done by her!
Great vid! Mary's quite the character, and it was insightful to get a "real-world, non car person" opinion on the EV. You should do more vids with her. Sometimes, things can be gained from the opinions of non-enthusiasts. Also, what's the deal with gelato shops in Boulder?! Ha!
The Leaf is probably the worst car in North America for public charging experience. While most companies are moving to NACS for the future. CCS is the most widely used option, with much more charging options. As well it being a sub-200 mile range, is low for the United States. With her daily commute taking nearly 50% charge, meaning there is little opportunity for driving beyond work on that day.
Thank you, Mary, for being a good sport and giving the EV experience a try, so we could understand your perspective. We certainly have a ways to go for EV charging to be mainstream. I do have the capability of installing a home charger and am looking forward to starting my EV journey. ❤
Good video. If the Leaf would ditch CHAdeMO & go with CCS or NACS, it would be a car that I would consider getting. I have a Level Two EVSE at home and can Level One charge at the office but the round trip is 120 miles. So, it is do-able but definitely not the car for my recreational road trips.
Great video! It would be interesting to see her experience with a Tesla or CCS vehicle as a follow-up as that would be an easier public charging experience.
That was an awesome and realistic experience! Thank you so much! You need more videos with Mary's real world input. I was contemplating a Leaf to replace my Versa for my 104 mile daily work commute. I instead ordered a 2025 Maverick Hybrid AWD Lariat with the 4K tow package so that I don't have to fool around with charging stations and waiting. My father had a 2014 Fusion Hybrid and I really liked getting 40 mpg and leaving and entering the garage silently. My 2024 Versa is a fantastic little car and I could keep it and be happy if I didn't just have my left knee replaced recently and oh yes, it is a manual transmission. Stop and go traffic sends my new knee into pain orbit, so I have been driving my 2022 F-350 Supercab Long bed diesel truck on fat mudders for three months while I recover. I really like the idea of running errands and picking up bags of feed and stuff at the hardware/garden supply store with a small and easy to drive truck while getting better fuel economy than an economy car. Now I'm thinking about trading down my RV to one that the Maverick can tow and still haul a motorcycle in it. Then I can only use the F-350 for big heavy jobs like hauling dirt/gravel or renting a skid steer loader.
Leaf driver since 2021 here. E-pedal and home charging are the best things ever in cars, I think. Great video! To cold, no, if you are still alive / not dead from the cold it is not to cold for the car. I live in Sweden, there are chargers everywhere, and they work. In 3.5 years I have seen mabye 3-4 broken chargers and had to wait in line 4-5 times.
was not looking to get a EV in may but ended up getting a 2020 bolt. my traverse's trans went out and the car lot help me get behind the wheel again without a deposit. I rent a small house on a side road so I level one charge infront of the house on the street ( no sidewalk and one house beside me no hazard to anyone tripping) its great I love it. I have only had to go to a charger once on a trip I made ,with no issues. I had more range anxiety with my gas cars. (Meaning I dont have to worry about running out of gas before i get money to get gas) just plug it in over night and its ready to go the next morning. My electric bill is the same it has allways been( a program I am on I pay my amount every month on time and they pay the rest) for my family the EV is perfect.
This was an excellent outsiders perspective on EVs. Mary is great at this and she is an untapped resource. Her lack of knowledge about cars could make for a lot of great videos. A lot of us have wives who don't know and don't care about cars and it would be great to get her take on things. It would also be fun to introduce her to off reading and driving fast cars.
this really shows the shortcomings of these cheap Nissan leafs. I would love to see her try something with tesla access, maybe a silverado, maybe a model y, and try something that charges really fast like a hyundai ioniq 5
If you don't have a level 2 charger at home, then EVs are just not a good idea at this point in time, but if you can have a level 2 charger then hard to go back to gas.
level 1 is all that is needed for the majority of folks. But sure apartment dwellers don't even have that. I bought the tesla wall unit with the car 3 years ago but have not bothered to have it installed on a new 220v circuit. The existing 110V has been more than enough for the Model 3. The car is rarely below 60% any given day, and the charger has no problem taking it up to 100% in anticipation of a road trip. I'd say the need for Level 2 over Level 1 is if you are driving more than 50 miles per day every day during the week. I have an ICE car and an ICE pickup but the Tesla is the go-to car for all long road trips, including our 5000km trip to AZ and back this winter.
Still insanity that people like you think an EV with gas range is not a good idea at this point. Especially with how many chargers are all over for that .015% of trips thats more than 300 miles.
@@zibzer If having 350 miles of range, just like a 30MPG gas car, is "very debilitating to many drivers", then all current drivers must be losing their minds. The average american drives 40 miles a day. Ya'll petrol guys funny when you say you suddenly drive 75,000 miles every year whenever EV range is mentioned.
As someone who just moved to CO and needed to get rid of the clunker I was still paying for, I decided to get an EV for the 1st time and got the same car (but the SV Plus instead) and am paying less per month. I agree with her statements completely. I'm just hoping that there will be more affordable (and smaller, don't want a full-size) EV trucks at the end of my lease.
Great video. Nice to see some one that doesn't drive new cars daily try an EV over a period of time live with one and learn as they do it. I have a 2017 ford escape because that's what I can afford. I never drove an EV. I never even drove a new car in years if that makes sense . The only reason I might know more about them is because i watch TFL daily and I love anything with a motor but sadly can't afford what I would like to have because if u thing EV's are are expensive ( minus the leaf) or any new car try buying anything new in Atlantic Canada with 15% sales tax and a higher price in Canada over all. what I'm getting at a lot of people are driving 5 plus year old cars. Like Mary. Great video Marry and TFL.
Great video, Mary. Watching you drive around Boulder brought back many memories of when I lived in Colorado. I agree, that EVs are good if you can charge them at home.
This is a good shift to allow people who aren't into cars or ev's to experience the daily usage of an ev that is on the low end of the scale. If y'all would have lent her a Tesla it would've been a much more positive and pleasant experience.
This was an AWESOME idea, and as others have said, should definitely be turned into some sort of series. Mary is SO funny, and great on camera. It's great to see a non-car-person experience something new like an EV. As others have said, a more modern ev for comparison would be awesome. Great video, and GREAT JOB MARY!
e pedal is one pedal driving that will bring the car to a stop if you let off the pedal. its great for stop and go traffic. B mode is my favorite mode using it all the time in the mountains. I have the S plus , its at 105,000 miles now and still at 12 bars on the battery capacity. Never been below 10% and only super charged it 3 times. A simple 4 prong outlet is all you need for level 2 charging at home with the supplied cord from Nissan. Use other chargers at your own risk.
Thank you Mary! Enjoyed your video. I have the same car in the +Plus version (larger battery). Your summary is right on. I have a Level 2 (6.6 KW, which is the fastest speed the Leaf will charge at with AC charging) and that makes my LEAF great for about 95% of our transportation needs on a daily basis. However, I have tried to take my LEAF on some longer than range trips and it can be a bit too stressful as you experienced due to range and charging availability. Plus, I found that paying DC fast charging prices (which run about 3 to 4 times my home electric rates) pretty much negates the economic advantages of driving my LEAF when doing longer than range trips that involve mostly highway driving. Driving our Toyota Corolla is usually a better option for those type trips.
Awesome video guys. It very interesting to see how she lived with it and the issues involved with owning an EV as a first time owner/driver. Mary was the perfect sort of driver for this review. I don't have an EV and wonder about the issues with charging/owning. But for the price of a lease it would be worth a try I think. I really feel we need more basic EV with low cost, but increase the range. Again, great job TFL team!
If you set up a charging station at home (Level 2 speed), it won't take 36 hours. It'll take max 7.5 hours. The setup you started with (the normal outlet) is Level 1.
This is an excellent video for potential newbie EV owners. It answers many of the questions that they'll initially have with owning and operating one, definitely a different mindset but totally doable for most!
Don't know if the charge timer is a function of the charger they gave Mary or the car itself, but you want to use the timer for home charging due to peak vs. off peak electricity rates. Peak/off peak and surge pricing also affects charge pricing at retail charge stations. Best to charge at home for cheapest electricity pricing.
It's part of the car, as indeed it should be. And it can be set so that it only acts when the car's plugged in at its official "home' location (per GPS).
My Bolt EUV doesn't have the fastest DC charging, but it works for me. I'm dependent on public chargers. On Saturday mornings, I go to an EVgo station outside of a coffee shop. I have a coffee which takes about an hour. My car is charged enough for the weekly commute of about 40 miles daily round trip and weekend errands. Only if I do some extra driving do I need to charge mid-week.
On my Bolt, I didn't like the one pedal driver at first. However, I wanted to try it from the start and after less than a week I loved it. As of now, I used my OPD all the time and it really does help with the range.
Love how Mary said "OK" like a little girl about going for ice cream. About the charging. Spot on about having a level two charger at home. Level two is 220 volts up to 32 amps. It will charge the car at the rate of the last public charger she used. With her 80 miles of daily commute it will more than fill it up over night. Also the US daily avg is 30 or so miles which is a lot easier. Other EVs have better range and even faster charging. I was surprised Nissan is still using Chademo. I thought they were replacing it. CCS is better and most charging stations don't have Chademo. But hey a car for $9 a month is a super deal. So convince the landlord to install at least a 220 volt 32 amp plug in the garage and live the good life. He'll get a rebate that may cover the whole cost.
Sounds like my wife. I like the steering wheel! Her last two car purchases (‘21 Prius) she never test drove it. Her UX just drove it in the parking lot.
My Tesla model three with a level 2 home charger is a way different experience. Tesla chargers only needed on trips over 225 miles. Tesla chargers work and the car directs you to them. I save time over gasoline in that I start every day with a full battery, no driving to a pump, no listening to pump advertising, no credit card or cash needed. 5 times cheaper per mile for fuel. Wife and I drove 4000 mi round trip to Flagstaff Arizona no range anxiety at all.
13:15 The apocalypse chime is probably the "low-speed chime" rather than anything to do with backing. You probably still heard it going forward as well. Never heard a leaf per se that I remember, but the description sounds a lot like my Bolt's "electronic nails-on-a-chalkboard" sound. I think they should make the Jetsons' noise.
A big welcome to you Mary! 🤩Very engaging Mary. As a videographer and editor at TFL, I am presuming you did the work here? It was great! And I am crediting you for a lot of the great work in that area from now on. :) I have been asking for another persons perspective on things they do all the time, specifically a females perspective, because it adds that voice that they don't have. On top of that, your perspective is extra great(imo)because you are not a "petrol head". Meaning, a vehicle for you is a means to an end. Which is as honest and un bias and one could hope for when reviewing any vehicle. So great job! Hope to have more content from you in the future!
I'd only ever recommend a Leaf to someone as strictly a commuter car who can always charge at home. CHAdeMO standard is obsolete, and a new EV driver trying to find a working compatible fast charger is going to have a BAD experience.
4:17 its just like an older Prius, the shifter that is. 7:07 What he should have said: "The motors become generators that send power back to the battery. Using your kinetic energy(not potential because your moving) to make power. 11:10 people will look at you funny but if you do a short loop around your house. Or OutofSpec range test it near a fast charger.(Yes, I mentioned that Colorado competitor)
This was a very good video. Mary was cool. However, if you want to scare people away from EV's The Leaf is a perfect car. Its a good car if you have a home charger and drive the car in town but there are fewer places to charge the Leaf. Charging is a real issue. Resently I was tour guide for my nephew from Australia. I was in a Mach E . Problem was I was in San Francisco and spent two hours looking for a charger. Which probably convinced them, they would never buy an EV.
Great video, ev’s have their place in the market, once the pricing for a ev becomes more competitive with gasoline vehicles I think they will sell a lot more of them, but they’re definitely not for everyone especially with our current charging infrastructure
One point that should have been shared is the CHAdeMO charge port on the Leaf is basically obsolete . Nissan should have changed to the CCS connector by now and if they plan on producing the Leaf they should change to the Tesla NACS plug like virtually every other EV manufacturer. The Leaf is cheap for a new vehicle and you definitely get what you pay for it. Most people would be better off buying a used Tesla, the public charging is so much easier even when taking longer trips. If your use case is limited to local driving only and you can charge at home the connector isn't a big factor.
Tommy more of Mary awesome reviews especially different vehicles, i like to know what vehicle would fit her lifestyle. Mary was easy to understand n follow, i like how she try base charger, instead of leaving after 3hrs, she try another 3hrs which was interesting. My take if you make it through a week with base charge at home, then on weekend allow full day of charge you start week again with full charge. I wonder how Mary go in F150 Lightning?
Got my first electric EV here in Colorado after watching TFL’s first video on the “Cheap Leaf”, but paid a little more to get the model with over 200 miles of range. I also have 38 solar panels on my roof. Had it for a little over 3 months, and put about 1200 miles on it. Would have driven it more, but just got back from a six week 6,000 mile road trip in a hybrid truck that I own. No way in hell I would have attempted that trip in a Leaf! It is a pleasant and comfortable car to drive, only charged it at home so far on Level 1. The idea of having to find a public charger out of necessity given its’ outdated, rare, and slow ChadeMo charging standard scares me to death! My conclusion so far is that I like electric vehicles, and I like the Leaf, but would never ever buy a Leaf as my only vehicle. Hope I can put 20,000 miles on it in two years (the lease limit), but it will be hard as I am retired and frequently travel long distances and this electric EV is just an around town car.
For me i would totally get an ev i can only do level 1(realistically) at my parents place, but there's a 24kw level 3 chargepoint less than a mile away so its within scoot distance if I wanted to leave it. I only go 30 miles a day so level 1 would probably be good. 6-9 hours of charging, 1.4 x 6 = 8.4kwh * 3.2 = 26.88 miles/night or 1.4 x 9 = 12.6 = 40.32 miles/night. There is charging available on campus and more charge time on the weekends.
That's why Nissan leaf needs to be discontinued or update the charge port. A Chevy Bolt or equinox EV would have been better or any used 2020 something EV other than Nissan leaf.
A level-2 charger at home would probably go some way toward improving the charging situation. Also there are ccs to chademo adapters just now coming out. They are expensive and bulky but would open things up for the leaf.
Great video! I wonder if Mary did any overnight slow charging in the garage, takes long, but still adds quite a bit. Also would be interested in seeing Mary use a Model 3/Y for a while. Or even a decent CCS car. Could be a used one. Personally I drive Model 3 with LFP, usually charge once a week and that gets me the miles I need. I don't have home charging. Heading into the winter now, interesting to see if I need to add a second charge a week.
This was a fun to watch video seeing an EV newbie trying it out for the first time. Now give her a Tesla, and see what her ownership experience is like. I'll bet she'll be less frustrated with it.
Whisky Tango Foxtrot is up with credit card readers on charging stations? You can put a reliable credit card reader on a Pepsi machine, but not on a fast charger?
Great video guys, now we need to give her something that can charge easier like I don't know Tesla model 3 and see what Mary thinks about owning an EV car.
Thank you TFL for this real world use video’s, I really appreciate that you guys are willing to share it all, the good, the bad, and the absolutely horrible side of all the politicians (world over) favorite pet.👍🤗🤗🤗
Great video. I love seeing reactions from absolute EV newbies. Actually, as you're moving down the road you've got kinetic energy. I wouldn't normally correct you but at age 66 I rarely get to use my high school physics knowledge. 😅
There is a lot about the EV which I think an actual salesperson would have covered with a new driver that was not covered. Like the fact that one pedal to drive is always a new experience for first time EV drivers that takes a while to get used to, but it is one of their favorite features once they do get used to it. Plus, it saves the brakes from typical wear and tear which saves even more money. As well, most charges can be setup to only charge during certain times. So, off peak charging can be setup by most cars or certain chargers. I often commute a similar distance and don’t think I could get by with level 1 charging. I have a could have 50 amp plugs in my garage for my EV needs which I think adds value to the house and is worth talking to any landlord about. I figure when I sell my home those outlets will be a small plus to the value of the home. Imagine loaning her a Tesla for a few weeks and having her use the Superchargers instead of trying to find the ridiculous Chademo chargers. That may be a very different experience for her and would be interesting to hear about.
This morning my 240 mile 2025 Nissan leaf SV had two lights on that looked like collision lights and it wouldn't go into D or R only N. I restarted the car and it worked again but it was still weird experience.
The bottom line is that if you can plug it in overnight, it is a practical, inexpensive commuter car for work or short distances. It is not for the road warrior or someone making frequent long-distance trips out of town.
And herein lies the problem, Mary nailed it. We have an EV9 and 95% of the time we charge at home, overnight. My wife gets home from work and plugs in her car just like her phone and it works great. When we have to use the public/pay-for-use charging infrastructure, at least here in Texas, the problems, like range anxiety, wait times, broken/offline chargers, etc... all start becoming a reality and it sucks. We need to do better when it comes to charging in the wild.
great video. exemplifies how an EV, any EV (even the "good", aka expensive) is a good second vehicle. People rely overly heavy on the home fast charge, which means you get half the listed range (you have to get there and back). But for people who use their vehicle, commute like working folk do, like to go places, live in an apartment (you know, normal people), etc., it's not convenient. The many, many, many videos on public charging nightmares - done by EV supporters - highlight it's just not practical. But again, each user's experience may vary, so I'll keep using mine as a second/go to the shops and around town vehicle.
“What’s your dream car?”
“A functional one.”
Words of wisdom right there.
A paid off and functional one
14:02
@@DWK33 Yes just like my 2008 Prius with 161k
Video idea: next time you guys have a more modern EV, have Mary do a follow-up week in it to compare and contrast. Great job Mary. I like your down to Earth review style
Agreed here. This reminds of me of the first EVs that had low range and the range anxiety was a real thing. Most EVs these days are going to give you a lot more than the Leaf does as far as range goes. Mary is spot on here, the Leaf is good for someone who uses their car to run around town, not commute.
I come here to say this. Now give her an 'upgrade' and see how it compares
@@LordArdn 100% I'd watch that video.
It is weird to set her up in probably the worst EV one could live with.
Maybe let Mary do this again with a more capable EV, like an Ioniq 5/6.
Mary was great. She was honest, had some great thoughts to share, and she added some great humor. More Mary!
Definitely need more Mary videos. Very refreshing as opposed to hearing just rants about EVs on this channel.
The more the Mary-er. Sorry, I just had to. I definitely agree. It's very common for EV content creators to be very either or. They are either EV enthusiasts or they are EV haters.
This channel often tends more towards the enthusiast, which I usually don't mind, however I also find it very refreshing to renew my perspective as a novice.
9 years ago I was a fresh EV owner, with a medium/small battery.
After 4 years I switched to get one that could tow trailers.
While my primary reason to switch was to tow trailers, I have also learned to appreciate the larger battery for more range, as well as more power at relies chargers.
I very much agree with the essentials of this video.
- Driving an EV, I'd recommend to always be mindful about charging. Understand your vehicle, and know your primary options, as well as backup alternatives. (Once you get used to it, it's usually not difficult or much work at all, but it's very different, and can feel alienating and stressful in the beginning).
- To have an EV, I think it's important to have a plan for convenient charging for every day use. Primarily where you park over night, but alternatively at your work place. Essentially be able to reliably charge what you need for daily driving while being parked, and importantly, without feeling that you are forced to wait, because you have other things to do anyway.
- One thing I think is often misjudged, is how some people think they need the fastest level 2 charger if they switch to an EV with a large battery. Yes if you regularly use most of the range and need to fully recharge yes you need fast charging. I would however argue that you only need enough to recharge (slightly more than) the average you use, and you'll eventually get a high state of charge again. If you have a small range, it's much more important to recharge, because you don't have much range left after an average day.(I used to have a charger that defaulted to 1.4 kW after any drop of power, and it could go weeks before I bothered to push a button to increase it to 2.3 kW, because 1.6 was enough.) If I regularly come home late with a low state of charge, and plan to do a long trip the next day, of course I need more power, but if I expect to drive less than 30 miles/50 km, even 1.6 kW for 6 hours is probably enough
Yeah she was being a good sport in the beginning with the "intro" commentary skit to answer questions a lot of folks who never owned an EV would ask.
But yeah, having more presenters on this channel would be great!
This small hatchback has more usable room in the back than a Tesla 3. We have a 2022 Leaf SV plus. The plus with a bigger battery has 210 miles of range. We like the surround view camera, rear proximity sensors, solid metal roof, real door frames and buttons for control. It’s a great around town car, not great for long road trips. For road trips we use a Subaru Outback. To summarize, if you have a garage for level 2 charging (ex. Dryer outlet) this is a great second car. Overnight charging is usually all you need. We’ve never had to look around town for a charger.
I don't think most media outlets are shouting loud enough that at-home Level 2 charging should be a prerequisite for EV ownership. Almost all of the charging problems Mary experienced would be irrelevant if she could charge it to 90 or 100% overnight. The fact that the Leaf is the ONLY CHAdeMO equipped new vehicle on sale makes it all 10x worse; every CHAdeMO plug was occupied by someone who could've taken a CCS-only charger.
The folks at Ford *finally* figured it out when they offered to cover installation of at-home charging with new EVs, instead of providing "free" public charging. Other EV manufacturers need to figure out how to include an at-home charger in the monthly payment, whether it's a rebate or a voucher type agreement.
I know Nissan is broke, but they really should have switched their fast-charge inlet over to CCS years ago.
It's a bit of a cruel joke to throw the new ev owner out there with a chademo. But on the other hand, $9/mo. Tesla is almost certainly the best choice for someone new to EVs and leaf would be right down near the bottom.
But... All that said, entertaining video!
A 120V outlet can charge 60 miles a night, plenty for a lot of people
@@thedopplereffect00I only have level 1 at home for my Bolt. I drive very little during the week, but I go about 170 miles most Saturdays. I rarely need to go to a L2 public charger because I can usually charge for a few days at home before the next 170 mile drive.
@@FameyFamous exactly. The worst thing about a long trip is having to get gas before you leave town. With an EV you don't need to do that
Good video Tommi/Mary, this is good to get a perspective from a young driver who travels 80 miles daily for work, she is in the 5% that do, most videos on youtube of EV driving is by older people and sometimes 2 generations difference in ages the experience is always very different, the older driver/owners are usually 90% of the time set up at home for charging, so its like set it and forget it, virtually no planning in Mary's case, she has to plan all the time and with Boulder being one of the most plugged in cities in the USA, its even a pain in the ass to find a charger with the video example just shown, she did well, she kept it all laid back and easy and took it in stride and gave us the facts ,no fluff or drama like the average EV UA-cam owner does,Mary is breath of fresh air to the TFL team you were wise to hire Mary she has a bright future ahead of her 👍
Appreciate the kind words, I'm trying my best!
A Leaf is a perfect around the town car that never really leaves 100 miles from home.
Honestly (sounds of thunder as I've been a car nut since I was a baby 50 years ago) one of these is perfect for my commute. I said it, I don't like it, but I said it. Ideally, we all have something like this to bang around in traffic, where they're perfectly suited, and then we have a big SUV, van, truck, or luxury gas car for going long distances or on vacation, or going camping or towing trailers or any other activity where you need more space and range.
I owned a Nissan leaf for 3 years. It was the perfect car for commuting back and forth to work. Dirt cheap. It was also very comfortable and functional inside. I didn't care about CHADEMO because I never used it. The only reason I got rid of it is because my family was growing and we needed something with more space to hold cargo and bigger kids
Great job Mary! Hope to see you more on screen more!
Thanks for watching!
I agree completely with Zoe! Just one suggestion, please please please, Mary get in the habit of always driving with both hands on the wheel at 3and 9 o'clock, it literally may save your life and/or someone else's someday.
Not sure I’ve watched a more hypothetically relatable video. This was a great watch. The reality of this group of people is great. No BS, just honesty. Keep it up.
This was really fun and interesting. Thanks Mary! The insights of a new EV owner are interesting to see. Don’t currently drive an EV, but thinking maybe in the next two years. Hope to see more of Mary on camera, guys. Keep up the good work!
Glad you enjoyed it!
“What’s your dream car?”
“Just a functional one”
… god I can relate 😆
Mary was really good at the camera...Now she's got another job: real world electrified reviewer!
Mary is great I hope she makes more appearances
Long charge times at home aren't so bad. It doesn't really matter whether it took 4 hours, or 7 hours to charge, as long as it's ready in the morning. If you regularly travel long distances, the charge cable can be adapted to plug into a standard 240 volt outlet, exactly the same as an electric stove, or electric cloths dryer. That will allow a 7.5 kW charge rate, which will "absolutely, positively charge it over night". Outside temperature extremes, whether really hot, or freezing cold, will affect fast charge rates, but have little effect on home slow charging. You want to charge at home as much as possible, because it only costs ~1/3 as much as charging at a public DC fast charging station. If you were gong to buy an electric, try to get something with a CCS or NACS charge port, because it's much easier to find a (functioning) charging post, than trying to find a CHAdeMO charger.
Nice change of pace having a female POV in a video. Also nice to have a complete noob use EV for first time, probably very similar to my experience. Another good vid TFL, see you down the road Mary, welcome to TFL!
Thanks for the welcome!
@@TFLEVdon’t want to make it creepy but you’re way easier to watch than andrey!….not Nathan level of ease yet but you’re new!
Cool video although I suspect her experience would be better if her first EV experience was with a Tesla or one with NACS. Or alternatively, she was setup for home charging.
The main idea is to show experience of a young driver who can afford $9 a month payment but cannot install a level 2 charger at home since doesn't own the house or cannot afford the installation. Mary is atypical driver since she has 80 miles commute which is not so common. She simply had to make it work and share the experience. Good job done by her!
Great vid! Mary's quite the character, and it was insightful to get a "real-world, non car person" opinion on the EV. You should do more vids with her. Sometimes, things can be gained from the opinions of non-enthusiasts. Also, what's the deal with gelato shops in Boulder?! Ha!
I think you guys should get her a better electric vehicle, but she was right about having a charger at home, which will make it a 100% good deal.
Chademo 🤦🏻♂️ you all are car guys. Bolt is better
The Leaf is probably the worst car in North America for public charging experience.
While most companies are moving to NACS for the future. CCS is the most widely used option, with much more charging options.
As well it being a sub-200 mile range, is low for the United States. With her daily commute taking nearly 50% charge, meaning there is little opportunity for driving beyond work on that day.
But they’re leasing it for $9.00 per month I mean the point if if you don’t drive a lot and can get this deal it’s hard to beat
A better electric vehicle????? That’s funny 😆
@@Islandlazy99why is that funny?
Thank you, Mary, for being a good sport and giving the EV experience a try, so we could understand your perspective. We certainly have a ways to go for EV charging to be mainstream. I do have the capability of installing a home charger and am looking forward to starting my EV journey.
❤
Good video.
If the Leaf would ditch CHAdeMO & go with CCS or NACS, it would be a car that I would consider getting.
I have a Level Two EVSE at home and can Level One charge at the office but the round trip is 120 miles. So, it is do-able but definitely not the car for my recreational road trips.
Oh yeah, if Mary had been able to use the tesla charging network it would have been a very different video.
Great video! It would be interesting to see her experience with a Tesla or CCS vehicle as a follow-up as that would be an easier public charging experience.
Thank You Everybody for All that you are doing for our Planet Earth....
Peace.. Shalom.. Salam.. Namaste
🙏🏻 😊 ✌ ☮ ❤
That was an awesome and realistic experience! Thank you so much! You need more videos with Mary's real world input. I was contemplating a Leaf to replace my Versa for my 104 mile daily work commute. I instead ordered a 2025 Maverick Hybrid AWD Lariat with the 4K tow package so that I don't have to fool around with charging stations and waiting. My father had a 2014 Fusion Hybrid and I really liked getting 40 mpg and leaving and entering the garage silently. My 2024 Versa is a fantastic little car and I could keep it and be happy if I didn't just have my left knee replaced recently and oh yes, it is a manual transmission. Stop and go traffic sends my new knee into pain orbit, so I have been driving my 2022 F-350 Supercab Long bed diesel truck on fat mudders for three months while I recover. I really like the idea of running errands and picking up bags of feed and stuff at the hardware/garden supply store with a small and easy to drive truck while getting better fuel economy than an economy car. Now I'm thinking about trading down my RV to one that the Maverick can tow and still haul a motorcycle in it. Then I can only use the F-350 for big heavy jobs like hauling dirt/gravel or renting a skid steer loader.
Leaf driver since 2021 here. E-pedal and home charging are the best things ever in cars, I think. Great video! To cold, no, if you are still alive / not dead from the cold it is not to cold for the car. I live in Sweden, there are chargers everywhere, and they work. In 3.5 years I have seen mabye 3-4 broken chargers and had to wait in line 4-5 times.
was not looking to get a EV in may but ended up getting a 2020 bolt. my traverse's trans went out and the car lot help me get behind the wheel again without a deposit. I rent a small house on a side road so I level one charge infront of the house on the street ( no sidewalk and one house beside me no hazard to anyone tripping) its great I love it. I have only had to go to a charger once on a trip I made ,with no issues. I had more range anxiety with my gas cars. (Meaning I dont have to worry about running out of gas before i get money to get gas) just plug it in over night and its ready to go the next morning. My electric bill is the same it has allways been( a program I am on I pay my amount every month on time and they pay the rest) for my family the EV is perfect.
Forget the EV, she needs to be on screen more. What fun energy!
Let’s just keep to the topic of this presentation. 🧐
@@JohnsmithQqqq New to UA-cam? Nine out of ten times, the top comments are about the presenters, not the products.
Couldn't agree more. Mary brings a completely new perspective adn flavor to the show.
That was relatable, thought provoking and fun. Thank you!
What a fun video! Mary killed it!
This was an excellent outsiders perspective on EVs. Mary is great at this and she is an untapped resource. Her lack of knowledge about cars could make for a lot of great videos. A lot of us have wives who don't know and don't care about cars and it would be great to get her take on things. It would also be fun to introduce her to off reading and driving fast cars.
0:56 The facial expression of the happiest electric car owner!
Great video idea! I enjoy ev content about living with an ev etc so much for no explainable reason
this really shows the shortcomings of these cheap Nissan leafs. I would love to see her try something with tesla access, maybe a silverado, maybe a model y, and try something that charges really fast like a hyundai ioniq 5
If you don't have a level 2 charger at home, then EVs are just not a good idea at this point in time, but if you can have a level 2 charger then hard to go back to gas.
level 1 is all that is needed for the majority of folks. But sure apartment dwellers don't even have that. I bought the tesla wall unit with the car 3 years ago but have not bothered to have it installed on a new 220v circuit. The existing 110V has been more than enough for the Model 3. The car is rarely below 60% any given day, and the charger has no problem taking it up to 100% in anticipation of a road trip. I'd say the need for Level 2 over Level 1 is if you are driving more than 50 miles per day every day during the week. I have an ICE car and an ICE pickup but the Tesla is the go-to car for all long road trips, including our 5000km trip to AZ and back this winter.
Still insanity that people like you think an EV with gas range is not a good idea at this point. Especially with how many chargers are all over for that .015% of trips thats more than 300 miles.
@@silvy7394as a primary vehicle the limitation in range can be very debilitating to many drivers. As a secondary vehicle, not so much.
@@zibzer If having 350 miles of range, just like a 30MPG gas car, is "very debilitating to many drivers", then all current drivers must be losing their minds.
The average american drives 40 miles a day. Ya'll petrol guys funny when you say you suddenly drive 75,000 miles every year whenever EV range is mentioned.
@@silvy7394 the average “per day” does not take into account the several times a year the parameters of EVs may not be adequate for many drivers.
As someone who just moved to CO and needed to get rid of the clunker I was still paying for, I decided to get an EV for the 1st time and got the same car (but the SV Plus instead) and am paying less per month. I agree with her statements completely. I'm just hoping that there will be more affordable (and smaller, don't want a full-size) EV trucks at the end of my lease.
Great video. Nice to see some one that doesn't drive new cars daily try an EV over a period of time live with one and learn as they do it. I have a 2017 ford escape because that's what I can afford. I never drove an EV. I never even drove a new car in years if that makes sense . The only reason I might know more about them is because i watch TFL daily and I love anything with a motor but sadly can't afford what I would like to have because if u thing EV's are are expensive ( minus the leaf) or any new car try buying anything new in Atlantic Canada with 15% sales tax and a higher price in Canada over all. what I'm getting at a lot of people are driving 5 plus year old cars. Like Mary. Great video Marry and TFL.
Thank You Maria for taking this challenge, and what you said about electric vehicles, helps allot.
thats also a 240 volt charger...take off the front part and plug it into a dryer plug... much faster charging.
This is a million times more pleasant than watching the “big 3” drive around the ranch and fishing the pond. 😅😅
Great video, Mary. Watching you drive around Boulder brought back many memories of when I lived in Colorado. I agree, that EVs are good if you can charge them at home.
Now TFL needs to give Mary a Hyundai, Tesla, or whatever else you have in your EV collection.
This is a good shift to allow people who aren't into cars or ev's to experience the daily usage of an ev that is on the low end of the scale. If y'all would have lent her a Tesla it would've been a much more positive and pleasant experience.
This video single-handedly helped more than any other “should I buy” video or article. Y’all might need to put Mary in front of the camera more.
Love seeing the insights of a non car person new to the electric platform...perfect video for someone considering their first electric car.
This was an AWESOME idea, and as others have said, should definitely be turned into some sort of series. Mary is SO funny, and great on camera. It's great to see a non-car-person experience something new like an EV. As others have said, a more modern ev for comparison would be awesome. Great video, and GREAT JOB MARY!
e pedal is one pedal driving that will bring the car to a stop if you let off the pedal. its great for stop and go traffic. B mode is my favorite mode using it all the time in the mountains. I have the S plus , its at 105,000 miles now and still at 12 bars on the battery capacity. Never been below 10% and only super charged it 3 times. A simple 4 prong outlet is all you need for level 2 charging at home with the supplied cord from Nissan. Use other chargers at your own risk.
A very personable and attractive addition to your cast of characters! Great job Mary!
Thank you Mary! Enjoyed your video. I have the same car in the +Plus version (larger battery). Your summary is right on. I have a Level 2 (6.6 KW, which is the fastest speed the Leaf will charge at with AC charging) and that makes my LEAF great for about 95% of our transportation needs on a daily basis. However, I have tried to take my LEAF on some longer than range trips and it can be a bit too stressful as you experienced due to range and charging availability. Plus, I found that paying DC fast charging prices (which run about 3 to 4 times my home electric rates) pretty much negates the economic advantages of driving my LEAF when doing longer than range trips that involve mostly highway driving. Driving our Toyota Corolla is usually a better option for those type trips.
Awesome video guys. It very interesting to see how she lived with it and the issues involved with owning an EV as a first time owner/driver. Mary was the perfect sort of driver for this review. I don't have an EV and wonder about the issues with charging/owning. But for the price of a lease it would be worth a try I think. I really feel we need more basic EV with low cost, but increase the range. Again, great job TFL team!
I'd have to do a 240v 30 amp evse charger setup at home. Maybe 10 hours to 100% ? Well worth the effort and price.
If you set up a charging station at home (Level 2 speed), it won't take 36 hours. It'll take max 7.5 hours. The setup you started with (the normal outlet) is Level 1.
This is an excellent video for potential newbie EV owners. It answers many of the questions that they'll initially have with owning and operating one, definitely a different mindset but totally doable for most!
Great idea for a video. I think for a slow charging EVs like the Leaf, one really needs access to a level 2 either at home and/or at work.
Good for TFL for broadening their videos. Hope Mary features in more videos. $9 lease in CO! Can't pass that up.
Don't know if the charge timer is a function of the charger they gave Mary or the car itself, but you want to use the timer for home charging due to peak vs. off peak electricity rates. Peak/off peak and surge pricing also affects charge pricing at retail charge stations. Best to charge at home for cheapest electricity pricing.
It's part of the car, as indeed it should be. And it can be set so that it only acts when the car's plugged in at its official "home' location (per GPS).
Mary would get along with Kyle Conner with Out of Spec motoring since he loves to go below 0% charge
One way to save energy is to use the heated seats instead of the cabin heat.
My Bolt EUV doesn't have the fastest DC charging, but it works for me. I'm dependent on public chargers. On Saturday mornings, I go to an EVgo station outside of a coffee shop. I have a coffee which takes about an hour. My car is charged enough for the weekly commute of about 40 miles daily round trip and weekend errands. Only if I do some extra driving do I need to charge mid-week.
So you only charge once a week with that commute? I drive about 40 miles a week and I'm trying to decide if I can get by with public chargers.
On my Bolt, I didn't like the one pedal driver at first. However, I wanted to try it from the start and after less than a week I loved it. As of now, I used my OPD all the time and it really does help with the range.
That was an excellent perspective to give, thanks Mary great job.
Love how Mary said "OK" like a little girl about going for ice cream. About the charging. Spot on about having a level two charger at home. Level two is 220 volts up to 32 amps. It will charge the car at the rate of the last public charger she used. With her 80 miles of daily commute it will more than fill it up over night. Also the US daily avg is 30 or so miles which is a lot easier. Other EVs have better range and even faster charging. I was surprised Nissan is still using Chademo. I thought they were replacing it. CCS is better and most charging stations don't have Chademo. But hey a car for $9 a month is a super deal. So convince the landlord to install at least a 220 volt 32 amp plug in the garage and live the good life. He'll get a rebate that may cover the whole cost.
Sounds like my wife. I like the steering wheel! Her last two car purchases (‘21 Prius) she never test drove it. Her UX just drove it in the parking lot.
My Tesla model three with a level 2 home charger is a way different experience. Tesla chargers only needed on trips over 225 miles. Tesla chargers work and the car directs you to them. I save time over gasoline in that I start every day with a full battery, no driving to a pump, no listening to pump advertising, no credit card or cash needed. 5 times cheaper per mile for fuel. Wife and I drove 4000 mi round trip to Flagstaff Arizona no range anxiety at all.
Thanks Mary! This is probably the most helpful real world video for someone trying to decide if they should get an electric car. Well done!
No; it's helpful for people wondering if they can make do with a LEAF.
13:15 The apocalypse chime is probably the "low-speed chime" rather than anything to do with backing. You probably still heard it going forward as well. Never heard a leaf per se that I remember, but the description sounds a lot like my Bolt's "electronic nails-on-a-chalkboard" sound. I think they should make the Jetsons' noise.
A big welcome to you Mary! 🤩Very engaging Mary. As a videographer and editor at TFL, I am presuming you did the work here? It was great! And I am crediting you for a lot of the great work in that area from now on. :) I have been asking for another persons perspective on things they do all the time, specifically a females perspective, because it adds that voice that they don't have. On top of that, your perspective is extra great(imo)because you are not a "petrol head". Meaning, a vehicle for you is a means to an end. Which is as honest and un bias and one could hope for when reviewing any vehicle. So great job! Hope to have more content from you in the future!
I'd only ever recommend a Leaf to someone as strictly a commuter car who can always charge at home. CHAdeMO standard is obsolete, and a new EV driver trying to find a working compatible fast charger is going to have a BAD experience.
4:17 its just like an older Prius, the shifter that is. 7:07 What he should have said: "The motors become generators that send power back to the battery. Using your kinetic energy(not potential because your moving) to make power. 11:10 people will look at you funny but if you do a short loop around your house. Or OutofSpec range test it near a fast charger.(Yes, I mentioned that Colorado competitor)
This was a very good video. Mary was cool. However, if you want to scare people away from EV's The Leaf is a perfect car. Its a good car if you have a home charger and drive the car in town but there are fewer places to charge the Leaf. Charging is a real issue. Resently I was tour guide for my nephew from Australia. I was in a Mach E . Problem was I was in San Francisco and spent two hours looking for a charger. Which probably convinced them, they would never buy an EV.
Nice. Charismatic. Real.
Glad you liked it!
Great idea for a new video content. You could do a lot of these types of videos - giving a new experience to drivers.
Great video, ev’s have their place in the market, once the pricing for a ev becomes more competitive with gasoline vehicles I think they will sell a lot more of them, but they’re definitely not for everyone especially with our current charging infrastructure
One point that should have been shared is the CHAdeMO charge port on the Leaf is basically obsolete . Nissan should have changed to the CCS connector by now and if they plan on producing the Leaf they should change to the Tesla NACS plug like virtually every other EV manufacturer. The Leaf is cheap for a new vehicle and you definitely get what you pay for it. Most people would be better off buying a used Tesla, the public charging is so much easier even when taking longer trips. If your use case is limited to local driving only and you can charge at home the connector isn't a big factor.
I knew she would eventually like the E-Pedal. I’m glad she gave it a chance.
Tommy more of Mary awesome reviews especially different vehicles, i like to know what vehicle would fit her lifestyle. Mary was easy to understand n follow, i like how she try base charger, instead of leaving after 3hrs, she try another 3hrs which was interesting. My take if you make it through a week with base charge at home, then on weekend allow full day of charge you start week again with full charge. I wonder how Mary go in F150 Lightning?
For Marys first time on screen, she did a great job and nailed some points about the electric vehicles.
Got my first electric EV here in Colorado after watching TFL’s first video on the “Cheap Leaf”, but paid a little more to get the model with over 200 miles of range. I also have 38 solar panels on my roof. Had it for a little over 3 months, and put about 1200 miles on it. Would have driven it more, but just got back from a six week 6,000 mile road trip in a hybrid truck that I own. No way in hell I would have attempted that trip in a Leaf!
It is a pleasant and comfortable car to drive, only charged it at home so far on Level 1. The idea of having to find a public charger out of necessity given its’ outdated, rare, and slow ChadeMo charging standard scares me to death! My conclusion so far is that I like electric vehicles, and I like the Leaf, but would never ever buy a Leaf as my only vehicle. Hope I can put 20,000 miles on it in two years (the lease limit), but it will be hard as I am retired and frequently travel long distances and this electric EV is just an around town car.
For me i would totally get an ev i can only do level 1(realistically) at my parents place, but there's a 24kw level 3 chargepoint less than a mile away so its within scoot distance if I wanted to leave it. I only go 30 miles a day so level 1 would probably be good. 6-9 hours of charging, 1.4 x 6 = 8.4kwh * 3.2 = 26.88 miles/night or 1.4 x 9 = 12.6 = 40.32 miles/night. There is charging available on campus and more charge time on the weekends.
That's why Nissan leaf needs to be discontinued or update the charge port. A Chevy Bolt or equinox EV would have been better or any used 2020 something EV other than Nissan leaf.
A level-2 charger at home would probably go some way toward improving the charging situation. Also there are ccs to chademo adapters just now coming out. They are expensive and bulky but would open things up for the leaf.
Good information - solid knowledge about the reality of using an EV.
Great video! I wonder if Mary did any overnight slow charging in the garage, takes long, but still adds quite a bit. Also would be interested in seeing Mary use a Model 3/Y for a while. Or even a decent CCS car. Could be a used one. Personally I drive Model 3 with LFP, usually charge once a week and that gets me the miles I need. I don't have home charging. Heading into the winter now, interesting to see if I need to add a second charge a week.
This was a fun to watch video seeing an EV newbie trying it out for the first time. Now give her a Tesla, and see what her ownership experience is like. I'll bet she'll be less frustrated with it.
Whisky Tango Foxtrot is up with credit card readers on charging stations? You can put a reliable credit card reader on a Pepsi machine, but not on a fast charger?
Great video. Love the Leaf. Have one which is fab. Here in the UK, CHAdeMO is still very well supported.
Mary is funny and honest, we need more Mary videos.
Next EV needs to be a blazer or something at least a bit higher end. She did amazing and would be cool to see how she handles a better EV.
Welcome to the channel Mary. Great review 👍👍
deserves an update after 3 months or so ...
Great video guys, now we need to give her something that can charge easier like I don't know Tesla model 3 and see what Mary thinks about owning an EV car.
Thank you TFL for this real world use video’s, I really appreciate that you guys are willing to share it all, the good, the bad, and the absolutely horrible side of all the politicians (world over) favorite pet.👍🤗🤗🤗
Great video. I love seeing reactions from absolute EV newbies.
Actually, as you're moving down the road you've got kinetic energy.
I wouldn't normally correct you but at age 66 I rarely get to use my high school physics knowledge. 😅
There is a lot about the EV which I think an actual salesperson would have covered with a new driver that was not covered. Like the fact that one pedal to drive is always a new experience for first time EV drivers that takes a while to get used to, but it is one of their favorite features once they do get used to it. Plus, it saves the brakes from typical wear and tear which saves even more money.
As well, most charges can be setup to only charge during certain times. So, off peak charging can be setup by most cars or certain chargers.
I often commute a similar distance and don’t think I could get by with level 1 charging. I have a could have 50 amp plugs in my garage for my EV needs which I think adds value to the house and is worth talking to any landlord about. I figure when I sell my home those outlets will be a small plus to the value of the home.
Imagine loaning her a Tesla for a few weeks and having her use the Superchargers instead of trying to find the ridiculous Chademo chargers. That may be a very different experience for her and would be interesting to hear about.
This morning my 240 mile 2025 Nissan leaf SV had two lights on that looked like collision lights and it wouldn't go into D or R only N. I restarted the car and it worked again but it was still weird experience.
The bottom line is that if you can plug it in overnight, it is a practical, inexpensive commuter car for work or short distances. It is not for the road warrior or someone making frequent long-distance trips out of town.
If your going to do a test do it with the rarest charge type on the market, makes for a good video but a good way to put newbies off getting an EV
And herein lies the problem, Mary nailed it. We have an EV9 and 95% of the time we charge at home, overnight. My wife gets home from work and plugs in her car just like her phone and it works great. When we have to use the public/pay-for-use charging infrastructure, at least here in Texas, the problems, like range anxiety, wait times, broken/offline chargers, etc... all start becoming a reality and it sucks. We need to do better when it comes to charging in the wild.
I hired an EV on my last vacation. It drove very well but you do need a place to charge - I just left it charging in town and went shopping.
great video. exemplifies how an EV, any EV (even the "good", aka expensive) is a good second vehicle. People rely overly heavy on the home fast charge, which means you get half the listed range (you have to get there and back). But for people who use their vehicle, commute like working folk do, like to go places, live in an apartment (you know, normal people), etc., it's not convenient. The many, many, many videos on public charging nightmares - done by EV supporters - highlight it's just not practical. But again, each user's experience may vary, so I'll keep using mine as a second/go to the shops and around town vehicle.