t's amazing how much more high-tech solar-charged driving is today than it was back in 2014 when I first plugged our First Generation Nissan LEAF into solar at our home at 4000 S. Atchison Way in Aurora, Colo.
Yes, you CAN power full-scale trains with solar + a battery. This train has solar panels on its roof + solar panels on a storage building next to where it parks. These solar panels collectively generate electricity, which then fills the train's battery and powers the train.
Nissan has recently been making a big deal out of the so-called Nissan LEAF Plus -- the LEAF that has a 60 kWh battery pack and a range somewhere in the mid-220s.
One of the great myths about electric cars is that "they" are too expensive -- and usually when someone uses "they" to refer to electric cars they mean ALL electric cars are allegedly "too expensive".
So, let's say you've got a new solar-charged driving set-up: an electric car + home solar and you're looking to let the world know just how great it is to be Driving on Sunshine. How can you do that?
Nissan used to lead electric car sales in the United States regularly with its first generation LEAF, which became available in the U.S. in 2011. But, at least anecdotally, it does not seem to be doing nearly as well with its second generation LEAF in the U.S., of which I have seen exactly three in a full year of looking here in the Denver, Colo. area.