Turning over a new leaf

It was Friday, but no visiting the site today. I was off out of town soon to be on an EVenture. You see me and the bank bought a new car.... An EV.. An electric vehicle... A Nissan Leaf. 

The range is about 150 km, depending on how and where you drive.  It can be charged by 110V, 220V or a quick DC charge. Can take overnight, 2-4 hours or 30 minutes or so.

And so I set off to play in it. I charged it up in various places, not for need, but just to try it out.

There is already a great network of charging stations. These first two were tourist information offices.

The car drives pretty smooth, very quiet...and it has......

In most cases the charging is .... Free.

At this point I guess there are not a great deal of customers hooking up and I guess it's an incentive to stop and visit somewhere. Tourism dollars. 

A level two charge from empty to full would only cost in the $4 or $5 range.

Nice to be off the gas addiction.

A way back- six years ago I am informed- the Nissan Leaf was launched. I was behind the scenes of the filming of the first TV commercial where the polar bear hugs the driver of this new car that did not pollute. I was only able to look in the window of the one they had on set. Today I am driving one!

I can only surmise that critters everywhere are happy with me!!

Here is a family of quail walking through the yard of a friend's place- where I am visiting for the night.

And though I have been known to curse the local deer.... Here is one of my hosts offering up some tree branches to a young buck in his yard.

They don't have exposed gardens.... I will love deer when my vegetables are not on offer as well!

I did mean to try out the 110 'trickle charge' overnight. But I was too overwhelmed with the events of the day..... excited with my new car, excited to see my friends.... Oops I did not plug things in correctly and it was 'ready'  to charge all night- but never started. We figured it out in the morning.

And then later I checked out another charging station in their town.

To activate some of these, you just phone a number listed on the machine and then report what station number you are at and things unlock and you hook up, unplugging whenever you want.

I then headed off to meet some other friends farther away in Naniamo. Plugged in by using an App this time and then went inside the mall for a bite to eat in the food court. At 80% I headed north on my trek home. I took the highway driving about 110 km/hr... 96 km later, battery at 23% ... With about 40 km to spare I arrived at my charging station as planned.

This station had both a level two (220V) and a Tesla fast charger.

It was a distillery.... vodka and gin made from mead - from honey!

Not only was the charge free... So were the samples. Hey no worries... They were very small samples and I was there for about two hours. I tried their craft soda waters too.

And of course a tour!

So with about an 80% charge I headed out. Quick stop at Hone Depot and then a ferry ride home.

Here is the update while parked on board.

I did not take a picture of the Navigation map... It showed a little house where I said I lived. 

I was taking my car home! .... Well to the building site to see what was done yesterday.

The bathroom walls were taped up with the special waterproof Kerdi board tape!

And oh look a hole in the floor for the drain. There is a special floor foam insert that goes in next.

And look, the mats are in place around the tub. This is not too conventional, but the plan is to use up the cable. It will be neat to have things warm around the tub..

Still no level two two charger enroute or shipped yet. Sent another email to enquire. 

Arrived home at the cottage by the sea with about 115 km range left.... So no need to plug in anywhere. Perhaps I will go for coffee tomorrow and plug in at the free charger.