Boulder is a small town about thirty miles to the South. My sons had a birthday party to attend there so off we went. According to google maps my round-trip would be under sixty miles. I told myself I would bring the charger but I forgot.
By the time I arrived in Boulder I had around 25% of charge remaining. Since I still had to return home, this was a little scary! I mentally kicked myself for forgetting the charger, then I looked up a tow truck company and got its number handy. How was I supposed to make the other 50% of my trip with 25% charge?
On the way home, I was down to three bars and the car indicated something like fifteen miles remaining for my thirty-mile trip. Yikes. Remembering the Leaf's max range speed, I set the cruise for 38mph. Please don't run me over! I thought to myself as I entered I-15 Northbound towards Helena.
I gripped the steering wheel and turned on the hazards. My attention was equal parts looking rearward and forward, as 38mph is a good rear-ending speed for the interstate. I hugged the white line and kept driving, despite the dire prediction of insufficient remaining miles. Most of the trip I spent really sweating it, thinking I was going to have to call for a tow, and wondering if the tow truck would have room for three small children as well as the me and the Leaf.
A few miles before I hit Helena I knew I was going to make it...whew! I was reminded of the significant difference conditions can make for the Leaf: this trip was almost all uphill travelling to Boulder, and the temperature was just below 50 deg F. Thus the Leaf used way more juice travelling there and less travelling back. I videoed the Leaf's dashboard about a mile outside town--it's been telling me I'm doomed for a few miles now.
