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The 2011 Nissan Leaf is a Mac.The 2011 Chevy Volt is a PC.

 
6,992 views Jun 4, 2010
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Mac or PC? Leaf or Volt? The car you drive says a lot about your personality and your outlook on life, be it a big SUV or a Smart.

With the 2011 Nissan Leaf and 2011 Chevrolet Volt both set to hit the roads this Fall, is one a PC and the other a Mac?

And if so, which is which? Are Leaf owners more likely to own a Mac? Are Volt drivers PC users?


This summer will see GM start testing its plug-in hybrid system in actual Volt bodies

This summer will see GM start testing its plug-in hybrid system in actual Volt bodies

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The PC Guy and the Mac Guy

The PC Guy and the Mac Guy

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iPhone

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The Nissan Leaf is a very different car to the Volt. The Leaf has an almost feminine curvy styling with a front end highly evocative of so many Japanese anime series. Its front-mounted charger port door forms a button nose low down and high headlamps almost give the car a set of eyebrows.

In contrast, the Volt's grille is lower and more predatory. There's not a hint of fluffy bunnies or big doleful eyes and it looks as if it would sooner bite your finger off than accept a friendly pat. And it's not at all feminine.

Take a look inside each car and the differences between them are obvious. The 2011 Leaf's interior is bright and airy, with room for five and a massive 17 inch touch-screen interface taking up the centre of the dashboard.

In contrast, the 2011 Volt splits its four occupants each side of a massive battery tunnel running down the center of the car.  While the dash also has its fair share of technology in the form of a large pop-up screen and smooth touch-switches it looks much more businesslike, much more masculine.

What does this have to do with computers?

Mac users tend to choose Apple products because of stylish design, ease of use and a one-stop shop when things go wrong. Mac users don't mind being different and quite often seek opportunities to stand out from the crowd. And they pay a premium for the privilege.

In contrast, many PC users will take cues from the business world. They want something which looks smart, but which conforms. It runs the software they know and the rest of the world will understand when they need help.

When it comes to brand familiarity, more Americans have owned a GM car then have owned a Nissan. Nissan is still viewed as a foreign car brand -- a little bit of an outsider. In just the same way Toyota struggled to convince everyday Americans to drive the Prius Nissan is faced with a challenge to get folks to “drive different”.

While Leaf drivers will demand perfection from their vehicle the quirks of owning an electric car are unlikely to phase them. In fact, like many Mac users, Leaf owners will probably relish overcoming any issues along the way when it comes to living in a gasoline-fuelled world.

The Volt, on the other hand, offers a safety blanket in the form of the extended range gasoline mode. While it may not have the same squeaky clean credentials as the all electric Leaf, more Americans will find comfort in the comfort the gasoline engine provides.





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Comments (67)

  1. Noel Park Posted: 6/4/2010 11:40am PDT

    I think that you're on to something here, LOL.
     
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  2. Eletruk Posted: 6/4/2010 12:00pm PDT

    The Chevy Volt uses gasoline, the Leaf does not. That to me is a bigger difference than the appearance.
    The Leaf you HAVE to plug in to use.
    The Volt you don't, you can use it as a gas car with a small gas tank, in fact it's a hybrid car.
    The Leaf you support American made energy.
    The Volt you can still support energy from foreign companies and countries some who don't like us.
     
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  3. john_v avatar John Voelcker Posted: 6/4/2010 12:22pm PDT

    @Eletruk: No, the Volt isn't a hybrid car in the conventional sense of the word. Technically, it's a series hybrid rather than a parallel or power-split hybrid, which is what most buyers consider a hybrid. See here for full explanation:
    http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1034474_why-is-the-2011-chevrolet-volt-not-a-hybrid
     
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  4. Noel Park Posted: 6/4/2010 1:35pm PDT

    #2 Eletruk - On the other hand, the Volt is made by an American company, while the LEAF is made by a foreign company. That's a big issue for me. I'm not buying a Nissan.
     
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  5. rick Posted: 6/4/2010 1:36pm PDT

    John, I don't know why you are disagreeing with Electruk. Everything he/she wrote is fact. A series hybrid is a hybrid.
     
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  6. dygituljunky Posted: 6/4/2010 1:45pm PDT

    I think you're wrong.
    The standard car is a PC laptop. (It's the same old thing everybody drives powered by something almost nobody actually likes).
    The Volt is a Mac laptop. (It's powered by something leaner, flashier, and probably more reliable ... and it can go all the same places as the PC).
    The Leaf is an iPad. (It will have limited range and utility but will suffice for much of the user's casual needs; in the end, for an all around device, the iPad and Leaf probably aren't worth the money they want to charge for them).
     
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  7. Verde Posted: 6/4/2010 1:49pm PDT

    Apparently the one thing that doesn't change with EV's is the marketing drivel. I think it "says a lot about your personality" if you fall for automotive fashion advertising. Which car says to the world, "I read Adbusters Magazine"?
     
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  8. dygituljunky avatar dygituljunky Posted: 6/4/2010 1:49pm PDT

    Oh, and the Linux laptop would be a standard car with the guts replaced by the user with something as lean as but less attractive than the factory Volt.
     
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  9. James E Posted: 6/4/2010 3:38pm PDT

    Noel Park - The LEAF will be made in the USA, Tennessee to be correct. My last Nissan an “Altima” was built in that facility and was an excellent little car. The first batch will be coming from Japan but after that the Tennessee plant will be pumping out thousands of LEAF’s.
     
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  10. Geo Posted: 6/4/2010 4:28pm PDT

    How about this : The Leaf does not have a gas tank, the Volt does.
    I'm not buying the Leaf because it's cute, I'm buying it because it's 100% electric, it's available and it's affordable.
    Oh, and I use a PC and don't care much for Macs...
     
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  11. Noel Park Posted: 6/4/2010 5:03pm PDT

    #9 James E - I'm well aware that the LEAF will eventually be built in Tennessee, but the parent company is in Japan, and that's where the engineering and design come from, and that's where the profits go. Or maybe the profits go to France, since I guess Renault holds the majority interest in Nissan. All the same to me. No thanks.
     
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  12. evnow Posted: 6/4/2010 5:03pm PDT

    Funny, talking about anime and Japan. Leaf was designed in San Diego. But, definitely Volt looks more masculine than Leaf.
    Comparison to PC & Mac is fairly inappropriate. Afterall I expect to see more Leafs sold than Volt - instead of 90% PCs and 5% Macs. More importantly, people select Leaf because it is a pure EV. I already have nother ICE car in the family to use for longer drives - so don't need Volt.
    BTW, if Volt was a pure BEV and Leaf was a PHEV, I'd buy Volt.
     
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  13. John Posted: 6/4/2010 5:47pm PDT

    So to be "cool" you have to have a 100% electric car and a Mac? Ahhhh, OK... it is about style. You are what you drive or type on? Hmmmm, OK... so I should center my life around the changing wishes of others? I'm not allowed to think for myself, do things I need to do and follow the wishes of the tripe you call "news"??? To bring you up to speed, the Apple crew cancelled the commercials and now moved to "magical" iPad crap. I want a diesel serial hybrid since snow falls were I live, I have hills to deal with and own a Nissan (I'm not impressed) My next phone will run Android 2.2 or 2.3 since I don't need a company to hold my hand and dictate what and what I don't need. I guess I need a Linux car? (look it up)
     
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  14. Verde Posted: 6/4/2010 9:51pm PDT

    Hey NP, if you buy the Volt the profits go to 1) US Government 2) United Auto Workers union and 3) Canadian Government. You could even be really patriotic and finance it through Citibank and insure your Volt with AIG. That way you would be making up for more than the $7500 tax credit you get back from your 100% "made in America" transaction. Just don't put any foreign oil in it.
     
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  15. Nubo Posted: 6/5/2010 12:14am PDT

    I can't even express how tired I am of petroleum. Congrats Nissan, for taking it out of the equation. No tailpipe. No oil changes or spark plugs. No muffler, no EGR valve, no fuel lines, no fuel tank, no fuel filter, no choking the people behind me. This is the future car I've been wanting since Speed Racer and The Jetsons! The Volt has a place too. There's certainly room for both in this market but I'd rather go 100% electric. And I do use Macs, so I guess I fit the stereotype! :D
     
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  16. Paul Posted: 6/5/2010 12:55am PDT

    WTF has PC V Mac got to do with EVs???.... your OBVIOUSLY a Mac user to even think of this line.
    Mac users are brainwashed into thinking it's perfectly acceptable to pay 5x as much for hardware compared to a PC. The PC represents the free market while Mac represents a closed system.
    I don't see ANY way that's even slightly related to EVs?
     
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  17. mumof3 Posted: 6/5/2010 12:56am PDT

    If I buy either It'd be a Leaf - why - I need 5 seats.... I'm not going to leap in and buy though, there are others in the pipe line (if you'll excuse the terrible pun)....
     
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  18. alec Posted: 6/5/2010 12:59am PDT

    So,if it is american but it polutes the Hell out of our country or the world,then go for it?!?!?!
    That's why nobody likes us anymore.Patriotism is the last refuge for a scoundrel.I'd buy any electric car , no matter where it was built.Even Iraq.All you guys who have kids will agree with me.And the ones who don't should take a day trip to the Gulf coast.These days it looks very special.Just don't lite any cigarette while your kids are in the water.
     
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  19. RSB Posted: 6/5/2010 10:29am PDT

    The problem as I see it is that the Leaf will require you to own 2 cars; a Conventional Internal compustion car and the Leaf. how does this solve our problem. I expect to see lots of Leafs, or is it Leaves, on the side of the road because it's battery ran down before the driver wants it or expects it to.
    Volt on the other hand can be an only car because it eliminates all range anxiety. It can go any place any other car can go as long as you buy gas or charge it up and Leaf cannot. It's that simple. This MAC vs PC think is silly. It doesn't tell us anything about these cars.
     
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  20. Matthew Posted: 6/5/2010 11:19am PDT

    This article is a joke. In the publishing biz, it's called "Fluff." Why would you post this High Gear? The author has a brilliant idea of comparing two types of cars with two types of computers and then manages to decide that the type of person that uses one (computer), might buy the other (car)? Way to really narrow it down, and pigeonhole groups of people. I'm glad some other folks on here feel the same way. In fact, comment #6 made the point about laptops and iPads... way better analogy. God, I feel more stupid after reading this.
     
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  21. nikkigordonbloomfield avatar Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield Posted: 6/5/2010 12:42pm PDT

    Thanks for all the comments. I'd like to just point out that this post wasn't intended to offend but to entertain. As a user of Macs, PCs and Linux (Yes, all three) it was a tounge-in cheek article intended as a light-hearted Friday read.
    RSB - most Leaf drivers will find that the range of the vehicle is well within the daily requirements they have of the car. It's also one of the reasons why Nissan are being so careful to question perspective owners before purchase.
     
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  22. Stan Posted: 6/5/2010 1:41pm PDT

    The real question is would you buy the Volt if it were the 100% electric 100 mile range vehicle if you are currently buying the Leaf? I strongly suspect that if Volt were the first EV with a 100 mile range it would outsell the hybrid version they are about to release as well as the Leaf. Especially (and yeah I know the price isn't official yet) if it were priced at +/-$33K (before incentives and charger) instead of the anticipated $40K. That is a far more interesting conversation, to me, than which one is a PC and which is a Mac.
     
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  23. nikkigordonbloomfield avatar Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield Posted: 6/5/2010 2:37pm PDT

    Stan - Absolutely. I personally prefer the pure EV model as it's something I'm comfortable with. However, many consumers aren't ready to make that jump yet. And if the only way they'll drive electric is with a gas backup (at least initially) then the Volt is a good way to get them hooked on EVs.
     
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  24. Chris Posted: 6/5/2010 6:17pm PDT

    I'd have to agree with RSB - there will be a lot of Leafs on the side of the road with a dead battery. No matter how much the user has been warned, the driver will eventually forget to charge it once. And there will probably be quite a few owners of the vehicle.
    That gives the Volt an advantage here- you run out of charge, you switch seamlessly to a gas-powered generator for an extra 300 mile range. On the other hand, with only electric to go off of, you've got over ten hours to kill while your car charges. Unless you happen to be by a 240V outlet, in which case it's only over four hours. Which is a long time to wait for "refueling." The Leaf may have longer recharge times because of its larger battery. If the Volt were to have a 100 mi EV range, then it would probably have to be completely electric; the rest of the space is most likely taken up by the generator, while the Leaf has no such generator and can therefore have a larger battery.
    Also, in terms of the style of the two vehicles, the Leaf looks stereotypically electric. It's a car you see and automatically know, whether you've seen an ad for the Leaf or not, "Oh, they drive an electric car." The Volt tends to blend in a little better, and has been advertised longer than the Leaf.
     
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  25. Matt Posted: 6/5/2010 8:51pm PDT

    What a puff piece. This was truly written by someone who does not know automobiles or what an EREV is. Go ahead, buy a Leaf. The people in the Volts will pick you up when you are stranded on the the road. Give credit where credit is due. GM has done an outstanding job on the Chevrolet Volt and prove that when it goes on sale in November. Right now, the Leaf is vaporware.
     
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  26. James Posted: 6/6/2010 4:41pm PDT

    Matt - The people in the Volts will not be picking anyone up….8000 units? They will be in the hands of the Hollywood elite and other well to do individuals that will put the Volts in their garages. Nissan and the EV-Project are installing 250 public quick charging stations in the Phoenix area. I doubt that I will need to use one because I will never be stranded in my LEAF.
    I bought a GMC Yukon in 2007. It runs on E85 however, I can’t get E85. GM boasts that over 100,000 E85 compatible vehicles are sold in Maricopa County. However, there are only 4 stations that offer E85 and I am not driving 30 minutes out of my way to fill up with E85. What a joke
     
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  27. AP Posted: 6/7/2010 6:01am PDT

    You had to go and bring the Mac vs. PC argument to an auto comparison. Jesus Christ.
     
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  28. Jeff Posted: 6/7/2010 8:11am PDT

    Part 1. You are wrong in saying that the Leaf is the MAC and the Volt is the PC. It's just the opposite. If Leaf runs out of power will leave you high and dry with no way to charge it, you will have to call for a tow. The Volt can go 40 miles all electric and then extends range to 300 to 400 on gas. The Volt does 0-60 in 8.5-9 seconds where the Leaf can only do it in 9-10 seconds. The Volt is more stylish and arrow dynamic than Leaf. Sources: All cars electric, Green car reports, Chevrolet.
     
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  29. Jeff Posted: 6/7/2010 8:12am PDT

    Part 2. The Volt is more expensive (MACs are always more expensive). Previous commenter is wrong when he says the Leaf only takes 20 minutes to charge. According to the Leaf website it takes 16 hours to charge w/110 volt outlet, Volt only takes 8 hours to charge. There is a fast charging system for the Leaf that you can pay extra for it, but it is not standard and the extra cost for the fast charging system is considerable.
    Sources: All cars electric, Green car reports, Chevrolet
     
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  30. Jeff Posted: 6/7/2010 8:16am PDT

    PART 3 - Correction. Volt take 10 hours to charge (not 8 hours) with a 110 volt outlet and the Leaf takes 16 hours with a 110 volt outlet all using standard equipment. Sources: All cars electric, Green car reports, Chevrolet.
     
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  31. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/7/2010 12:35pm PDT

    macs and pcs aside, the electric car will completely topple the gasoline car. these comparisons remind me of what must have happened when the car replaced the horse and buggy. i dont know why the volt is continued to be talked about. (yes, i do - it is a gm product). hybrids have been hybridized - gm and toyota dont want to believe it. 10 years from now, just a very few people might be willing to put big bucks into a new gas car.
     
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  32. James Posted: 6/7/2010 8:13pm PDT

    The LEAF and the Volt are in totally different categories:
    BEV - Nissan LEAF / Ford Focus BEV / Mitsubishi MIEV
    PHEV - GM Volt / Toyota Plug in Prius / Ford Escape Plug in Hybrid
     
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  33. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/7/2010 9:36pm PDT

    the coda is not being mentioned, yet it is probably the best ev out there.
    the leaf (compact), and the coda (family sedan) will be the 2 front runners.
    there is rumor that gm will be making the volt an ev sometime soon. they dont want to admit it now, because it will do damage to the first release of it.
    but it aint gonna do good as a hybrid. toyota basically bought out the tesla sedan. but that aint gonna get em very far, since the tesla is priced for just the well to do.
    i suspect that one of the big car companies will at least try to buy out the owner of coda. not only is coda making a car, but they are quite involved with the lithium battery industry. but it will take them awhile to be able to produce enough supply to meet the demand.
    in fact, this will be true even with a big player, like nissan. the switch over from gas to ev wont come over night. i think 10 years is a reasonable amount of time to have the shift occur at manageable speeds.
     
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  34. Jeff Posted: 6/8/2010 6:19am PDT

    "ev enthusiast” doesn't know why the Volt is still being talked about. Here’s why, the Volt has a ALL ELECTRIC DRIVE TRAIN with an gasoline engine to recharge the battery when it becomes depleted, extending its range to about 400 miles. The Volt was designed as a commuter AND a vacation car. The current infrastructure does not have quick charge facilities throughout the country. Even if it did it would still take 20 minutes to charge the Leaf every 80 miles, it’s not practical for vacations.
     
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  35. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/8/2010 7:57am PDT

    big deal. i am quite aware of what a hybrid vehicle is. it is a complicated structure with both gas and electric components.
    i also recall that good ole gm is the company that was in bed with BIG OIL, and destroyed their ev1s, even though people liked em. and how many times have we the taxpayer now bailed them out ?
    let me repeat. the hybrid has been HYBRIDIZED. if gm and toyota dont figure this out, they will lose more market share.
    the leaf and coda, as they are today, will satisfy the majority of people. it makes a lot more sense to rent a car for vacations. a vacation is defined as something you do for a couple of weeks out of the year.
    an ev has no radiator, no transmission, no smog equipment. look under your hood today, and take out 75% of what is there. translation - the ev requires way less maintenance than a gas vehicle.
    10 years from the first release, we will have tons of improvements. quite frankly, i dont think we will ever need a recharging network as close as our current gas stations are - simply because batteries will continue to get us further and further on a charge.
     
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  36. Noel Park Posted: 6/8/2010 8:36am PDT

    #14 Verde - Better the US and Canadian Governments and the UAW than France and Japan, IMHO. I don't finance my cars, and I do now insure with a US based company.
    #35 ev enthusiast - Coda? LOL. I also have no interest in my money going to China. The LEAF is going to strangle Coda in its crib, again JMHO. Your idea that the business plan of Coda is to get itself bought out by one of the majors makes perfect sense to me. That they will be a viable long term independent business, not so much.
     
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  37. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/8/2010 8:40am PDT

    here is an interesting read regarding the future of batteries. a 10-fold increase of today would get us 1000 miles per charge, as compared to 100 miles.
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090320173859.htm
    i just recently bought a used gas vehicle, cuz my engine conked out. i am well resigned to having something with no resale value by the time i am ready to sell it.
    it is not too far in the future when we wont be able to give a gas car away.
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090320173859.htm
     
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  38. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/8/2010 8:46am PDT

    hi noel,
    i think it will be very interesting to see what happens to coda. i know it is difficult for a small car company to make it. but coda is deeply involved in the battery industry, as well. and they have deep pockets backing them.
    it has been run by mostly engineer type people. i dont know if they can be bought out or not.
    the leaf is not in competition with the coda, as they reach 2 distinctly different buyers. nissan does have 3 other ev vehicles that will have a release, soon.
     
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  39. Jeff Posted: 6/8/2010 9:56am PDT

    Dear "ev enthusiast", I admire your passion for pure ev cars. I mostly agree with you, and also look forward to greater range & charge convenience in the future. I share your anger at GM’s handling of the EV1 and their bailout. I do give some credit to GM for developing and coming out with the Volt (I guess we still have to see if they really do). For today’s infrastructure the convenience of the Volt is the answer for me. In 5 to 10 years a pure EV car will hopefully be the answer for me.
     
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  40. Jeff Posted: 6/8/2010 10:03am PDT

    Dear "ev enthusiast", thanks for the article about battery life. A 1000 miles would be FANTASTIC!!
     
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  41. Jeff Posted: 6/8/2010 10:11am PDT

    Dear "ev enthusiast", thanks for the article about battery life. A 1000 mile range would be FANTASTIC!! Also, the fact that this techology is being developed by the University of Maryland here in America is a source of pride!!
     
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  42. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/8/2010 11:19am PDT

    hi jeff,
    i think the ev industry is what will bring our economy back for the next 20-30 years. with it should come a cleaner environment and less reason to go to war.
    it is thought by many that our environment is a major contributor to our health problems.
    for a long time, i was concerned about the "fueling" infrastructure, until i began to realize that battery life in the future will negate the need for it.
    we will still have some infrastructure for people who forget, etc.
     
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  43. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/8/2010 11:20am PDT

    i do a lot of biking. it used to be that a gas station would be taken down, repairs done, and then it would be rebuilt. that has not been the case for several years, now.
    driving a car, one may not notice it so much. but on a bike, it becomes very evident. for the last several years, when they close down, the lot remains empty for a long time, and then something entirely different is put up.
    the writing on the wall has been with us for quite awhile. but probably only evident to those who have money tied up in it, one way or the other.
    i read an article not too far back about gm actually doing something with future battery capacity. i would have posted it, but i could no longer find it. so at least they may be doing something correctly.
    good luck with your next car purchase. i wish my truck would have lasted me long enough that i could transfer into an ev.
    but at least now when i get one, i will have many years of maturation in the industry.
    it will be very interesting to me just to watch the developments, which companies make it, which ones do not, etc.
     
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  44. Noel Park Posted: 6/8/2010 1:50pm PDT

    #44 ev enthusiast - God send that it shall be true. Nikki - 45 comments - well done. You must have hit some kind of a nerve, LOL.
     
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  45. Jeff Posted: 6/8/2010 2:19pm PDT

    Dear "ev enthusiast", Interesting, I do a lot of biking myself. I think the GM article about increasing battery technology was an article by Nikki, the same person who wrote this article. Here is the link: http://www.allcarselectric.com/blog/1044955_gm-confirms-lithium-air-battery-research-to-revolutionize-ev
     
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  46. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/8/2010 9:17pm PDT

    hi jeff,
    yes, that is the article i saw. i did not remember that it was on this site ?
    hi noel,
    i did not get your comment "god send that it shall be true". should the word "send" be replaced with "said" ? if so, i am still not sure what you are referring to.
     
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  47. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/8/2010 9:21pm PDT

    hi jeff,
    i re-read both articles, and they seem to be talking about way different technologies. gm is lithium air, while maryland is nanotechnology. i guess we will see which one, if either, becomes reality.
     
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  48. Jeff Posted: 6/9/2010 8:14am PDT

    Hi ev enthusiast,
    Yes, I noticed that. I found an article that was just published yesterday. U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, through a grant from Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is also developing new car battery technologies including Lithium Air (link: http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=38587). They will also work on how to manufacture these in mass quantities for manufacturers. (http://www.nanotechwire.com/news.asp?nid=9389)
     
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  49. Jeff Posted: 6/9/2010 8:25am PDT

    IBM is also involved with Argonne Labs for Li-Air technology. This article reveals that nanotechnology is required for Li-Air batteries to work, so I believe the two previous articles are actually talking about the same thing. They still don't even know if Li-Air technology will work. These are truely exciting times in our history. Here is the article: http://earth2tech.com/2009/08/27/why-ibms-betting-on-lithium-air-batteries-nanotech-and-supercomputers/
     
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  50. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/9/2010 9:03am PDT

    hi jeff,
    thanks for the articles.
     
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  51. Noel Park Posted: 6/9/2010 11:04am PDT

    #48 ev enthusiast - It's just an old figure of speech that I saw somewhere years ago. I take it to mean, "I hope that God makes it happen as you have suggested", or some such thing. I mean it as a compliment, and to say that I devoutly hope that what you are predicting comes true.
     
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  52. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/9/2010 11:38am PDT

    LOL - me too !!!!!
     
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  53. Liz1388 Posted: 6/10/2010 6:38am PDT

    PC buyers who rant about the higher cost of Macs? I own a Mac and a PC, and I've ended up spending a LOT more money on the PC to buy expensive software that didn't come with it, for virus protection that wasn't on it, and to clean it up when the virus protection didn't work.
    I haven't spent a dime extra on my Mac - even the service is free at the Genius Bar.
    Not having to worry about virus protection all the time is well worth the higher cost of a Mac!!!!
    Am still pondering whether to trade my Nissan in on a Leaf. The lower MPC (miles per charge) factor is a serious limitation to me as I would only have the one car.
     
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  54. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/10/2010 7:30am PDT

    if possible, i might advise you to wait.
    the mpc will continue to get better, as we get improvements to the battery.
    and it will give you time to get accustomed to evs.
     
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  55. Eletruk Posted: 6/11/2010 10:50am PDT

    I advise to NOT wait. If sales for EVs are poor, then manufacturers will not be likely to make them if everybody keeps waiting for the latest and greatest. Plus the longer eveybody waits, the more oil that gets wasted.
    No, everybody please don't wait. If you are planning on buying a new car, please wait, until you can buy an EV (meaning they actually are for sale). And let your car dealers know that you are waiting for EVs.
     
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  56. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/11/2010 2:41pm PDT

    a spoonful or honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.
    we dont need to be pushing anyone into doing anything. give them the time that they need to make that decision for themselves.
    the vast majority of americans would do just fine with this first generation of evs.
    but give them time to figure this out for themselves.
    currently - many, if not most, people still think of an electric vehicle as a granny car.
    they concentrate on the things that it cant do, like go more than 100 miles without re-charging.
     
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  57. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/11/2010 2:45pm PDT

    demand is far outstripping supply. so we dont need those who are hesitant. we want our first buyers to be the ones who already know that they want one.
    once people see one owned the their friend, neighbor, etc. - they can see up close for themselves.
    gosh, it has no radiator, transmission, smog equipment, etc.
    translation - maintenance is much less. and for the ladies, it will be much more difficult for the repairman to convince you that you need a new oogleometer.
    there are so many advantages to an ev, that they will sell themselves.
    SO - GIVE PEOPLE THE TIME NECESSARY TO COME TO THIS REALIZATION FOR THEMSELVES, without shoving it down their throats.
     
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  58. Jeff Posted: 6/14/2010 7:22am PDT

    Part 1. Since “ev enthusiast” revealed the great hope in nano lithium-air batteries for extending ev car range, I thought of something, is there going to be enough lithium on earth to support all the Volt, Leaf and other ev cars that will be made going forward? Opinions vary. One thing’s for sure, lithium will become as hot a commodity as oil. Also, one must look at the amount of energy it takes to extract pure lithium from the brine to get it’s carbon footprint.
     
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  59. Jeff Posted: 6/14/2010 7:24am PDT

    Part 2. Large lithium deposits have just been found in Afghanistan. Bolivia also has large deposits, so looks like we will still have all the political problems that stemmed from foreign oil only to get addicted to foreign lithium not to mention the rape of our earth that lithium mining will do. On the positive side, at least our air and oceans will be cleaner with ev cars if we power them with clean energy, also, unlike coal and oil, lithium in batteries could possibly be re-cycled.
     
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  60. Jeff Posted: 6/14/2010 7:25am PDT

    Part 3 of 4.Sources. Lithium Supplies:
    http://seekingalpha.com/article/131614-lithium-batteries-nothing-but-illusion
    http://www.ecogeek.org/automobiles/2918-lithium-supply-fears-are-total-bs
    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14minerals.html?no_interstitial
    http://scitizen.com/future-energies/world-lithium-supplies-and-electric-vehicles-_a-14-2040.html
    http://ergobalance.blogspot.com/2008/05/world-lithium-supplies.html
    http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10077965-54.html
     
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  61. Jeff Posted: 6/14/2010 7:27am PDT

    Part 4 of 4. Souces, Lithium Supplies. Continued:
    http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/175800
    http://www.automotto.org/entry/lithium-ion-batteries-are-emnot/
    http://www.hybridcars.com/hybrid-batteries/hybrid-car-future-hinges-bolivias-lithium-25529.html
     
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  62. ev enthusiast Posted: 6/14/2010 8:32am PDT

    hi jeff,
    i dont see those same sorts of problems. with oil, we are constantly burning new gasoline.
    once the lithium is mined and used in batteries, it will be recycled, once the battery loses its charge.
    plus, i suspect that lithium may not be the only, or the best, source for batteries in the future. we may find some other mineral that does a better job.
    we will no doubt get solar panels eventually - sold in sunny areas.
    we are starting out with a new industry. about the only thing we know for sure is that it will change.
     
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  63. Jeff Posted: 6/14/2010 9:08am PDT

    Hi ev enthusiast,
    Very true!
     
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  64. Bob D. Posted: 6/28/2010 5:22am PDT

    It's not about Apple or Mac.
    It's about getting away from petroleum.
    Almost any elect. vehicle would be good enough for me.
     
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  65. mike Posted: 7/26/2010 2:48pm PDT

    this is going to be great. There are people out there so dumb that they run out of gas and get stranded. Imagine once the Leaf comes out, they'll be littered all over the sides of the highways. I'm going to open up my own towing business.
     
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  66. myself Posted: 12/24/2010 3:04am PST

    You have it backwards volt is the mac.
    Nissan leaf goes, and does one job, not in a fashionable hip fanboy-esque way. It is the PC.
    The volt is prettier, rides much nicer, uses cleaner buttons and brighter features, it looks nicer inside and out, the price is higher for hardly any performance difference. When it comes to doing its job it just doesn't. When its time for it to live up to the hype it can't beat full electrics, full gas, or hybrids. It can't beat anything. No one wants to drive 20 minutes then charge 8 hours. It is the mac.
     
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  67. myself Posted: 12/24/2010 3:07am PST

    You have it backwards volt is the mac.
    Nissan leaf goes, and does one job, not in a fashionable hip fanboy-esque way. It is the PC.
    The volt is prettier, rides much nicer, uses cleaner buttons and brighter features, it looks nicer inside and out, the price is higher for hardly any performance difference. When it comes to doing its job it just doesn't. When its time for it to live up to the hype it can't beat full electrics, full gas, or hybrids. It can't beat anything. No one wants to drive 20 minutes then charge 8 hours. It is the mac.
     
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