ARCHIVED: TRANSPORT EVOLVED EPISODE 14 YOU'D BETTER BE LEAF IT

EV Channels Review

This episode of Transport Evolved, recorded in September 2010, focuses heavily on the then-nascent electric vehicle market. The hosts discuss the opening of final orders for the 2011 Nissan Leaf in the US and pre-orders in the UK, highlighting a significant price difference in deposits between the two regions. A key point of contention is Nissan's decision to make the fast-charging port an optional extra on the SV trim and a costly add-on for the SL trim, with the inability to retrofit it later being a major criticism. The discussion also touches on the BBC's reporting on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV's running costs, GM's controversial trademarking of 'range anxiety,' and the environmental impact of lithium-ion batteries, with the hosts largely defending the technology against detractors. The episode concludes with a brief mention of HOV lane access changes for EVs in the US and a tragic report of a fatal accident involving an electric motorcycle inventor.