This weekend I flew home from Boston, and I had the joy of sitting on the plane next to a Mechanical Engineer who specializes in solar, Ken. A truly interesting man who volunteers teaching Boys and Girls Club kids how to build robots, our conversation eventually turned to Electra, my 2012 Nissan Leaf. Ken, who lives in San Diego, was the first person whom I've talked to that actually knew a bit about the car. But he had questions.
How does the A/C pull from the battery and does it use Freon? I don't know.
What is the heater set up? Well, I know that there are heaters in the seats to keep from having to use the car's heater to drain the battery.
What is the voltage of the super charger? I don't know.
How do the lights pull power from the battery? Well, I know there's a solar panel.
How big is the solar panel? I raise my hands and hold them up to form a 12x6" rectangle, and state, "about that big."
Being the Mechanical Engineer that he is, my answers clearly weren't the level of detail he wanted, and I apologize for that, Ken! But I did get one question of mine answered, which I had asked a few folks prior to meeting Ken. Does my car have an engine or a motor?
After a dissertaion on the difference between engines and motors (chemical vs mechanical charges within the components), Ken advised me that Electra has a motor, and I should thus refer to her hood's privates as such. So, thanks Ken, for clarifying that for me...and I'm sorry my answers to you were insufficient. It was super to meet you though!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Sirius seriousness..unbeLEAFable pricing
When buying a 2012 Nissan Leaf, I received a three-month free subscription to satellite radio. Since Electra's stereo had an XM button, there was no need to port over my existing subscription from my old car, which has a portable XM receiver. Thus, I gave my old receiver to my husband to enjoy Sirius on my paid subscription while I enjoyed my new temporary subscription in Electra.
Yet, a funny thing happened. My paid subscription was due to expire a day before my free 3-month trial. I had decided I would not renew either one due to the limited amount of time I spend in Electra and how I didn't see value I underwriting the cost. When I am in Electra, it is not for many miles, and I generally listen to easily found NPR. In the meantime, my husband whom drives many more miles than me, enjoyed his new found treat.
And then, I got the call. "Hi, this is Sirius XM radio. Would you like to renew your subscription?" I said no thank and that I found $200+ a year for the service didn't seem justifiable any more due to my lower mileage. After we sorted out which of my subscriptions she was actually calling about, the trial one with Electra or my husband's, she stated that I could renew for $30+tax for six months.
A bit shocked at the drastic price drop, I confirmed that I would get the same service I had been paying for at 1/4 the price. Confirmed! So she punched a few keys, killed Electra's service and coninued my husband's at the new price. Moral to the story: don't take Sirius' first offer to extend your trial. Go for the $30 for six months and enjoy XM for a bit longer.
Yet, a funny thing happened. My paid subscription was due to expire a day before my free 3-month trial. I had decided I would not renew either one due to the limited amount of time I spend in Electra and how I didn't see value I underwriting the cost. When I am in Electra, it is not for many miles, and I generally listen to easily found NPR. In the meantime, my husband whom drives many more miles than me, enjoyed his new found treat.
And then, I got the call. "Hi, this is Sirius XM radio. Would you like to renew your subscription?" I said no thank and that I found $200+ a year for the service didn't seem justifiable any more due to my lower mileage. After we sorted out which of my subscriptions she was actually calling about, the trial one with Electra or my husband's, she stated that I could renew for $30+tax for six months.
A bit shocked at the drastic price drop, I confirmed that I would get the same service I had been paying for at 1/4 the price. Confirmed! So she punched a few keys, killed Electra's service and coninued my husband's at the new price. Moral to the story: don't take Sirius' first offer to extend your trial. Go for the $30 for six months and enjoy XM for a bit longer.
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