Chevy Volt, Tesla Roadster, Nissan Leaf

Greener cars are becoming more of a priority for manufacturers all around the world and the vehicles they are producing are as varied as the cultures where they are made. Each company seems to be taking very different directions. In some markets one may hit the mark perfectly, whereas another comparable vehicle could be a total flop. Now we’ve all heard the complaints about electric or hybrid vehicles (takes too long to charge, doesn’t go very far, not fast enough, etc) and despite how far the technology has come, many of those complaints are still valid.

I recently got to sample more of these types of cars, which were the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf. As a benchmark, they were compared against the Tesla Roadster which I’ve driven many times before. Now those of you who are familiar with these three cars will surely be raising an eyebrow as to how one can compare the Volt and the Leaf, which are designed as average city cars, against the Tesla, which is by every measure a sports car. Yet some comparisons can and should be drawn as far as how they perform when it comes to acceleration, braking and overall handling. This was when I raised an eyebrow when it came to seeing and feeling the results.

Yes of course the Tesla out performed the other two in the acceleration tests and being able to stick to the road better in the lateral G-Force tests. However the real surprise was everywhere else with all three cars performing about the same. Braking distances were comparable for all three and the Volt and Leaf were pretty much the same in the lateral G-Force tests. For the most part the Volt and the Leaf performed quite comparably to most other cars in the same size class. What I found surprising was the slalom test. The parking lot where we were doing the testing consisted of slightly uneven pavement, just like most roads. We expected the Tesla to out perform the Volt and the Leaf but this turned out to not be the case. Sure it handled well but due to the uneven surface, it did suffer from some noticeable front end chatter and under steer. The Chevy Volt however was jaw droppingly nimble. It turned in beautifully and rotated really nicely around the cones. Just steer where you want to go and it went there with no fuss, no under steer and no scary moments. The Nissan Leaf however wasn’t as confidence inspiring and felt very much like a drunken Hippo trying to flick itself from side to side. I will give credit to its stability control system though. Just as my heart rate began to climb, as the car began to truly disagree with what was being asked of it, the stability system kicked in and nicely prevented the total loss of vehicle control had the system not been there. It’s important to mention that the speed for this exercise was 65km/hr for each vehicle. NOT something I would recommend anyone trying on their own. Leave it to the professionals please.

What about the differences between the cars beyond just handling? Each manufacturer took a very different direction. The Tesla Roadster and the Nissan Leaf are pure electric vehicles….not hybrids or what some refer to as ‘extended range’. The Chevy Volt however, is considered an extended range car. For the Tesla and the Nissan, the concept is pretty simple, even though the technology isn’t. The batteries power electric motors which drive the wheels. Simple enough right? The Volt however went in a different direction because it has both a gas engine and an electric motor. The wheels are driven directly by the electric motor period. The power is first delivered by the batteries but when the batteries drain, the gas engine kicks in and provides power to the electric motor, which drives the wheels. Not so simple. I would truly hate to be a mechanic nowadays.

There isn’t too much of a cost difference between the Leaf and the Volt with the Nissan Leaf retailing for $38,395 and the Chevy Volt comes in at $41,545. The Tesla Roadster however retails for $125,000 but hey, the Tesla really is a sports car, packs way more technology and has a huge range. It’s important to note that some Provinces offer a government rebate program. In Ontario the rebate is $5000-$8,500 for purchasing a green vehicle and certainly helps offset the cost of the car.

The main complaint about ‘green cars’ is their limited range. Pure electric vehicles are at the mercy of the power in the batteries and charging stations are few and far between. Once the batteries are drained, you either charge it up or call for a flatbed tow truck. Obviously if you let the batteries drain while in the middle of a trip, you will find yourself up the proverbial creek without a paddle. The Volt however can keep going for as long as you keep feeding it gas and is not dependant on electricity at all really. It’s just like any other car in that regard. The benefit for both is that if you are diligent about keeping it charged up, your operating costs are about 1/5 per kilometre than a similarly sized gas powered car. For example, a regular car with an internal combustion engine and an average fuel efficiency of 8 litres/100 kms will cost about $1,760 in gas per year (assuming a gas price of $1.10/litre and a distance of 20,000 kms/year). To travel the same distance in the Nissan LEAF will cost approximately $320 per year (with electricity at $0.11 kWh).

As for how far you can go per charge, well that depends on many factors including temperature, but the Leaf gets about 110km per charge and the Volt gets about 68km per charge. Sure that’s a pretty big difference but the reality is that most people only commute about 40-50km per day round trip. So as a short range commuter car, these may be perfect for your needs and both cars can be fully charged over-night. If you’re the type who likes to do road trips or needs to be able to take the car to the cottage on the weekends, the Volt would be a wiser choice. I guess at this point I should mention that the Tesla Roadster gets about 350km per charge. Yes you read that correctly and it can also be fully charged overnight.

I’m sure I’m not the only person wondering why such a difference in electric range. Well it’s partially because the sizes of the battery cells are different and so is the battery technology. Seriously though…if Tesla can implement a power cell technology providing such incredible range why aren’t other companies making similar headway with their own cars?

If auto makers really want people to get excited about their ‘green cars’ they better start plugging into the technology used by Tesla. Although the thought of spending $100,000 for a four door Chevy sedan may not sit well with consumers in general.

Here is what Wheels.ca had to say about the two cars. You can also find me in the video review. (click here)