It's been a week & those are some of the responses the LEAF has drawn from those who have experienced the car. Here's my LEAFlog for week #1:

On Day 2, I put the LEAF straight into test by bracing the infamous KL morning traffic to attend a UK High Commission Climate Change event (how apt!)

I can hear everyone wondering if it has enough power to last it through traffic jams... This is where I marvel at technology & how it would inspire paradigm shifts in our way of viewing mobility - as the LEAF actually regenerates the battery with the constant braking we do in slow traffic! On Eco-mode, as there is no need for high speed the car actually adjusts accordingly its power output, resulting in a further range.

See how it's changing our lives already?

I was pleased to learn that the LEAF is being manufactured in Sunderland, UK now to cater for the European market from Tony Collingridge, Director of UKTI.

Anyhow, true to all who knew me, I had to travel overseas the next day after welcoming the LEAF into my home.... but it had some fun being with my family for a bit when I was away!

Dad took it to work & is now a convert to get one once it is launched here, Mom drove it to yoga & drew lots of attention, my grandparents were in awe that the car has no engine AND exhaust pipe (!), our visitors from New Zealand were suitably impressed by how great it is around town, my brother drove it to meet his friends & had stares from everyone! All in all, the feedback from everyone was how easy it is to integrate it into our daily lives. The range is sufficient for the around-town travelling that we all do, and the ride extremely comfortable. The spaciousness of the vehicle is excellent for our outdoorsy lifestyle.

So, they were all a little disappointed that I was home by the weekend, which meant less time with the LEAF :)

As I'm curious to see how it measures up by going a little further, my excited friends suggested a breakfast outing to Klang on Sunday. Everyone's reaction when they first saw it was quite interesting, with some friends happily snapping photos & bantering on who gets to sit in it. We had to devise a roster so everyone could get a ride!

Needless to say, everyone was suitably impressed - by the engineering details, the spacious interior, the comfortableness of the ride & the speed it could get up to! This is precisely why Nissan is keen to let us have the car - to share in real life on how the LEAF is like, for them to decide how an EV can complement our urban lifestyle very well. Looks like I have more joining me on the journey to zero emission!

But the LEAF met a very interesting friend this week.... a 100% electric vehicle like itself, a bike!

A friend of mine is the ambassador for the Yike Bike (www.mysikal.my), and we decided to meet for a ride one evening. It was quite interesting, as the Yike Bike is also very good for urban mobility - with a range of up to 30km, my friend takes the bike to work & back! He is also quite the attraction, as it is extremely new - sounds very familiar with the head turning I get with the LEAF. We agreed that EVs are the way forward, and needless to say, it was a very fun outing & we look forward to share with people on how EVs are very usable in our city lives.

So, the journey to zero emission continues.... and hopefully with more friends along the way!"