Power utility companies like TNB ought to support the adoption of EVs
At the turn of the 20th century, Henry Ford was mobilising the masses with his petrol internal combustion engine (ICE) powered Model T. However, his wife Clara drove an electric car.
At that time, ICE powered vehicles were smokey, leaked oil, were difficult to drive and start, were noisy and vibrated a lot. Attributes hardly fitting for the wife of the world's wealthiest man then.
In contrast, Clara's Detroit Electric model was clean, quiet, smooth, easy to drive and with only a simple battery and an electric motor, it was very reliable.
Electric vehicles (EVs) eventually lost out to ICE with the discovery of cheap oil and the invention of the electric starter by Bosch. Advance power control electronics and battery chemistry necessary for EVs to progress further would not be invented until 70 years later.
Ford may be credited for the world's first mass produced car but Nissan's Leaf is the 21st century equivalent to the Model T. Mitsubishi's i-MiEV may be introduced earlier but it was only available for leasing. The Leaf is the world's first mass produced electric vehicle on sale.
The Leaf is currently on sale in 11 countries, with five more countries including Malaysia conducting pilot tests with selected members of the public. Malaysia's pilot test is the first of its kind in Asean, not just for Nissan but for EVs.
Nissan says the Leaf's name represents its emission reducing role. We think the name doesn't do it justice. It should be given a wilder sounding name, say "Oleander", the world's most poisonous plant. Yes, it is green, but it also demands respect.
The Leaf has two driving modes - Eco for reduced throttle sensitivity and increased regenerative braking; standard (power) if you are in the mood for hooning around.
Slide the computer mouse-like Palm-shift Driver Selector into Drive, bury the throttle pedal (technically it's a rheostat), a high pitched hissing sound follows and the Leaf then shoots off like it was released from some digitally enhanced slingshot.
As the thrust comes from a silent spinning motor rather than a wailing banshee four-cylinder engine banging off the rev-limiter, the experience is rather surreal.
Performance is not something one would normally associate with the Leaf, but we were left pleasantly surprised. Sure, it's far from capable of doing tarmac burning acceleration but neither is it anywhere near the golf kart like driving experience one would naturally expect from a greenie image EV.
It is highly effective in delivering the punch but does so with no noise or drama, like the difference between the latest generation F117 stealth fighter and a World War II era P-51 Mustang. Which is better depends on your preference. Some prefer thunderous noise of the P-51 Mustang.
Unlike regular ICE vehicles, the Leaf's 80 kW electric motor delivers its maximum 280Nm (that's more than the Teana) of torque from the moment it spins. In comparison, a regular ICE model like the 2.5-litre Teana needs to spin until 4,400rpm to deliver its maximum torque of 228Nm.
It is little wonder that Nissan literally lifted the Leaf's powertrain and fitted it into a lighter, lower body shell to create the Leaf Nismo RC all-electric race car.
As a car for everyday city commuting, the Leaf is ideal. The steering is light, with good outward visibility and the controls are simple. Despite its hi-tech image, the Leaf is a simple car to just get inside and drive off.
Button count is kept to a minimum via a touch screen flat-panel centre cluster.
Behind in the boot is a 330-litre (VDA method) cargo space. That's bigger than a similar size Latio hatchback's 289-litre (VDA).
Without an engine, the Leaf is vibration free, leaving its driver less worn out after a journey.
However, the omission of an engine also means that secondary noise from wiper motor, road, tyre and wind noise normally muffled by an engine will become more pronounced, but only slightly. Nissan's engineers designed tiny "aero fins" into the headlamp and tail lights to minimise wind noise.
Based on TNB's rate of RM0.33/kWh, it costs only RM7.90 to drive 160km in the Leaf. A similar size ICE model delivering 10km per litre of petrol will cost RM30.40 to cover the same distance. A hybrid delivering 20km per litre of petrol will cost RM15.20.
The only fault with the Leaf is the location of its charging port, at the front hood. Its location makes it susceptible to serious damage even from a minor collision. After all, cars do have front bumpers for a reason. With the charging port damaged, the car is as good as immobile.
Also, for safety reasons, it is advisable to park your car in reverse. It not only facilitates for faster exit but also puts the driver in a better position to react against robbers sneaking up on you when you open your gate. A side mounted charging port would allow for greater flexibility and durability.
The downside in charging time and driving range is not unique to the Leaf alone but a limitation of the technology at its current state of development. Those are criticism on the technology as a whole rather than the car itself.
Like most EVs, a full eight-hour charge can only deliver a driving range of 160km. Turn down the air-conditioning's temperature too low and the range drops further. Still, the range is sufficient for most daily commute. Results from trials overseas show most EV owners only charge their car every other day.
In Japan, Denmark, Europe, the United States, Australia and China, a company called Project Better Place operates battery swap stations. You drive into the station like you do at a regular petrol station, but instead of an attendant filling up your tank, robotic arms beneath a ramp swap your flat battery for a fully charged unit in just 75 seconds, faster than it takes to fill up a full tank of petrol. The driver stays in the vehicle throughout.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance is a strong supporter of Project Better Place.
Below is a video demonstration of how battery swap concept works station. Today in Japan, Nissan is already running EV taxis in Japan, supported by Better Place battery swap stations.
Critics say EVs merely transfer pollution from vehicle tailpipes to coal or gas fuelled power stations. But this ignores the fact that electricity is a multi-sourced energy, giving it extremely high resilience. It can be generated from solar, wind, wave, gas, hydro, etc.
Unlike oil, electricity cannot be transmitted over sea. Thus it cannot be easily sold to the highest bidder and is relatively insulated from speculators.
Price : Not for sale. Currently on pilot test in Malaysia.
Specifications :
Drive powertrain layout: Front motor, front drive
Power: 80kW
Torque: 280Nm
Battery type: Laminated lithium-ion battery
Battery capacity: 24kWh
Range: 160 km (US LA4 mode)