Nissan LEAF - General

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287 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#2149686 23-Dec-2018 20:05

Morgenmuffel:
Ok a couple of Dumb questions as a charge point has been added next to my workplace.

Do these charge points around the place have plugs to attach to your car or do you need to take your own cables

What are the Tyres/wheels like on the Leafs, if I get one i'll be doing my 60k round trip and a lot of it is on the open road and there are a few patches that can be a bit slippy, I dunno i saw a leaf the other day and the wheels seemed slimmer than normal, could have been my imagination though

I am not/have not ever been the bogan/flashy car type i just want a functional car, a number of leafs seem to have "extras", i mean all i care about is a car that gets me from a-b and doesn't cost more to run than it should safety is good but flashy mags etc meh, is there a "base" model, I have tried looking but there seems to be so much variation, i have kind of given up and just started looking at year/price and battery bars/soh, is there anything else i should look at

How much does it cost to get a power point set up at home especially if the car is not kept in a shed

The leaf is rocking standard Nissan rims at 16” for the base no frills model, which is the S model. They are not skinny tyres like a Prius. Though they do usually come with eco tyres which cost a bit more.

tripper1000

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#2149919 24-Dec-2018 10:15

Yeah, as above, std Leaf 16" tires are 205's so are a respectable width, but they are usually Eco tires which have a super hard compound and don't grip quite as good as sporty tires.

As for the charge point at work - only you know what it looks like, so only you can answer the question. Broadly speaking there are 3 flavors of AC charge point. 1) The super budget "charge points" are just a std 3 pin plug or a caravan plug so you'll need to bring your own charging lead. 2) Some are a proper charger but have a type 2 outlet, and you need to bring your own type 2 to type 1 extension lead, and 3) the deluxe/proper ones are a complete charger, plug and lead that goes straight into your EV without you having to supply any additional leads.

SaltyNZ

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#2149934 24-Dec-2018 11:07

Currently in Eltham. Drove 488km on day 1 (weird route round the bottom of the Coromandel because our son was visiting his friend he sees only once every year or so) and about 350km on day 2. Lets you enjoy the trip rather than stress about arriving as fast as possible.

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SaltyNZ

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#2154433 4-Jan-2019 16:00

And back... Pro-tip: the 25kW chargers don't toast your batteries nearly as much. It's a pity the 50kW chargers don't have a 25kW option.

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Cybnate

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#2154516 4-Jan-2019 17:56

SaltyNZ:

And back... Pro-tip: the 25kW chargers don't toast your batteries nearly as much. It's a pity the 50kW chargers don't have a 25kW option.

Had this experience when traveling up North. The Kaikohe charge is 25kW and managed to charge me to 75% without adding a bar.

Of course it took twice as long (~50 minutes from ~10% on a 30kW Leaf). So a 25 kW option would likely become an issue at busy chargers, unless they add another charger.

My experience this Summer Holiday is that toasting may only happen when ambient temperature is above 23 degrees. It depends on your driving style (heavy foot or not) and is manageable if you don't charge over 80% at the 50 kW quick charger.

SaltyNZ

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#2154528 4-Jan-2019 18:20

Cybnate:

My experience this Summer Holiday is that toasting may only happen when ambient temperature is above 23 degrees. It depends on your driving style (heavy foot or not) and is manageable if you don't charge over 80% at the 50 kW quick charger.

Depends a bit where you're going, too. I left Whanganui with 90% and rolled into Ohakune with the low battery warning. I certainly wouldn't have made it if I'd only charged to 80% in Whanganui. Those hill climbs are terrible!

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PolicyGuy

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#2154646 4-Jan-2019 22:18

SaltyNZ:
Cybnate:

My experience this Summer Holiday is that toasting may only happen when ambient temperature is above 23 degrees. It depends on your driving style (heavy foot or not) and is manageable if you don't charge over 80% at the 50 kW quick charger.

Depends a bit where you're going, too. I left Whanganui with 90% and rolled into Ohakune with the low battery warning. I certainly wouldn't have made it if I'd only charged to 80% in Whanganui. Those hill climbs are terrible!

The Parapara road (SH4) from Whanganui to Raetihi is a beast, even in an ICE car, I drove it today and it was hard work.
Also there's next to no cell coverage and no FM radio, even the AM radio is very fuzzy - i.e. this is seriously remote territory.

It's nearly 600m vertical climb from Whanganui to Ohakune, personally I reckon it's pretty brave to even attempt that route in a 30kw Leaf. I'd be tempted to try the much longer but not nearly as steep route via Marton, SH1 & Waiouru, with chargers at Mangaweka, Taihape and Waiouru

Cybnate

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#2155271 6-Jan-2019 14:33

Sorry for what turned out to be a lengthy post, perhaps I should have split it. It all came after I had my 30kW Jan-2016 Leaf serviced at the Nissan dealer in Whangarei recently. It was interesting to see what it covered and raised quite a few questions:

- Carried out Brak balance and suspension check
- Inspected Battery (report only said Ok). SoH (with Leafspy) is now ~92% after 2 years)
- Inspected Transaxle oil (can you inspect oil without replacing it?)
- Inspected Brake Hoses and Lines
- Inspected Brake/Clutch Fluid (will be brake fluid only I suspect)
- Inspected Brake Pads Front and Rear (6mm measured, anyone know what they are when new?)
- Inspected Suspension Mounting Bolts
- Inspected Steering Gear Linkages and Boots/Lower Arm Ball Joint
- Inspected Steering Pump Belt and Hoses
- Inspected Air conditioning
- Connected the advanced diagnostic equipment to inspect your vehicle on-board systems for stored trouble codes and install the latest system software updates (already had it updated prior)

Without the WOF it came in at $171.50 incl. GST.
I've also asked to replace the cabin pollen filter which did set me back another $97.20 inc. GST and fitting.
I thought I would play it safe bringing it to the dealer the first time I had to service it and its WOF expired anyway.

1. Dealer servicing worth it?
Am I being ripped off or is this what I should have expected going to the dealer? Is it worth doing this every year as recommended by dealer or is once in 2 years or so good enough? Trying to find a balance between costs and making sure my Leaf is looked after properly in case I want to sell it or drive another 10 years. Story is that electric cars need less servicing. Is that also less in time as opposite to less in the amount of service items to be covered?

2. Tyre threads
Also noted on the WOF that the tyre thread of the rear wheels are at 3mm while the front wheels are at 4.5mm. This surprises me for a FWD car.
Anyone similar experiences? BTW I've clocked ~42k, so replacing rear wheels at 50k is 'normal' I believe or isn't it?

3. Cabin filters
The cabin filter is a standard Leaf filter which according to the dealer should be replaced every year. Looking into this a bit further this appear to be only 'scrubbing' particles. It is not a gas (e.g. NOx) filter which I believe is of health concern driving behind diesel trucks you can't pass or perhaps want to stay behind because you are on a long road trip saving kW hrs.
Asking the dealer and searching on the internet learnt that there are combo particle/gas cabin filters available but currently not for the Leaf. Which is strange as Leaf drivers would be slightly more environment conscious than average you would expect. Anyone managed to find or fit a combined gas/particle filter for their 2015/2016 Leaf? Here is some background on this topic in case this NOx/particle discussion is new to you: https://blog.mann-hummel.com/en/many-aspects-nox-discussion/

Linuxluver

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#2155376 6-Jan-2019 17:38

Morgenmuffel:

...

Do these charge points around the place have plugs to attach to your car or do you need to take your own cables

....

How much does it cost to get a power point set up at home especially if the car is not kept in a shed

The type of charger determines whether it has a cable or not.

The 25kw and 50kw and 120kw (Tesla only) DC chargers all come with their own cable and connectors. There is just too much electrical power there to allow casual BYO cable. The 43kw AC will be like the DC above.....too much juice to be BYO. There aren't many of these, but there are some (Te Kauwhata, Te Rapa, Raglan, Napier - Dickens St, Nelson at the bus interchange).

The AC public chargers typically are 32amp (32amps x 240volts = 7.6 kilowatts). Many have had cables with Type 1 connectors (LEAF-compatible), but these are slowly being replaced by chargers with Type 2 sockets. You bring your own cable. Sylvia Park Shopping Centre recently made such a change.

The other variation is the 3-phase AC charging units at The Warehouse (20 "Schnieder" units around the country) and WEL's "KEBA" chargers. There are others. These can deliver up to 22kw AC to a car that can receive it (Renault ZOE). But if you plugged your LEAF you're only get 3.3kw because that's all the charger in most LEAFs is capable of. Some can do 6.6kw (like mine).....

So what you need depends on the charger. But if it doesn't have a cable on it, then you'll need the Type 2 compatible cable for your EV....and that's it. The AC chargers vary......but what you need to have to use them doesn't.....and that's the whole point of that. :-)

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wellygary

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#2157140 9-Jan-2019 15:49

The 60Kwh Leaf E+ has been formally launched at CES

"Here are the goods from the spec department:

62kWh battery pack that is only 5mm bigger than the 40kWh pack in the current LEAF
160kW motor (215hp)
226 mile estimated range
70kW CHAdeMO charging with 100kW peak"

These new speedier LEAFs will go on sale in Japan starting in a few weeks and will reach the US shores in Spring.[April?] The vehicle will hit EU this summer [July/August]

https://electrek.co/2019/01/08/nissan-leaf-plus-62kwh/

No word on pricing, and they are still using air cooled cells, :( Also updates appear to be going OTA rather then via dealers...

Although with a Japan launch soon, it should not be too long after that before industrious local dealers start looking at ways to claim the Japan EV credit and then export near new vehicles out this way..

happyfunball

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Ultimate Geek
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#2157234 9-Jan-2019 19:48

wellygary:

The 60Kwh Leaf E+ has been formally launched at CES

"Here are the goods from the spec department:

62kWh battery pack that is only 5mm bigger than the 40kWh pack in the current LEAF
160kW motor (215hp)
226 mile estimated range
70kW CHAdeMO charging with 100kW peak"
These new speedier LEAFs will go on sale in Japan starting in a few weeks and will reach the US shores in Spring.[April?] The vehicle will hit EU this summer [July/August]

https://electrek.co/2019/01/08/nissan-leaf-plus-62kwh/

No word on pricing, and they are still using air cooled cells, :( Also updates appear to be going OTA rather then via dealers...

Although with a Japan launch soon, it should not be too long after that before industrious local dealers start looking at ways to claim the Japan EV credit and then export near new vehicles out this way..

Thats beautiful. Thats Wellington to Auckland with 1 or 2 fast charges.

I just drove from Wellington to Rotorua and did 7 fast charges to get here! The charges were shallow, fast and convenient, but I was worried about the battery, hitting 53C at one point (but still not in the red on the gauge!).

If that same drive took only one fast charge, that would be a game changer for people IMO.

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paulchinnz

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#2157240 9-Jan-2019 20:20

Air cooling a real minus. Depends on how much cheaper than the Kona 64kWh... If it's less than NZ$10k cheaper, I'd get the Kona with its liquid cooling, even though the boot is smaller and regeneration is weaker.

MarkH67

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#2157269 9-Jan-2019 22:04

The air cooling shouldn't be all that huge a deal in NZ's climate. There would be less fast charges with a longer time between them, thanks to the greater range. 50kW to a 62 kWh battery is like less than 20kW to a 24kWh battery - nowhere near as aggressive a charge rate as far as the battery is concerned.

However: If the price was similar then I might buy the Kona over the Leaf, due to the significantly better efficiency that Hyundai has managed. The Leaf will have a range of ~360km while the Kona will have a range approaching 480km. Generally, I don't need the interior space that the Leaf provides and the Kona being ~300mm shorter is an advantage when parking.

I am pleased to see a much better Leaf coming out though. That range is significantly more useful than the previous model has. Also - 160kW of power, that's pretty darned nice! The Leaf will be pretty much a hot hatch! I see the newer EVs like the Kona and the Leaf e+ as being better cars overall than similar sized old fashioned cars (the type that burn fossil fuels). The Leaf e+ should have ample range for the majority of NZ drivers, while having lower operating costs and more power than a Toyota Corolla (to name a popular fossil fuel burner). It will be interesting to see all the new EVs coming onto the market over the next 2-3 years, especially since they will be what I will choose from when I buy my next car - a ~2-year-old 2nd hand car in 4-6 years time.

happyfunball

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Ultimate Geek
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#2157278 9-Jan-2019 22:25

MarkH67:

The air cooling shouldn't be all that huge a deal in NZ's climate. There would be less fast charges with a longer time between them, thanks to the greater range. 50kW to a 62 kWh battery is like less than 20kW to a 24kWh battery - nowhere near as aggressive a charge rate as far as the battery is concerned.

However: If the price was similar then I might buy the Kona over the Leaf, due to the significantly better efficiency that Hyundai has managed. The Leaf will have a range of ~360km while the Kona will have a range approaching 480km. Generally, I don't need the interior space that the Leaf provides and the Kona being ~300mm shorter is an advantage when parking.

I am pleased to see a much better Leaf coming out though. That range is significantly more useful than the previous model has. Also - 160kW of power, that's pretty darned nice! The Leaf will be pretty much a hot hatch! I see the newer EVs like the Kona and the Leaf e+ as being better cars overall than similar sized old fashioned cars (the type that burn fossil fuels). The Leaf e+ should have ample range for the majority of NZ drivers, while having lower operating costs and more power than a Toyota Corolla (to name a popular fossil fuel burner). It will be interesting to see all the new EVs coming onto the market over the next 2-3 years, especially since they will be what I will choose from when I buy my next car - a ~2-year-old 2nd hand car in 4-6 years time.

A 2016 Leaf seems much cheaper than a 2016 Ioniq looking on Trademe, so my guess is that a Kona will continue to be much more expensive than a Leaf. The Kona is also guaranteed to not be as popular in Japan, where NZ gets most of its cars from, and that will drive up prices. I'm guessing the Leaf will still be a strong contender because of price and therefore the most popular EV for a few years yet.

afe66

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#2157287 9-Jan-2019 22:59

I'd go for the leaf rather than the konos as I value the bigger boot especially if I want longer range where I would have more luggage.

I have done Dunedin to chch and dunedin to wanaka in my 24 leaf so a 62kw leaf is a marked improvement.

With a range of 300 km+ on a full battery, I cant see myself ever charging more than once on route (500km+) so not worried about air cooling because I wouldnt feel safe driving more than those distances in one day without a significant break.

Would be interesting to see some stats about how long it takes a charged battery to cool just sitting parked. ie charge the battery to full and leave it doing nothing overnight while I sleep.

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