New (Flow) Battery Design Could Help Solar and Wind Energy Power the Grid

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31. Recharging is really not a problem.

It seems like it would be, but it's not. It's a different frame of mind, and it's hard to describe because people think you're gilding the lily - you're trying to dress up your $25K investment in a boat anchor.

I have a Nissan Leaf, and I wouldn't recommend them to any individual or family who doesn't have a second car. Urban dwellers are usually better off having no car, with the associated parking headaches and lots of public transportation available.

For a two-car family, they're ideal. In my family it gets used for anywhere from 70-90% of our driving. With all that driving you would think that public recharging would be required, but what ends up happening is you plug it in when you get home and it's filling up while you're doing other things. I drive more than 100 miles/day occasionally, but because it's being charged up between trips you get much more than one charge of range. I have a Chargepoint card that I'm starting to use a little more (I had to use it once in an emergency where I would have run down) but so far it's been about 12,000 miles with maybe half a dozen charges away from home.

No trips to the gas station, no oil or tuneups, and great pickup. I guess the bottom line is whether people regret buying them, and their customer satisfaction is among the highest of any car. Take one for a drive sometime, they're very cool, and they're starting to catch on.