One cool feature on the Honda Fit EV, is that it shows me the average Miles per kWh that I am getting. Currently, I get about 4 miles per kWh (if I didn't use Sport Mode so much, my efficiency would be higher).
Where I live, I am charged 6 cents per kWh of energy usage. If, for instance, I want to visit my grandmother who lives about 25 miles away, I would make a round trip of 50 miles. That trip, considering my average driving efficiency, would cost me 75 cents.
Compare this to my other car, the VW Jetta Sportwagen (No, it isn't a TDI, but I wish it was!). My Jetta has been averaging around 23 miles per gallon. The gas price today for 87 octane is $3.84 per gallon, so the trip would cost me $8.35. That's $7.60 more than the EV, or in other words, over 11 times more expensive!
To extrapolate, if I drove both vehicles 12,000 miles, and didn't factor any other costs like maintenance (which hurts the Jetta more than the EV), I would pay $2,003 for the Jetta's fuel (@23 mpg), and $180 for the EV's electricity.
Let's take it a step further. Let's assume that I keep both cars for 7 years, which is average for a lot of Americans these days. With all other factors kept constant, I would end up spending $12,764 more on the Jetta than the EV (fuel alone).
Friday, November 16, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
The Sound of Silence
The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, requires that all EVs emit sound to warn pedestrians. The Fit EV meets those requirements, but from the inside, the extra noise is incredibly quiet. It is further lessened on the inside, because the sound system has a "noise cancelling" feature.
Additionally, the microphone for hands free calls works very well. It picks up my voice and filters out road noise well enough that people on the other end of the call don't realize that I am driving. People actually tell me that I sound clearer than when I use the normal handset outside the car.
I wish, though, that there was more sound insulation against road noise. Any silence gained from eliminating the constant drone of an engine is replaced with the drone of the tires. This is especially the case on the freeway, and the stereo's noise cancelling can only do so much.
Speaking of the freeway, I used the horn for the first time the other day to alert a distracted driver that veered into my lane. The horn sounded just like a scared baby gazelle. It was quite sad, but at least it gave my wife and I a good laugh.
Additionally, the microphone for hands free calls works very well. It picks up my voice and filters out road noise well enough that people on the other end of the call don't realize that I am driving. People actually tell me that I sound clearer than when I use the normal handset outside the car.
I wish, though, that there was more sound insulation against road noise. Any silence gained from eliminating the constant drone of an engine is replaced with the drone of the tires. This is especially the case on the freeway, and the stereo's noise cancelling can only do so much.
Speaking of the freeway, I used the horn for the first time the other day to alert a distracted driver that veered into my lane. The horn sounded just like a scared baby gazelle. It was quite sad, but at least it gave my wife and I a good laugh.
Tall Car, Little Ground Clearance
The Honda Fit EV looks a lot like the regular Fit, but is taller to make room for the battery underneath. At some angles, it almost looks like a small van. The front of the car also has a big chrome smile; something the normal Fit lacks. It's a happy car :)
Image provided by: MotorTrend (http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/oneyear/alternative/1207_2013_honda_fit_ev_first_drive/photos/)
The link provided above has MotorTrend's gallery of the Honda Fit EV, plus some comparison photos of the Honda Fit. The Fit EV is a little taller as I said, but also a little lower. I discovered this the first day I drove the car home, and am reminded of it every time I pull in and out the the driveway - the driveway is just steep enough that the splash guard under the car scrapes. It is a horrible sound to hear, especially when driving a brand new vehicle!
I have since learned to take driveways at an angle, which spares me and the car of any more scraping. Fortunately, there is just enough clearance to go over speed bumps without any problem. So, at least I can avoid the ridiculousness of taking every speed bump at an angle like some sports car drivers have to do.
I have since learned to take driveways at an angle, which spares me and the car of any more scraping. Fortunately, there is just enough clearance to go over speed bumps without any problem. So, at least I can avoid the ridiculousness of taking every speed bump at an angle like some sports car drivers have to do.
Introduction to my Honda Fit-EV lease experience journal
I love cars and I love new technology. I have been fascinated by the emergence of hybrids and electric vehicles, and have been tempted to make my own. But In the past year, it seems that every automaker has come out with their own electric models. Why should I start from scratch when I could join one of the many EV pilot programs and learn a lot about the best practices in EV design first hand?
If I could have exactly what I want in a car, I'd have a vehicle with Volvo S60's safety and automation qualities, and Tesla S's functional design, zero emissions and semi-long electric range. The closest that I have seen so far is the 3rd generation Toyota Prius Five. But, I'd also want a car that gave app developers access to sensor data. No such car exists yet.
While waiting for the perfect car to come along, I found out about the Honda Fit EV. It was an intriguing car to me. I loved the magic back seat of the Honda Fit, but was concerned by its light weight. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety pointed out that while the Fit was a top Safety Pick in its tests, it would be decimated if it crashed into a larger vehicle like the Honda Accord (http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr041409.html).
The Honda Fit EV got rid of the loved magic seat, and also added about 1000 lbs to its curb weight, making it just as heavy as the Accord. The loss of the magic seat was sad, but not a deal-breaker. The extra weight, however, was critically important. Momentum is an important safety feature that in many respects can supersede or negate the other safety features in a car, and while I may still be at risk from hitting a large truck, my risk of injury is much lower than the person driving the "smart" car.
The Honda Fit EV had great reviews from the auto blogs and has the highest mpge on the road with a combined 118 mpge. It was no Tesla S in design or coolness, and it was no Volvo S60 in safety and automation, but it was the most efficient with its energy, and a lot more unique than the Prius. Plus, Honda was offering to provide comprehensive insurance, roadside assistance, and all maintenance free of charge!
So, I signed up for the Pilot Program and 9 months later I am driving my own Honda Fit EV. The dealership said that I am the youngest lessee that they know.
I have been driving the Fit EV for about 2 weeks now, and I have finally decided to journal about my experiences with this electric vehicle. Hopefully, someone will find it helpful.
If I could have exactly what I want in a car, I'd have a vehicle with Volvo S60's safety and automation qualities, and Tesla S's functional design, zero emissions and semi-long electric range. The closest that I have seen so far is the 3rd generation Toyota Prius Five. But, I'd also want a car that gave app developers access to sensor data. No such car exists yet.
While waiting for the perfect car to come along, I found out about the Honda Fit EV. It was an intriguing car to me. I loved the magic back seat of the Honda Fit, but was concerned by its light weight. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety pointed out that while the Fit was a top Safety Pick in its tests, it would be decimated if it crashed into a larger vehicle like the Honda Accord (http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr041409.html).
The Honda Fit EV got rid of the loved magic seat, and also added about 1000 lbs to its curb weight, making it just as heavy as the Accord. The loss of the magic seat was sad, but not a deal-breaker. The extra weight, however, was critically important. Momentum is an important safety feature that in many respects can supersede or negate the other safety features in a car, and while I may still be at risk from hitting a large truck, my risk of injury is much lower than the person driving the "smart" car.
The Honda Fit EV had great reviews from the auto blogs and has the highest mpge on the road with a combined 118 mpge. It was no Tesla S in design or coolness, and it was no Volvo S60 in safety and automation, but it was the most efficient with its energy, and a lot more unique than the Prius. Plus, Honda was offering to provide comprehensive insurance, roadside assistance, and all maintenance free of charge!
So, I signed up for the Pilot Program and 9 months later I am driving my own Honda Fit EV. The dealership said that I am the youngest lessee that they know.
I have been driving the Fit EV for about 2 weeks now, and I have finally decided to journal about my experiences with this electric vehicle. Hopefully, someone will find it helpful.
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