I Bought the Cheapest EV (a Used Nissan Leaf) – Jeff Geerling Jeff Geerling shares his experience buying a used 2023 Nissan Leaf SV Plus in 2025, his first new car in 15 years. He chose the Leaf mainly because it was the cheapest EV option that fit his needs for local, efficient driving, paired with moderate yearly regional road trips. --- Background and Motivation Jeff had previously driven only used cars (minivan, Olds, Camry) over the past 15 years. His daily commute is very short; most driving revolves around family needs with a minivan. Wanted a smaller, more efficient car and to free up garage space. Has long been interested in EVs since test-driving a Tesla in 2012 and experiencing instant torque. --- EV Journey Resources Created a GitHub project geerlingguy/electric-car documenting his EV journey and resources. Posted a detailed YouTube video overview. --- Equipment and Add-ons To improve his Leaf experience, Jeff added: Grizzl-E Level 2 Charger for fast garage charging. Lectron L1 J1772 Portable Charger for topping off on the go. J1772 Wall Mount for cable storage. NACS to J1772 Charging Adapter. CCS1 to CHAdeMO DC Fast Charge Adapter. CarlinKit 5.0 Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto adapter. VIOFO A119 Mini Dashcam with wiring harness. --- Battery Monitoring Uses a $35 LeLink 2 OBD-II adapter plus the $20 LeafSpy Pro app to monitor detailed battery health. Battery state of health (SoH) around 93%, indicating good capacity. Practices battery longevity techniques: Limit DC Fast Charges (they degrade battery). Keep charge mostly between 50-80%. Charge to full monthly for cell balancing. Drive gently despite strong torque. --- Buying Decision: Why Electric? Over a decade of EV research. Benefits appreciated: One-pedal driving for superior control. Strong torque and smooth acceleration. Quiet operation with pedestrian sound at low speeds. Lower maintenance vs gas cars. Convenience: pre-conditioning car, home charging. Lower operational costs in St. Louis area. Downsides acknowledged: Road trip planning required due to charging infrastructure still limited compared to gas stations. Charging can add significant time on regional trips. EVs not yet convenient for daily very long-distance driving without planning. --- Why Nissan Leaf? Cost: one of the cheapest used EVs to buy. Nissan offers basic features: adaptive cruise, lane following, wired CarPlay (upgraded to wireless). The Leaf is not flashy or extravagant; functional and compact. Drawbacks: Smaller battery and no active cooling until 2026. Uses CHAdeMO DC fast charging, a standard fading in the US. Some design and convenience compromises Jeff mentions below. --- Gripes About the Leaf No dedicated play/pause button on steering or console for media. Neutral gear shift is difficult to operate. No interior or key fob release for tailgate, only manual or remote button for the charge port. --- Challenges of Electric Cars Today Charging cable bulk takes space in the smaller Leaf trunk. Multiple charging standards (CHAdeMO, CCS1, NACS) complicate compatibility. Need for adapters with firmware and battery. Varied and confusing charging infrastructure with multiple networks/apps. Used EVs still relatively expensive compared to cheap gas cars. Many EVs have conspicuous designs, making them stand out. Leaf requires charging habit changes and route planning. --- Final Thoughts Jeff does not intend to be an EV advocate but shares his honest experience. Used Nissan Leaf