This is down to the usual journey to work and to do chores in Hull plus a few wider ranging trips including, the subject of a previous blog, to Leeds which required the seeking out of a public charging point.
Otherwise all of the power supply has been from the Home Charging Unit and until the smart connectivity broke down the statistics were, on a cost per mile basis, very impressive equating to around a quarter of the equivalent for our other diesel motor car.
Of course a saving on an everyday budgetary expenditure is nice but more than that is that we have, after a lot of hesitation and trepidation, made the move over to an electric vehicle in the household.
We are no different in this respect to many in the population who are seeking to make lifestyle adjustments in the interests of reducing their carbon footprint. The thought of change, any change from the normal does invoke a certain amount of fear and uncertainty and whatever decisions are made will without any doubt impact on every aspect of our lives.
If the necessary changes, which are becoming more pressing with every news bulletin on the environment, can be implemented with the least amount of disturbance to our existing spending habits, diet and viable existence then all well and good but we have to be prepared to accept that this will not always be possible.
The experience to date with the Nissan LEAF has been a revelation.
After working our how to switch it on and make it move in the first place it has been a matter of coming to terms with the automatic transmission.
The use of the e-pedal was avoided for a couple of weeks out of pure fear but having mastered its operation there is nothing more natural.
Yes, it is a bit like on a fairground dodgem but much cleverer in that the Leaf just knows when to stop, be it in a line of traffic or at a junction. I have panicked a little bit at the sudden sight of the cascade of brake lights up ahead and gone for the brake but I really had to need to do this given the technology and mechanics at my disposal.
In looks and practicality the LEAF is just a normal family hatchback and that has been its main selling point for nearly a decade since its launch.
Other makes and models of 100% electric cars are a bit wacky and this can serve to deter buyers not wanting to draw attention to themselves or indeed fork out a lot of money for them.
In the LEAF I really like the automated noise at low speed which is from a speaker under the bonnet in order to give some presence to alert pedestrians and other road users. The faint whining brings back two distinct childhood memories for me. The first is a good old milk float in the days when these were the main delivery means for the daily pinta and the second might not actually be true but reminds me of Commander Straker's car on the TV show UFO from the 1970's. This low and sleek vehicle was designed to intercept alien spacecraft after they had made a landing on Earth. The LEAF is not quite up to this level of performance but does give some impression of a futuristic era of motoring.
The new shape LEAF is not yet a commonplace sight on UK roads even though globally the model is the highest selling electric car in history....so far.
However, I have noticed, when in traffic, that other cars hang back and seem reticent to close up the gap in the line.
I cannot account for this behaviour given that in my Passat Estate everyone seems intent on tailgating.
It could be down to a lack of trust in the road-worthiness of a battery powered car or completely unfounded anxieties that sparks, lightning bolts, static shocks or electro-magnetic disturbances may occur without prior warning.
I will admit that I did harbour the very same thoughts in the run-up to making the decision to go 100% electric but so far there have been no apparent side effects.
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