It has been well over a year now since I purchased my Nissan EV. So far my experience has been very good, though my 200 mile max range does have its frustrations. I would strongly urge, if you do a lot of driving, get a car with at least 300 mile maximum range.

As a little reminder, 200 mile max range is misleading. They suggest that you not normally charge it past 80% to make the batteries last longer. Also you should get it recharged on or before it goes below 10%. This really only gives you a 70% range, effectively, that 200 mile range becomes 140 miles.

Generally, this is not a problem for me as I rarely go more than 10 miles on any one trip. Mostly the 200 mile range is fine for me. However, there are times I need to go a distance of over 50 miles. In such cases, I rent a regular car.

Secondly, the ambient temperature has a large effect. Last autumn, I actually made a ten mile trip where the computer reported that I got 5.1 miles per KW Hour. It was because my speed was a relatively constant 45 MPH and the outdoor temp was about 65. I needed neither heat nor cooling.

So how does that figure in theory if I could always get that kind of milage? Yep. I ran the numbers. Almost 450 miles on one charge. Now I could live with that.

Most of the time, the mileage is between 2.5 and 3.5 miles per KW hour. Well, I’ll let you figure that one out. I don’t much want to. The hitch is… I have not a clue how that converts to miles per gallon.

Whatever, oddly, the cold seems to effect it more than the heat. My best guess, a lot of energy goes into defrosting the windshield. I’m working on that. I might start keeping a hair dryer in the car. That way I could heat the car as well as clarify my windows before I start the car.

Perhaps my most irritating discovery is that the FOBs are very expensive. I know. I tried to replace a lost one. You want to know, don’t ask. I asked about getting one on the internet. They said they didn’t always work. I interpreted that as, they will make sure it won’t. In other words, they have the monopoly on the things.

Might I suggest, make a third FOB a part of the contract. That does not just mean EVs but all makes and models that have FOBs. At any rate, either don’t lose the FOBs or don’t get a car that uses them. Hate to say it, but they really have the owner over a barrel. In the case of my Nissan, without the FOB, what I have is a big piece of steal. At least with my old Chevy, I can go back to using my key, which I did.

Nonetheless, I have not given up yet. I have found the FOBs on the internet for 80 dollars. All I need to do is find someone who will make an honest effort to connect the FOB and car.

By the way, if I knew about the FOB problem, I would not have bought the car. I don’t like anyone doing business like that with me.

On the positive side, I am very pleased with the wipers. This might seem a small thing, but I am rarely able to keep the same windshield wipers more that 3 or 4 months before they start streaking on me. I just had these replaced the other day and the original ones were holding up pretty well.

As far as the first year in wear and tear, it is as good as new. If I paid for a good detailing, it would be difficult to tell it from new. It could very easily out last me. Well, I guess that doesn’t say much. I am 78.