MotorMouths

If the drawbacks don’t bother you, the Leaf is a solid (if expensive) choice in the green car segment, but I’d wait for the 2013 model with the faster charger.

The Nissan Leaf demonstrates how much the widespread acceptance of vehicles that produce zero tailpipe emissions will depend on external factors like a charging infrastructure.

The LEAF is easy to drive, has light steering and feels zippy around town. But its biggest difficulty is the inconvenience of charging.

Designed to work within an urban environment, the Leaf certainly succeeds. Beyond that, it’s possible to live with, but far from ideal. And the drawbacks of an electric car? Significant.

The Nissan Leaf is generally sweet to drive, but still a second or third car for most Americans because of unexpected demands, unplanned trips that could exceed range.

The Leaf isn’t about driving as an experience to savor. It’s software with wheels. For those who get satisfaction from such parsimony, and don’t live in an apartment or with no access to a 220-volt outdoor plug, the Leaf offers a compelling solution to the problem of driving.

Given its range limitations, the 2011 Nissan Leaf should be purchased as a second car. It doesn’t offer as much freedom as a gas-powered car, but it emits no emissions and can save you money over time in fuel savings.

Maybe you don’t care about that. EVs are definitely not for everyone. But they will satisfy most people who are willing to deal with their limitations. I’m just reporting all this in the hopes that other EV enthusiasts will avoid the problems I ran into.

The Leaf isn’t just an economy car. It’s a car that is used to make a statement. The fact that the Leaf drives essentially just like any other car makes it easier to justify the switch from internal combustion to electric propulsion.

The arrival of a mass-produced electric vehicle (EV), sans gas tank or tail pipes, should feel momentous. You’re not spewing bad stuff into the sky. However, the act of driving the Leaf oddly belies this buzz, feeling like a run-of-the-mill hybrid.

The Nissan Leaf has enough power, cargo room and passenger space to accomplish all the usual day-to-day tasks, but issues of range and re-charging will for now prevent the Leaf from becoming a mainstream option.

The Leaf is good, though not for everybody. A quieter suburban existence, with a cozy garage and nightly recharge, is where the Leaf works best – probably as a second car.