Nissan Leaf Tour

During a motorcycle ride on March 13, went by Concord Mills to see the Nissan Leaf. They had a big event there, with a number of displays and even allowed test drives of the cars. The Leaf is all electric; it has a 90 mph top speed, and a 100 mile range before it needs to be recharged. The car is seen here (the flipped up part in the front of the car is where the car is recharged). Depending on the charger that time can range from "a few" to "around" 8 hours. That is the current drawback of all electric cars though I believe development will continue on these vehicles. In fact other companies are working on other variations of these cars as well as motorcycles.
The engine compartment is seen here. To be honest, if you did not know would be hard to tell this has an electric motor. Current cars have so many covers and protective housings that it is hard to tell what is under the hood at times. I happen to drive a Nissan (it is a Versa) and really can't get a good look at that motor either. What was interesting about it was the lack of a tailpipe and the lack of noise as it went down the road. Being used to internal combustion engines, it is a real change. Course there is a lot of maintenance that does NOT come with these cars; no tune ups, oil changes and a lot of other problems with motors. Electric engines tend to be pretty reliable.
Again the dash is really basic, and looks like the typical small car. Roomy in a small car way; the Leaf had a really good sound system. Braking the car at stops also puts power into the battery. The car would be a great commuter car with its range; for people who drive less than 100 miles at a day, or at work who would have access to chargers for the car, could save a ton of money on fuel. It had the typical fit and finish we all have come to expect from the Japanese; I found it to be a nice little small car. The one problem with it now is the price is very high as production is limited. If it catches on, I expect the price will fall, though there is a Federal Tax Credit to kind of cushion the cost a bit.
This is a look at the Leaf battery pack. That is also a matter of interest, not sure how long the batteries will last; over time most batteries tend to lose the ability to recharge/hold a charge. Also some question about how it will work in cold or very hot weather, but the car has been extensively tested. Nissan thinks a lot of it, and the tour brought a lot of people and cars to Concord Mills, and there was even early on a Sunday morning a lot of interest in seeing this modern version of the old idea of the electric car. It will be an interesting story to follow in the months and years to come. I believe we will see more electric vehicles not fewer.
This is a look at a charging station. With oil getting both harder and much more expensive to find, and as we have found in the last few weeks, very subject to rapid price rises due to events such as the problems in the Arab countries, and the disaster in Japan (and my heart goes out to the Japanese people in this time of trouble for them) such vehicles are on the way to being a viable alternative. Range and cost are issues now, but with development and more production, that could change, and will. It will be some time before they become a great alternative for the mass of people, but there are some interesting concepts and new ideas under development. Chevy's Volt will have both electric power from batteries and a gasoline engine generator to extend its range to virtually unlimited distances. As I have noted there are also a number of electric motorcycles out there which are doing some surprising things. Some of those vehicles have reached some amazing speeds..the idea that these are golf carts could not be more wrong. I will watch this developing industry with interest.
The ride took me to a number of places, and I will have some more photos in my next update from the March 13 ride. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Very Late Fall Virginia Wonderland (December 13, 2010)

Headed back to Virginia after a great weekend with my family at home (see previous post for photos). The night before we got a very light dusting of snow, not even enough to measure. Did get some word though that things were a "bit" different in Virginia. Took this photo on I-85 across the Virginia line. There was no snow to speak of in North Carolina, but not far into Virginia I started to come across sights such as these. At first the snow was very light, gradually becoming heavier as I got deeper into the state. The roads (thankfully) were fine, though wet they had no ice or snow due to VDOT cleaning them, traffic and the temperature.
Took this photo at the rest stop in Dinwiddie, VA which made for a good late fall (keep wanting to say winter, but a few days away from that official event) snow storm photo. Snow is quite pretty to check out, and I do enjoy seeing it, but I do hate to drive in it, though thankfully this day was nothing to worry about. I was able to enjoy it without worry about damage to the car, others, or myself during my journey. Snow is to be expected this time of year, so not a total surprise. We don't get a great deal of snow in Carolina, though it does happen from time to time, but in Virginia it is much more common, and generally in greater amounts.
Last photo was taken pulling into the apartment complex. Getting back to the apartment right about news time found that the area got around 1-2 inches, though some areas were higher. Also, while it did not affect me, did hear on the news this morning that the mountains of North Carolina did get a substantial snowstorm which made even this one look like nothing. All this was the bottom end of a major snow storm which smashed into the mid-west this weekend so it could have been a whole lot worse than this. This one we can admire the beautiful view of the white coated world, and wait to see what the next few days bring to us..for more is said to be on the wat later this week!

Child Savers Ride/Greek Festival (June 5, 2010)

To be honest, had planned to be riding my motorcycle today to Lincolnton, NC to a big bike, bbq and band festival held there called "Hog Happenin"; but work had other plans. Yeah grateful to have a job, lucky (blah, blah, blah) but at any case made the best of it. For work is later in the day, right now there is a lot going on in Richmond. For instance, note the sign at right. It is at the old abandoned (mostly abandoned as there is a Bank of America branch and a Firestone still there) mall known as Cloverleaf Mall. Told that back in the day it was really something, but now is mostly closed. Yesterday though it was given this new sign...will soon be Stonebridge and a Kroger is coming in 2011. Will keep an eye on this in the months to come as I go by it about every day on the Midlothian Turnpike. This was the site where the Child Savers Charity Ride was going to leave from. Expected were some 500+ motorcycles and of course their riders and some passengers as well. If I can't get out and ride my motorcycle, its always fun to hang out for a while with some bikers and to check out their rides.
Here you see part of the group which was due to head out at 9:30 am. The ride is sponsored and put together by The Tuskegee Airman Motorcycle Club of Virginia. Not a gang, the Tuskegee Airmen ride for the fun of it, and do this as well as other charity rides and events during the year. The group is named in honor of the famous Tuskegee Airmen of WWII who broke racial barriers flying P-51 Mustang fighters in bomber escort missions over Germany. They were one of the most effective escort groups of the war, and proved that black pilots were fully the equal of white ones. Many bomber pilots owed their lives to those brave men. As for me, checked out the fine motorcycles and enjoyed talking with some of the riders.

I left from there, and went to the Greek Festival. I got there early (as noted, don't have a lot of time today) and checked out some of the great food, enjoyed some of the music, and noted that the lines got long early. There was a lot to see and do there. I also enjoyed a pre-event walk down Grove Street, which is a very nice street with some interesting houses and condos. The event (which runs through Sunday June 6) was a lot of fun; and the food is remarkable.
Having to work kind of spoils a day, but Richmond sure takes a lot of the depression out of spending a Saturday inside with much going on. Even more happening tomorrow, and looking forward to a great Sunday in the city. Certainly there is a lot going on in town, and that is a beautiful thing indeed!

On the Rest Stop Issue...A Road Warrior Perspective

As expected as I saw the signs posted near the planned closings on my last trip to Richmond, the state today closed 18 rest areas in Virginia, including a number along my well traveled route from Richmond to basically the NC border. I like the rest areas, they offer a peaceful oasis along the route, have at times been a good place to duck during severe storms, good location to check out real and possible car problems, and of course those all important rest rooms. Sometimes its just a good place to get out, and get away from the seat of the car for a bit. I have used rest areas for picnics (when traveling to other places with my wife) though not during these solo trips to Virginia.
Will just have to adapt to the change; often make a stop in South Hill, VA for food on the way back, and often on the way up. Have made a fuel stop during my trip to move into the apartment here in the rental truck; many places along the road are sort of well off the road and kind of isolated. Sure this will make a lot of changes to the traveling public....but not much else we can do.
West Virginia travel centers are pretty commercial; have a number of places to eat in them, and also many gift shops. I guess that will be (if I had to bet) the future of the rest stops here, think that they will eventually go that route. Better that then to just leave them closed.
I understand the state has to save some money, and its always sad when its your ox is gored. This may be a safety issue for some, especially big rigs, and older folks (plus a real issue for families with children). It has even gotten to be a issue with the election as candidates are promising a quick re-opening.