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National Legal & Policy Center Associates Fellow Paul Chesser on reports hot weather, cold weather and even hills hurting battery capacity of the ...
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In focus tonight electric cars the Nissan leaf falling out of favor with -- drivers over complaints it's battery can't take the heat.
With more on this -- Chester an associate fellow at the national legal and policy center.
Paul welcome back to the show so tell us about this -- you can't take -- -- that's crazy.
Well I can't take the heat can't take the -- can't take hills.
Yeah this -- this latest development with a Nissan -- in this is that unlike the -- which has a gas tank would leave his all electric.
-- totally depends on the battery charge and they're experiencing an Arizona primarily that also there's for rom on the -- on line where.
Leaf owners in hot climates like Texas California are saying I'm losing bars you know like the bars he have on yourself allowing -- -- lose charge you lose bars.
Well there -- losing a couple bars already and haven't even had their cars for a year.
There are only -- -- for eight years 400000 miles so do it's causing a lot alarming.
Among these leaf owners in hot climates especially in the Phoenix area.
Where they believe it's causing the battery capacity to diminish.
Wow that's unbelievable yeah if you if you pay them -- money back are you wanted to really work now I understand you said.
It doesn't work as well in the cold either I also understand there's a problem with terrain.
Yeah how well I wrote back in January about.
And the experience of -- and enthusiasts a real supporter of the -- Losing Tennessee -- drove over the holidays from Knoxville to Nashville which is usually less than a three hour drive.
But they have yet to run the -- to keep his wife and son warm and -- you know as a lot of hills between Knoxville and Nashville and took -- six hours to get.
-- would normally -- -- to stop four times -- recharge it battery to make sure they keep make devote the entire trip.
So I instantly I don't gas powered -- you know it.
And when you look at buyers' preferences you see the same thing.
There and the number of buyers considering all electric car cars is actually going down its four point 5% now in January was 5%.
I think the words getting out that these things yeah they're not perfect yet not by -- long shot.
-- the technology is not there yet the government the Obama administration give.
Nissan of one point four billion loan guarantee director fit a plant in Tennessee.
To build belief in its batteries.
Last year they only see this -- less than 101000.
Leafs.
Compare that the Prius do which was not subsidized and Toyota sold -- 135000.
Of those.
-- this year this year Nissan's only sold 3100.
Of the -- so it's really -- Turkey.
The taxpayers were sold -- -- -- is that this is good green vehicle that people would go lot by.
Nissan's gonna have a hard time selling C 150000 vehicles -- they're they're saying they're gonna manufacturer of that plan Tennessee.
What's your taxpayer dollars at work my friend that's what they use them for our products that don't work Paul thanks for coming on tonight appreciate your time.
No problem enjoyed it.
