5 Reasons I Love My Electric Vehicle (Used 2012 Nissan Leaf)
Aloha from Honolulu, the 5th friendliest metropolitan area for electric vehicles in the U.S.! I purchased my first EV, a used 2012 Nissan Leaf, last year. The used option was ideal for me because of the great price (I bought it for 1/3 of what it cost new) and because I live on the island of Oahu, where my used battery can get me almost anywhere I need to go on a charge.
I may not be a traditional EV owner: I’m a first-time car buyer, I’m under 30, and I’m a renter. I work in sustainability and I’m passionate about fighting climate change, but I don’t have solar on my roof or a second vehicle. However, I love my Leaf more every day and I don’t plan to own a gas car ever again. So I thought I’d share a few of my favorite benefits of owning an EV, in addition to the obvious environmental ones.
1. Easy, convenient, and free charging and parking. I’m lucky to live in a very EV-friendly city and state, which was part of my motivation for buying my Leaf. Hawaii is second in the nation for number of registered EVs and charging locations per capita. I live in an apartment building, so I only use public charging stations. I know that not having access to a charger at home is a barrier for EV adoption, but I have found that it is possible and not a sacrifice. While finding a charging station on a busy weekend can be a challenge, it’s mostly easy because public charging stations are so readily available, and many of them are free. I estimate that I have spent less than $100 on “fuel” since purchasing my Leaf a year ago. Even if you live somewhere without free charging and parking, it still costs about half as much to drive an electric vehicle than a gas car, on average.
It’s not always easy to own a car if you live in a city. In Honolulu, parking is limited and expensive, gas prices are high, and traffic is heavy. But Hawaii has made great strides to help incentivize EVs by providing free parking in city and county lots, at Honolulu International Airport, and at parking meters. In a crowded island city with limited space and a million cars, where parking is a daily headache, this gives me peace of mind. I can park in downtown Honolulu near my office every day for free and charge there while I’m working, and save hundreds of dollars a month.
2. Less maintenance and repairs. I am happy to never have to pay for an oil change or other conventional vehicle repairs ever again. I have to admit I’m not the handiest person, so this is a huge benefit for me. The most maintenance I have had to do so far is fill up my tires with air. The little frustration I sometimes encounter with limited range or waiting for public chargers is worth it for the monetary savings and few worries about repairs. Nissan also provides software and battery upgrades for older Leafs. My battery’s capacity has dropped since I bought my car, but I feel good knowing that I have battery loss coverage for up to 5 years or 60,000 miles. If you want to check on the efficiency of your driving and charging habits, you can also get a battery usage test. It cost me $40 at my local Nissan dealer and included a free software upgrade, so my Leaf now has the same software as the 2013 model and is more compatible with charging stations.
3. Efficiency and safety. Driving an EV has encouraged me to slow down. I drive more slowly and carefully because the acceleration in eco-mode is more gradual and driving more slowly uses less battery. EVs are also less likely to roll over and have better ride quality than conventional cars because of their lower center of gravity. I’ve lost my lead foot and have become a much more patient driver, because even if I’m moving slowly, I’m saving and even recharging the battery as I stop and go. But for those who do like to drive fast, the Leaf’s acceleration and smooth ride are both fun and impressive.
4. Mindfulness and productivity. I now have to plan my trips and my life better, but that’s been a great thing for me. Rather than racing home from an outing across the island, I’ll take care of items on my to-do-list while my car is charging. While having to stop driving for a couple hours to charge might be a barrier for some, it encourages me to slow down and have a cup of coffee and read, do some writing, meet up with a friend, or fit in a workout while I charge my car. I never imagined having an EV would make me much more productive, but it does!
5. Community. It’s really fun to own a new and innovative car that people are interested in learning more about. Passersby ask me about my Leaf all the time (my favorite question I have been asked: “How do you like your future car?”), and I’m happy to share my experiences with them. I work for an energy efficiency company and it’s empowering to live the future I am fighting for, and I have helped encourage several people in my life to make the jump to EVs by giving them information and advice. I feel a new sense of community with fellow EV drivers, too, and have the urge to throw them a happy shaka when I see them on the road. I have found that people are also kind about sharing chargers — some have even taken my phone number and called me when they are finished with the charger so I can use it.
There are a few road bumps I have had to get over by relying on my Leaf as my primary means of transportation, but I believe the benefits far outweigh the sacrifices. Though I do occasionally fear running out of battery and getting stranded on the highway, it’s never even come close to happening, and my eco-guilt is at an all-time low. And I know there are a few bumps we all have to get over before EVs are adopted by the masses and we drive toward a clean energy future, but as technology improves, battery ranges are extended, and prices drop, owning an EV will become even easier. EVs have the potential to dramatically reduce fossil fuel dependency, attain a more stable, modern electrical grid, and help us all breathe a bit easier. I look forward to a future where we are all driving them.
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