Nissan LEAF - General

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#1893031 31-Oct-2017 11:18

Jeeves:

Sometimes while driving along in my leaf, the music will lower and i'll get a PA from the friendly Japanese voice - but there is no associated lights or symbols or any kind of changes on the dash or screen - so I have no idea what it could be informing me of. Anyone?

I've disconnected the GPS cable to be able to get NZ time, so wondering if it's perhaps telling me about the GPS (Even though I don't have the GPS on the screen at the time).

If you were quick you could try and use google translate on your phone

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tripper1000

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#1893202 31-Oct-2017 15:21

Driving etiquette.

Could I please remind Leaf Drivers to be mindful of the times they choose to drive slowly and/or smoothly.

In a big queue of cars last Sunday evening, behind a slow campervan on SH1 between Wellsford and Auckland I was following a silver Leaf driven by a blond lady. She was driving super smooth, however was keeping a following distance that stretched to 100's and 100's of meters and out of site of the camper much of the time. The problem arose at overtaking lanes, where her following distance was so great that traffic could not overtake the Leaf and the slow camper. She was therefore forming her own unique snail trail, independent of the camper. In desperation, some drivers were passing her beyond the end of the overtaking lanes, rather than waiting for another 2x overtaking lanes to get by, which was unsafe for her, them and everyone on the road. If she had have simply started closing the gap up when passing the "Overtaking Lane 2 KM" signs her slowness/smoothness would not have impeded anyone else, and she would have only sacrificed a few watts for a few Kms.

This is the second time I've encounter a Leaf impleading traffic on SH1 in the last 2 weeks alone. The danger (in my mind) is that if they regularly feature at the front of tail-backs they will gain a bad reputation for being slow or badly driven and ordinary people will not want to own them for fear of being tarred with the same brush. We don't want them to be stereo-typed similar to Skylines - a car that despite being technologically brilliant, no self respecting citizen would be seen dead in because they have a reputation for being driven by bad drivers.

wellygary

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#1893242 31-Oct-2017 16:55

What speed were they doing ?

hamish225

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#1893295 31-Oct-2017 20:21

Lol no, people just need to learn to be patient and realise the world doesn’t revolve around them and whatever it is they’re trying to accomplish. Everyone else has something to do too and getting angry and passing someone will only put your life in danger and the lives of others.

*Insert big spe*dtest result here*

graemeh

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#1893327 31-Oct-2017 21:03

hamish225: people just need to learn to be patient and realise the world doesn’t revolve around them and whatever it is they’re trying to accomplish.

Exactly, if you are holding up traffic then you must pull over and let the traffic pass as soon as it is safe to do so. It doesn't matter if you are trying to nurse your Leaf along so you have enough battery power to get home, you have to get out of the way.

happyfunball

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#1893375 31-Oct-2017 22:41

A minimum legal speed is what we need. This is not an EV issue, it’s a driver issue.

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Aredwood

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#1893377 31-Oct-2017 23:12

tripper1000:

Driving etiquette.

Could I please remind Leaf Drivers to be mindful of the times they choose to drive slowly and/or smoothly.

In a big queue of cars last Sunday evening, behind a slow campervan on SH1 between Wellsford and Auckland I was following a silver Leaf driven by a blond lady. She was driving super smooth, however was keeping a following distance that stretched to 100's and 100's of meters and out of site of the camper much of the time. The problem arose at overtaking lanes, where her following distance was so great that traffic could not overtake the Leaf and the slow camper. She was therefore forming her own unique snail trail, independent of the camper. In desperation, some drivers were passing her beyond the end of the overtaking lanes, rather than waiting for another 2x overtaking lanes to get by, which was unsafe for her, them and everyone on the road. If she had have simply started closing the gap up when passing the "Overtaking Lane 2 KM" signs her slowness/smoothness would not have impeded anyone else, and she would have only sacrificed a few watts for a few Kms.

This is the second time I've encounter a Leaf impleading traffic on SH1 in the last 2 weeks alone. The danger (in my mind) is that if they regularly feature at the front of tail-backs they will gain a bad reputation for being slow or badly driven and ordinary people will not want to own them for fear of being tarred with the same brush. We don't want them to be stereo-typed similar to Skylines - a car that despite being technologically brilliant, no self respecting citizen would be seen dead in because they have a reputation for being driven by bad drivers.

And even worse, If she had more closely followed the campervan. She would have used even less battery power, due to the "drafting" effect. So she is also wasting electricity as well as annoying everybody. Since the EV has regenerative braking, there is less benefit from maintaining a constant sped anyway compared to an ICE car.

The other risk is that less people will buy EVs as they might think that the reason that the leaf is being driven slowly. Is because it is not capable of going faster. Instead of it being a driver problem.

[edited to add]

Even though I like the idea of a minimum speed limit, What do you do about cars that are just so underpowered that they would struggle to maintain a min speed. No matter who is driving them? An example is the diesel non turbo Mitsi L300s. Max of only 50Hp, Use a crazy amount of diesel (pressing the accelerator pedal only seems to increase the amount of smoke coming out the exhaust instead of increasing the power output), Poor engine reliability, body rust issues, A complete deathtrap for crash safety. (no airbags even on the 2014 models!!!)

tripper1000

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#1893536 1-Nov-2017 11:39

happyfunball: A minimum legal speed is what we need. This is not an EV issue, it’s a driver issue.

You are right, it is a driver issue, but Joe average might assume it is an EV issue.

When being followed, the speed limit is the minimum legal speed - Road Code Reference.

hamish225: Lol no, people just need to learn to be patient and realise the world doesn’t revolve around them and whatever it is they’re trying to accomplish. Everyone else has something to do too and getting angry and passing someone will only put your life in danger and the lives of others.

This is nothing to do with the Leaf, but the argument that the other people should learn that the world doesn't revolve around them is logically flawed and quite hypocritical since the slow driver is forcing the world of the entire travelling public to revolve around them. The argument is saying it's not OK for world to revolve around one person while also saying it is OK for the world to revolve around one person (the slow driver). The world should revolve around the greater good of all people. If a slow driver compromises, makes a small effort to enable those behind to pass, then everyone, slow, normal and fast, can be happy.

wellygary: What speed were they doing ?

Camper was oscillating between 60ish and 90ish depending on the topography - I guess the Leaf driver was trying to maintain the average speed of the camper - about 80ish. Funny thing is that SH1 north of Auckland is anything but flat, so it would be the hills not the acceleration & drag that would eating the battery capacity.

MarkH67

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#1893654 1-Nov-2017 14:08

Would anyone know how easy it would be to modify a Gen 2 (2015 or 2016) Leaf to put the accelerator on the left side of the brake (to be operated by the left foot)?

My friend is considering changing to an EV but his right leg is missing from just below the knee (hit by a drunk driver while riding a motorcycle).

wellygary

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#1893662 1-Nov-2017 14:32

MarkH67:

Would anyone know how easy it would be to modify a Gen 2 (2015 or 2016) Leaf to put the accelerator on the left side of the brake (to be operated by the left foot)?

My friend is considering changing to an EV but his right leg is missing from just below the knee (hit by a drunk driver while riding a motorcycle).

You don't shift the accelerator for left foot driving, you add an additional one

( see 7,7)

the vehicle retains the original equipment accelerator pedal to the right of the brake pedal

https://www.lvvta.org.nz/documents/suplementary_information/LVVTA_LVV_Cert_Threshold.pdf

happyfunball

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#1893688 1-Nov-2017 15:57

tripper1000:

You are right, it is a driver issue, but Joe average might assume it is an EV issue.

Hopefully I'm making up for it, I have a lead foot and the EV torque hasn't helped much. I pretty much have to use ECO mode on the highway to avoid passing everyone in sight.

Unfortunately I have no idea if they can see the EV sticker as they eat my dust ;)

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PhantomNVD

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#1893777 1-Nov-2017 19:05

happyfunball:
tripper1000:

You are right, it is a driver issue, but Joe average might assume it is an EV issue.

Hopefully I'm making up for it, I have a lead foot and the EV torque hasn't helped much. I pretty much have to use ECO mode on the highway to avoid passing everyone in sight.

Unfortunately I have no idea if they can see the EV sticker as they eat my dust ;)

That’s definitely an EV issue too.. that damn torque combined with the absolute removal of any vehicular engine feedback (noise AND vibration) often makes me (and SWMBO too!) lose track and travel at least 10-20 over the limit as it’s so effortless to do so 🙄

frednz

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#1896257 6-Nov-2017 17:24

Regarding battery degradation. Don't expect leaf like levels of capacity loss. The i3 uses the air conditioning system to keep the battery nice and cool, and to stop it from cooking like happens in the leaf's.

The above recent comment comes from the BMW i3 thread.

And from a recent Facebook post, it was reported that Auckland to Wellington return in a 2016 30kWh Leaf can be done, but "it's just as much about managing battery temp as mileage anxiety. The 3rd fast charge in one day pushed our battery into the red....."

So, can Leaf batteries really "cook"? Is managing battery temperature a bit of a problem with a Nissan Leaf compared with, say, a BMW i3?

RUKI

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#1896306 6-Nov-2017 18:48

frednz:

Regarding battery degradation. .....

So, can Leaf batteries really "cook"? Is managing battery temperature a bit of a problem with a Nissan Leaf compared with, say, a BMW i3?

Managing Battery Temperature is an issue with all traction batteries in all cars and with all chemistries. I would only assume that Leaf was designed to be an urban short-distance type vehicle, to be charged overnight at home (i.e. no fast charging usually), hence engineers were not being bothered with cooling....

Poor cooling have been observed not only in EV but in some hybrids - e.g. ZVW30 Prius (2011-2015) battery overheats in the middle and dies after 300000kms :-) Let's wait and see what happens to Leaf after 300000kms and then make a judgement call about the choice of Nissan' Engineers.

With hybrids there are discussions on forums about installing override switch to make the cooling fan running full-speed all the time when you feel the need for that. Not possible if you don't have one (e.g. Leaf)

Toyota / Lexus Hybrid and EV Battery Expert Battery Test & Repair

MarkH67

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#1896316 6-Nov-2017 19:12

It will be interesting to see how the thermal management system on the 60kWh batteries works, might be a year before we know the details though.

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