A popular automotive personality has shared how well electric vehicles can hold their range by testing an incredibly affordable used example.
Mat Watson works for the online vehicle retail platform carwow and regularly posts videos showcasing the latest models and interesting used cars.
In one of his most recent videos, Mat got behind the wheel of a 2013 Nissan Leaf, one of the first popular electric cars, to see how well the battery has lasted.
He explained: “Things haven’t got off to a very good start. I charged the battery completely overnight and it says the range with a full battery is just 59 miles. From new, Nissan said this car would do 124 miles on a full charge.
“To make matters worse, I drove the car just 100 metres to this location to film this intro and the range dropped by two miles and is now showing 57 miles. I hope that’s not a sign of things to come.”
Launched in 2010, the original Nissan Leaf revolutionised the electric car market due to its low price and practical range of up to 124 miles per charge.
Whilst EVs have improved considerably since, the relatively high depreciation rates of used electric vehicles means drivers can buy early examples of the Leaf for incredibly low prices, with Mat buying his model for just £1,500.
Nevertheless, with many motoring experts stating that electric vehicle batteries will typically last for 10 years of regular driving, some drivers are concerned that a cheap EV could leave them stranded.
On the move, Mat claimed that he was able to slightly improve the range of the vehicle by putting it into Eco Mode.
He added: “Pressing the accelerator, like that, is going to deplete my battery. What I can do is put the car into Eco Mode, which makes the throttle a little less responsive.
“That’s already increased the range, which could be vital, though it does make it feel like the accelerator doesn’t really work.”
Ultimately running out of charge at 60.9 miles, Mat noted that the Nissan Leaf had lost some range in the 11 years it had been on the road, however could still be useful for low-mileage drivers.
He continued: “I couldn’t have picked a better spot for breaking down, it’s scenic. We’re getting a lot of attention, but people can drive past.
“So, there we go, we got just over 60 miles. I think, from new, this wouldn’t have done the 124 miles claimed by Nissan. It would have done about 80 miles. But, you know, for £1,500, to get you around the village, it’s an absolute bargain.”
