About
Welcome to Living LEAF!
With the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, we are on the cusp of potentially a pivotal point in the automotive industry. LEAF is the first relatively affordable, real-world capable, and (soon to be) broadly available battery powered electric vehicle (BEV) on the planet. Nissan already has plans to manufacture and distribute LEAF on a global scale. No manufacturer has made that kind of commitment before now with this type of technology. With LEAF about to burst into the automotive environment, I knew I had to take a closer look. (The fact that I took delivery of one on March 25, 2011 is encouraging me to find out as much as I can about it also.)
My name is Ernie Hernandez, and I am a 20-plus year veteran of the automotive business. As many others before me have done, I got started in the retail end of the business. I had the good fortune of selling Ferrari, along with Alfa Romeo in the late 1980′s. While I loved the cars, I quickly learned that my strength lay in the ability to break down often highly technical concepts and features into easy to understand terms. So I transitioned into the training side of the business, which is where I have been ever since.
Since 1992 I have worked as a free-lance trainer for the automotive industry. During this time, I have had the opportunity to work with over a dozen manufacturers, both foreign and domestic (including Nissan). While my primary area of emphasis has been product knowledge oriented, I have also worked in the “soft skills” area. One great benefit to this line of work is that I have learned about these manufacturer’s products from the manufacturer’s own technical gurus. Everything from economical grocery getters, to the fastest of the fast – sports cars and performance luxury sedans. Rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive (yes… there is a difference). Trucks, minivans and SUVs have all been part of the mix as well. One vehicle that has not been a part of this training has been the electric vehicle.
So Living LEAF is as much about my quest to learn more about this pioneering vehicle, as it is to provide that information to the readers of Living LEAF. Please let us know your thoughts on our posts, as well as letting us know what you would like to hear more about.
PS: Based on a massive mis-information blitz that impacted the EV world in July 2010, I also wrote this article about what Living LEAF is.
To contact me directly, send an email to leafguy at livingleaf dot info.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Ernie,
I’m enjoying your blog. One thing that I have not read anywhere about the Leaf is what the experience of driving at night is like. How do the headlights look (from inside and outside)? How is the dashboard illumination? And anything else that may not be obvious. These are things that a new car owner often does not know until they’ve already purchased the vehicle and owned it for a while (since most test drives are during the day). Could you address these questions in an upcoming blog post? If so, that would be great.
Thanks.
Grant
Grant – thanks for the suggestion! Look for something in the next few days.
Nice analysis and blog Ernie! Isn’t it nice when a brand new product lives up to high expectations?! Other than the owners in hot climates (AZ), everyone I know are very happy with their Leaf…I am!
Mark – Welcome to Living LEAF. And thanks for the nice comments!
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