ECO Mode

Well, after driving the Nissan Leaf for a week, I finally read far enough in the owner's manual to know that I can save even more energy and money than I already have been saving!  There is an "ECO" driving mode, that had eluded me for the first six days.  While riding in the passenger's seat for the first time I could do an indepth study on the question my husband was trying to answer.  "How do you put the car in ECO mode?" 

On the shifter there are only two directions you can shift; three if you count the fact that in the middle is Neutral.  If you shift forward the car goes into reverse.  If you shift backward the car goes into drive.  I had no idea there was any other mode that I could shift into.    My husband "knew" there had to be more to it.  So I delved into the owner's manual.

I don't know how many of you have looked at an owner's manual for a new car recently.  There are so many different sections and supplements.  It is crazy!  There are two pretty thick books to get through, if you count the navigation system manual, and two thinner books.  All four of these books are bundled together in a neat little case that fits securely into the glove box of the car.  Why do they call it a glove box anyway?  No one I know keeps gloves in theirs.  Anyway, I digress...  I will be honest with you, that owner's manual package is a little daunting.  I was determined to answer my husband's question, though.  I needed to find out where the "secret button" was that would put this amazing machine into power-saving mode.

When I finally found the section that could answer my question, I couldn't believe how simple the answer really was!  There was no secret button or hidden touch screen application.  All we had to do was shift two times backward on the shifter and instead of drive, the car would then be shifted into "ECO Mode"  I couldn't believe it!  As soon as my husband shifted the car into this new magical mode, miles were added onto the life of our charge!  I believe it was 10 in all, but 10 more miles is a lot when you are talking a car that only has a possible range of 100 miles/charge.

The ECO Mode allows the car to use less power for the engine and for the accessories, such as the climate control.  That is right, climate control to me now is an accessory.  I often drive without the heat on to save power on my battery.  My commuting partner doesn't seem to mind.  She just bundles up and wears her new purple gloves that she bought (after I had to let her borrow an extra pair of mine, since her old pair seemed to have gotten lost in her move). 

The first week's average without using ECO Mode was 2.5 cents/mile in electricity.  Compared to a gas-powered car, that under conservative estimates of getting 25 miles/gallon at $3.00/gal for gas, going 12.5 cents/mile.  I am gaining a dime for every mile I go in my new car.  Now that we have found "ECO Mode," stay tuned for how much more we save in week two!