The “fuel gauge” in the EV indicated 3/4 which equated to 71 miles remaining. In everyone else’s petrol powered car, 71 miles left in the tank means the reserve fuel warning light is about to come on. No biggie if you’re only headed for the corner plaza or the gas station but a definite double think if you need to cross town and back. I can see that many trips would require planning and forethought, i.e. with the EV ‘can I make it there and back’. It’s complicated. Whereas a fuel powered car is easy to estimate with a known relatively consistent MPG rating, an EV is subject to additional variables. Static battery temps influenced by extreme ambient conditions can be a concern. Hills, AC or Heat, can cut the estimated range by half.

How many residual miles remaining on the indicator before things get serious. What is your comfort zone. The thing is, with a zero emissions vehicle there isn’t a gas engine. No backup limp home mode. When the energy is depleted that’s it. Call for a tow or carry a longish extension cord.

Until remote charging outposts proliferate I propose a business service which I will call: Battery Rescue. A mobile truck equipped with a fast charge (480v) system could be a phone call away. Help for those who misjudge or need peace of mind and preferable to suffering the indignity of a flatbed truck. Pricing tiers for 1x emergency or all the time subscription plan.

We’ll call it: Battery Valet. At some point the battery pack in your EV will be quick changeable. Instead of enduring an overnight charge there will be a drive thru where you can swap out in just a few minutes. Good to go with a fresh battery. If you are local then just plug-in at home while you sleep. But if you are on a road trip you don’t want to rely on hit or miss parking with hook up umbilical. Arrive at your out of town destination layover and my service will retrieve your EV, renew its energy and return it to you topped off.

I test drove the future, a zero emissions car, my first experience. Startup hints at uniqueness. There is a keyless button labeled Start which energizes the instrument display screens and radio and environmental systems come to life. I wanted to focus on the drive so I turned all that other stuff off. A diminutive little knob (switch) selects PNDR. Relaxing foot pressure on the brake and the vehicle starts to creep just as a car with an automatic transmission would. Of course this is a software function (concession) in the EV which makes you feel more at home. Acceleration can be brisk if you like and it is erie that there is no vibration, no noise or commotion, just a soft whir as motor torque pushes you back in your seat. Quite satisfying. As speed reached 35+ mph tire noise masks sounds from the electrics. The only ECO skill to learn is early deceleration and planning using regenerative braking which will recover energy that would ordinarily waste as heat.

The Leaf Is not a soul inspiring machine. It is very appliance like and the body, while ergonomic, has the look of a grocery getter. Perhaps a Tesla Model S would add sex appeal to the equation.