Hybrid Cars in Lake Chapala?

Hi,
Are there any/many hybrid cars in Lake Chapala? How about charging stations for all electric cars?
Has anyone had any experience with Home installs of charging stations. If so, can someone recommend a reliable business for same?
Thank you.
Frank Mercik

FMercik wrote:Hi,
Are there any/many hybrid cars in Lake Chapala? How about charging stations for all electric cars?
Has anyone had any experience with Home installs of charging stations. If so, can someone recommend a reliable business for same?
Thank you.
Frank Mercik

I'm not sure what these new car's wattage demands are, but it might ( probably ) put you into the highest electrical rates with CFE... be cheaper to drive a Hummer

Hi Hockables,
Thanks for the prompt reply. We are planning on having solar power when we move down.
We will size it accordingly depending the viability of having a hybrid or all electric car such as the Nissan leaf.
Thanks again,
Frank Mercik

I have seen a few hybrids in Guadalajara but don't know anyone lakeside that owns one. I'm sure any of the dealers selling them would have contacts regarding installation of a home charging station.

FMercik wrote:Hi Hockables,
Thanks for the prompt reply. We are planning on having solar power when we move down.
We will size it accordingly depending the viability of having a hybrid or all electric car such as the Nissan leaf.
Thanks again,
Frank Mercik

Well Mexico is the ideal place for Solar Energy... sounds like you have a plan...
I honestly don't know what might be in place to support your electric cars...

Oh BTW.....a Nissan Leaf can apparently drive 3.5 miles on 1 KWH of electricity. At the higher CFE rate I believe I pay about $0.40 USD per KWH. So to drive 350 miles it would cost about $40 USD. You would definitely want to subsidize with solar to make it worthwhile.

Thanks for the info & advice Bob.

we had a friend here who had a hybrid[gasoline&electric] powered. i don't know much about them but she never plugged hers in. seems the gas engine would kick in and repower the electric when she drove?

http://www.nissan.com.mx/leaf/

about $45,000 cn

Ouch!!! MRSP for the Leaf starts at $29,830, USD here in Utah. It is a NAFTA car built in Tennessee.
Thanks again, Hockables.

FMercik wrote:Ouch!!! MRSP for the Leaf starts at $29,830, USD here in Utah. It is a NAFTA car built in Tennessee.
Thanks again, Hockables.

yeah, but the Mexican version comes with heavier shocks & springs.... and fuzzy dice hang'n from the mirror   

Heavier shocks & springs??? Seriously or are you putting me on? Though the fuzzy dice would be a must at any price!  

A 2015 Nissan Leaf in Mexico is listed at $545,000 MXN which translates to approximately $41,000 USD. If you are moving here fulltime and do intend on having a Leaf you may be better off buying it in Utah and them "nationalizing" it when you bring it across. You would have to do the research to ensure that it is possible and see what the fees and taxes would be to do so.

This is just my opinion but don't be in the position of being the first to have something specialized during the early days of your new life here.

We don't drive more than 5000 miles locally per year. That is up and down the area and into Guadalajara several times a year. Bring what you like to drive now and eventually figure out what your new needs are after you settle into your new world.

Confirm that your warranty would cover you in Mexico. Here's what Nissan said in their 2011 warranty guide:

Your warranty is in effect ". . . while touring outside of the United States, U.S. territories, or Canada for a period not exceeding sixty (60) consecutive days or sixty (60) days in any 12 month period. . . "

Also, consider that the price quoted in Mexico includes the sales tax.

Good points Luisa. I didn't consider that.

Hi Luisa,
GREAT advice - thanks much!
Frank

Hi Solajijic,
Any and all opinions are appreciated and valued.
Thanks,
Frank

I agree with Solajijic. We bought a Nissan March when we came here, and put so few Kms on it that we typically only buy one tank of gas a month.
A far cry from the 30000 + Kms that we put on our car in Canada.
Something to think about  

Regardless, be sure that what you buy is sold in Mexico if you wish to get service here.  IMO, since most of us drive very few miles/kms per year, the premium you pay for a hybrid card doesn't make economic sense.

Thanks for the advice David.

I would speak to a nissan hybrid tech and ask if a charging system will or can be damaged by the wattage spikes if you install a system in your home.
We all know the cfe has spikes of current that can damage electronics at home

They're niether "wattage" spikes nor "current" spikes.  The power here has voltage variances and is typically higher than in the US or Canada.  Electrical stuff made for the Mexican market can handle the power here.

Just the other day I heard of a person who got their hybrid backed into by a truck and it took six months to get the repair to the front of the engine compartment done because all parts come from the States.

I'd consider carefully the total cost of this alternative.  There are no charging stations in Mexico, you'll be restricted to a radius around your own.  You will pay through the nose for the vehicle and you will be spending even more for the solar panels.

If we didn't drive to Texas twice per year, which is impossible for an electric vehicle, we would only be driving about 3000 miles per year in total.  That rate of usage simply doesn't justify all that additional capital expenditure.  Instead, we drive a fuel efficient but highly practical Honda CRV which is actually made here in Mexico and for which service is very readily available.

On top of that, you are owning a vehicle that is extremely rare here and that brings up the question of service.

If you want to make a big impact on the environment, put in a solar system that will generate all your power needs.  CFE is a badly run and primitive utility that makes most of its power burning oil or gas.  You'll cut down on a lot more pollution by cutting out your need for their power.