Nissan Leaf is one of the most popular electric vehicles available, characterized by its easy maneuverability, leaf-like design, near-silent ride, and range. Since its inception in 2010, the 5-door hatchback vehicle has gained global appeal. The Leaf was manufactured in Japan by Nissan and has totaled 500,000 sales globally as of December, 2020, with only Tesla made cars surpassing that figure within that span. This makes it one the best-selling EVs in the world.
For those who are planning to own a Nissan Leaf or who already owns one, there’s one thing you need to pay attention to; the battery charging. Although many Leafs come with an advanced battery pack, how the battery is charged affects its lifespan and driving range. So, how best should you charge your Nissan Leaf? This article will answer your question. A lot of people will find out after reading this article that they have been charging their vehicles wrongly this whole time.
Nissan Leaf’s Battery Life and Maintenance
Nissan Leaf’s range has been increasing since its initial models came out in 2010, due to the use of bigger advanced batteries in subsequent models. The initial models only ran about 73 miles because it was equipped with a 24 kWh battery. The second generation vehicles came with a 40 kWh battery. Each battery module contained 8-cell configurations compared to four found in the first generation.
But the 2020 models cover as high as 226 miles on a single charge, thanks to the new 62 kWh battery pack. Plus, the battery promises even faster acceleration. Its long-range capabilities is probably one reason why many EV enthusiasts love it.
Unlike gas-powered cars, the battery is mounted on the rear of the vehicle. These days, newer Leaf designs come with Nissan’s new battery technology, allowing users to get more out of their vehicles than before. Since Leaf’s battery packs are lithium-ion, they are susceptible to damaging and shorter lifespan if you don’t maintain them well. As I said, maintenance and charging have an effect on its longevity.
Bear in mind that charging the battery appropriately is also part of the maintenance. Maintaining the Nissan Leaf battery is not as difficult as one thinks. All you have to do is to follow some simple rules. Let’s discuss these rules before jumping to the charging recommendations.
- Keep the Charge Between 20% and 80%
This is one of the first crucial rules of maintaining the Nissan Leaf’s battery. Letting your battery die out completely or charging it to full capacity will only cause the modules to degrade quicker. Keep the charge between 20% – 80%.
- Avoid Extreme Heat
Batteries hate extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold. Extreme heat or cold can affect the battery’s health, resulting in a lower lifespan. We recommend that you don’t leave your vehicle out in the sun for long to avoid adding a substantial amount of stress to the battery.
Also, you shouldn’t leave your vehicle out in extreme cold temperatures, as they can freeze the electrolyte and reduce your car’s range. Try parking the Leaf in a garage or any other place that’s covered.
Charging Recommendations
The Nissan Leaf gives you the experience like no other, thanks to its torque. When it comes to charging it, you can do that in a variety of ways, but which method is the most ideal?
The Nissan Leaf has a 6.6kW on-board charger and a Quick Charge Port for fast charging. This gives the owners the convenience of choosing between different charging options. It’s essential that you know what each charging option is, to know the right charging to use. Let’s look at the various charging options.
Fast Charging
Fast chargers, as the name suggests, charge your battery at an alarming rate. Also known as DC quick charging or Level 3 charging, this type of charger takes your battery to 80% in a matter of minutes.
Since the Nissan Leaf has the CHAdeMo technology, you can use fast chargers to charge the battery. All you need is to locate a fast charging station and plug the CHAdeMo connector to it. Fast charging stations are becoming common. You can find them in hotels, shopping malls, etc.
The benefit of fast chargers is that it can add some juice to your battery at a much shorter time than regular chargers. You won’t have to miss those deadline appointments. While it doesn’t last, it can take you to the nearest charging station where you can top up and continue. Fast charging is great for travelers.
Level 1 Chargers
Level 1 chargers are the basic. Owners will have to purchase a 120v charging cable and plug it into a standard AC outlet. Although it is the slowest, the charge lasts longer and adds some range to your Nissan Leaf car whenever there’s electricity.
Level 1 charging can give your vehicle a full charge between 16 – 20 hours, but it will last you for more than two days. It’s best for home use, where you can charge the vehicle overnight. Level 1 charging gives your vehicle about three miles per hour. It could be higher.
Level 2 Chargers
After Level 1 chargers comes Level 2. These chargers are still slow, but faster than their Level 1 counterparts. However, they are not easy to install unlike Level 1 chargers because it needs additional equipment. You can find Level 2 charging stations in popular areas, such as commercial buildings, grocery stores, etc.
A Nissan Leaf uses a Level 2 charger that delivers a 208V charge for commercial use or 240V for residential. At 240V, the vehicle can attain a full charge in approximately ten hours, depending on the battery’s capacity. A 40kWh battery will take a shorter time to fill than a 62kWh battery. Unless you have the patience to wait, it’s best to charge your vehicle using Level 2 chargers at home, especially overnight.
How to Charge Your Nissan Leaf Vehicle
Using Level 1 Chargers
- Ensure that the vehicle is parked well. Press the power switch to turn the vehicle off.
- Unlock the charger port. Slide your hand under the lid and raise it until it slides out of position to open the port.
- Remove the EVSE from the bag and connect the plug to an electrical outlet. Once plugged, a green light will shine.
- Open the port and then the safety cap from the connector. Plug it into the charge port on the vehicle.
- You’ll hear a beep sound once the charger is connected properly. The orange light shows that charging is active.
- Note that charging won’t start if the vehicle is on. However, it will continue charging if the vehicle is turned on during the process.
To disconnect the charging;
- Ensure the connector isn’t engaged.
- Release the lock by pressing the button on the connector.
- Remove the port afterwards.
- Attach the safety cap to the EVSE back and unplug the unit from the electrical outlet.
- Put the EVSE back in its case and leave it in the boot area.
- Close the cap on the charging port and the ports lid.
Using Level 2 Charging
- Ensure that the vehicle is parked well. Press the power switch to turn the vehicle off.
- Unlock the charger port. Slide your hand under the lid and raise it until it slides out of position to open the port.
- Open the port and then the safety cap from the connector. Plug it into the charge port on the vehicle.
- You’ll hear a beep sound once the charger is connected properly. The orange light shows that charging is active.
To disconnect the charging;
- Ensure the connector isn’t engaged.
- Release the lock by pressing the button on the connector.
- Remove the port afterwards.
- Close the cap on the charging port and the ports lid.
Using Rapid/Fast Charging
- Ensure that the vehicle is parked well. Press the power switch to turn the vehicle off.
- Unlock the charger port. Slide your hand under the lid and raise it until it slides out of position to open the port.
- Open the cap on the port on the left-hand side.
- Adjust the charge port charge connector groove with the groove on the port and insert the connector.
- Lock the connector in place.
- Follow the instructions on the Quick Charge equipment to proceed.
- Charging will stop after sixty minutes if you didn’t set the time. It may take more time to charge your vehicle if you parked it in a cold area.
To disconnect the charging;
- Confirm that the vehicle has attained a reasonable charge level.
- Ensure the connector isn’t engaged.
- Release the lock on the charge connector and remove it from the vehicle.
- Close the cap alongside the port lid and store the Quick Charger.
When using Quick Chargers, you should be mindful of how frequent you use them, as they can shorten the lifespan of the Lithium-Ion battery. This applies to other chargers. Charging frequently, especially to the point of a full charge can diminish the life of the battery. Take note of this to get more life out of your vehicle in general.