EV (electric vehicle) News & Discussion

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80 posts

Master Geek

#2301712 19-Aug-2019 14:11

wellygary:
afe66: Biggest issue with earlier zoe's was no CCS or Chademo so even though it could take 3 phase ac the number of stations that could supply that was very small.

There is one other.....

https://www.renault.co.nz/electric-cars/zoe-ev

"Register to discover the pleasure of driving the Renault ZOE EV from $68,990"

Hmm, how does it compare with a Gen 1.5 [year 2016] Leaf as far as boot space is concerned? I've only seen one Zoe so far in a local carpark and it seemed to be a slightly smaller car than mine. I was interested to see my Leaf seemed to have a bit more boot volume that the 2008 Toyota Blade that preceded it. Granted, the lack of a physical spare tyre contributes to this difference.

kingdragonfly

11190 posts

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#2301726 19-Aug-2019 14:56

Zoe is an urban car.

Candidly my garage won't fit a Leaf, but may fit a Zoe.

tripper1000

1617 posts

Uber Geek

#2301750 19-Aug-2019 16:17

Jeeze, is there a modern car out there with a smaller boot than the Leaf?

Don't make excuses for the spare tyre situation - there is a heap of unused space under the boot floor that could have accommodated a recesses for the spare tyre without raising the floor level, or the boot could have been made with a 200mm deeper floor.

wellygary

8315 posts

Uber Geek

#2301751 19-Aug-2019 16:19

kingdragonfly: Zoe is an urban car.

Candidly my garage won't fit a Leaf, but may fit a Zoe.

Is that marketing speak for "you get no suitcases in the boot" :)

The old leaf is ~350mm longer than the Zoe, the current one is 400mm longer

wellygary

8315 posts

Uber Geek

#2301752 19-Aug-2019 16:21

tripper1000:

Jeeze, is there a modern car out there with a smaller boot than the Leaf?

Don't make excuses for the spare tyre situation - there is a heap of unused space under the boot floor that could have accommodated a recesses for the spare tyre without raising the floor level, or the boot could have been made with a 200mm deeper floor.

The New Leaf apparently has a space saver somewhere (well at least the NZ/OZ one does)

networkn

Networkn
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#2301753 19-Aug-2019 16:21

Any sign of a high performance touring wagon similar to the BMW 335D by any brand? I-pace is pretty close but it's an SUV (and it's 60K more than the BMW 3 Series Touring in Petrol or Diesel). I haven't driven one yet, but the higher center of gravity means it's unlikely to handle corners with the same aplomb of the BMW 3 Series.

I'd probably have been pretty excited if there was a wagon version of the Model 3, but I doubt it's coming.

afe66

3181 posts

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#2301754 19-Aug-2019 16:22

Zoe feels smaller than leaf. I've got a friend who has one for several years. I wont swap by leaf for a zoe.

But then there are ice cars with tiny boots too.

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Obraik

2123 posts

Uber Geek

#2301757 19-Aug-2019 16:33

I guess some people like a small car, which is what the Zoe fulfills. However, from a value for money point of view the Model 3 is only $6k more with greater range and better performance

Looking to buy a Tesla? Use my referral link and we both get credits

kingdragonfly

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#2301764 19-Aug-2019 17:21

I wish I could get a EV kei car, with at least some modern safety features, somehow upgraded with more than 47 kW (63 hp).

It sounds like a couple of models, from Eastern Europe, may be available in 2021.

I've looked in vain to see if the Mitsubishi i-MiEV could be upgraded, because it's just too slow, and the batteries is too small.

The Electra Meccanica "Solo" is close, but it's considered a 3 wheel motorcycle, and it's missing airbags

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/history-of-the-japanese-kei-car-49720.html

https://electrameccanica.com/solo/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_i-MiEV

tdgeek

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#2301776 19-Aug-2019 18:03

Obraik:

I guess some people like a small car, which is what the Zoe fulfills. However, from a value for money point of view the Model 3 is only $6k more with greater range and better performance

Im not sure which is worse (TM Tom Petty) a shopping cart, or 6k more for an ugly car?

Delphinus

611 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2301991 19-Aug-2019 21:47

networkn:

Any sign of a high performance touring wagon similar to the BMW 335D by any brand? I-pace is pretty close but it's an SUV (and it's 60K more than the BMW 3 Series Touring in Petrol or Diesel). I haven't driven one yet, but the higher center of gravity means it's unlikely to handle corners with the same aplomb of the BMW 3 Series.

I'd probably have been pretty excited if there was a wagon version of the Model 3, but I doubt it's coming.

I drove an I-pace a couple of weeks ago, and loved it. Didn't feel like an SUV, felt lower (which I prefer - I hate SUV's). Handles really well in tight twisty stuff. Plenty of power (200hp motor front and rear). It was very wet when I was driving it so didn't push it super hard but definitely the best handling EV I've driven.

Take one out and let me know what you think?

networkn

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#2301993 19-Aug-2019 21:54

I am quite busy for the next couple of weeks but it's on my short list. Freaking expensive though. I may import one. I've had decent success and saved serious coin doing that, but I am less keen with a new "type" of vehicle, esp without an international warranty.

Scott3

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#2302004 19-Aug-2019 22:48

tripper1000:

Jeeze, is there a modern car out there with a smaller boot than the Leaf?

Don't make excuses for the spare tyre situation - there is a heap of unused space under the boot floor that could have accommodated a recesses for the spare tyre without raising the floor level, or the boot could have been made with a 200mm deeper floor.

As hatchbacks go, the first generation leaf is a larger one (longer than my 2006 corolla by 250mm for example). The bootspace after the mid cycle refresh (charger was moved from the boot to under the bonnet) is 370L. This is respectable. As an example it compares to 361L in the current corolla (non-hybrid) hatchback, or 313L in the hybrid.

Any sub-compact cars will have a way smaller boot. Think Suzuki swift etc.

I think in hatchbacks boot space is only measured to the top of the back seats, so you can actually fit more if you are willing to pile higher.

If you want to talk small boots, we were eyeing up a Mazda MX5 RF in the rental lot a couple of weeks ago. It's boot capacity is 127L. Makes a leaf seem spacious. I Wanted the mazda, but we ended up taking a Beetle Cabriolet instead. It has a 225L boot that fitted a full size suitcase, carry on, and daypack, but also had a back seat to put a large duffel bag on (unlike the 2 seater mazda)

[edit] - The absence of a spare tire on the leaf is nothing to do with space. The cars intended for Australia are fitted with a spare tire. Rather than using a wheel well it is mounted under the boot floor and lowed by turning something in the boot if required. Fairly standard setup in all utes, and many suv's

tripper1000

1617 posts

Uber Geek

#2302292 20-Aug-2019 10:56

Yes, as far as hatchbacks go, the Leaf has very generous space in the passenger compartment (heaps of leg and head room), but they seem to run out of time before designing the boot.

Boot volume is one thing, usable floor space is entirely a another.

My Gen 2 Leaf fits 2x 30 litre storage cubes.

My little AE101 Toyota Levin coup fitted 5. Even my 1993 MR2 fitted 3!!

Nissan simply wastes space through laziness (not just a Leaf problem). For instance, in the Gen2 Leaf the residual Gen1 charger humps cover nothing - they are empty space and function-less (trust me, I looked) - they removed the humps finally in the Gen3.

wellygary

8315 posts

Uber Geek

#2302310 20-Aug-2019 11:22

tripper1000:

Nissan simply wastes space through laziness (not just a Leaf problem). For instance, in the Gen2 Leaf the residual Gen1 charger humps cover nothing - they are empty space and function-less (trust me, I looked) - they removed the humps finally in the Gen3.

Blame the accountants,

They would have worked out how much stock of the old part they had, the cost of redesigning the mould and decided the just leave until they needed to make a change for the next model revision... :)

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