Nissan LEAF - General

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#1920430 16-Dec-2017 03:18

afe66: No Nissan doesn't have a battery upgrade option.

And to be fair to them I'm not sure _any_ ev manufacturers have this.

There might be private people doing this but as the 40kW version might not be yet for sale, I can't see where you would source the battery from.

If you want a bigger battery capacity, you have to buy the newer version.

(just like iPhones - scale is different but the philosophical reason probably the same 😋)

Renault in Europe can upgrade the 22kWh Zoe to 40kWh. It's expensive - €9,900 if you own your battery pack and only €3,500 if you lease the battery...but you need a new lease and a higher monthly rental payment....but it's been done. The two battery packs are swappable in minutes, by design.

Tesla can also do it, but I'm not sure it's an offering, as such. They also have had plug n play battery packs.

BMW can also upgrade the i3 battery pack.....

Nissan do replacements (which is effectively an upgrade if you go from Gen 1 battery to Gen 2 battery) for warranty reasons in hot countries......but it's not typical or easy.

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RunningMan

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#1920455 16-Dec-2017 07:37

quickymart:

I had no idea that was the case - thanks for the info.

Keep an eye on the EV Charger News thread. https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=162&topicid=216625&page_no=9#1919945

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#1920525 16-Dec-2017 11:37

RUKI:
PhantomNVD: But in the same light, their 2nd hand battery market needs some work if they expect their 2nd hand models to retain a viable use too... there REALLY needs to be a support network, WORLDWIDE to support my Gen1 to be ‘refreshed’ every 5-10 years... even with a like-for-like approach, so it can retain its 100km “useable” range, even if they don’t want it to get a 250km ‘who needs a new one’ range.

I have initiated recently request for amendments to some NZ rules in regards to importation of the second-hand traction batteries and was told that we may expect positive outcomes... Have not received anything in black and white yet ... but it is work in progress... Big question is who on this forum has spare warehouse in Auckland - standing idle, doing nothing and wants to store piles of traction batteries (for Leafs and for Hybrids) and get into that battery rebuild business?

Well, I’m technically 5 mins out of “Auckland” (just south of the Waikato/Auckland boundary in Pukekohe, and have 2 acres with 2 shipping containers I’d happily fill with ‘swappa’ batteries for a reasonable rate... I’m sure 50kms for a once every 5-10 years ‘service’ would be an acceptable compromise almost anyone would make for a recon battery pack, but as it requires a sparky to work with anything over 50V, I’d need to sort a deal with someone who can actually do the work to make this happen...

any offers?

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#1920529 16-Dec-2017 11:50

RUKI:
I need a parrot on my shoulder who would advise - "buy the fresh car (3-5 years) with low odo and good initial battery health and if you can afford to throw it away after 5 years - do not worry then about upgrades. If it lasts longer - consider it as a bonus".

And this is why EV’s are still considered a Rich Man’s world... only a “RichMan” can afford to buy a new car every 3-5 years and basically write it off afterward... and this mentality TOTALLY destroys the whole notion that EVs are economically viable, OR ecologically better!

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#1920555 16-Dec-2017 13:29

PhantomNVD: ....and have 2 acres with 2 shipping containers I’d happily fill with ‘swappa’ batteries for a reasonable rate... ....

any offers?

2 acres already sounds like a "rich man's world" :-)

As for work on above 50V - plenty of certified electricians who can be trained to do that. It is not that hard. I know at least 3 certified individuals and one good electrical company - but there are plenty around in every suburb. Electricians charge about $120-160 per hour more or less so just the time it will take - would make it a pricey exercise for their labor only.

People use the scanner (leaf spy or anything similar) - identify weak cell(s), open the lid, use PPE (>1000V DC rated insulated gloves, insulating mat, insulated sockets) take those cell(s) out and change to the good ones - process is described in the Nissan Service Manual. Manual also suggests charging those swapped to the required level using Li charger. You can use cheap RC charger for that.

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#1920678 16-Dec-2017 21:54

RUKI:
PhantomNVD: ....and have 2 acres with 2 shipping containers I’d happily fill with ‘swappa’ batteries for a reasonable rate... ....

any offers?
2 acres already sounds like a "rich man's world" :-)

lol, slightly off topic, but my “2 acres” cost $210K only 3 years ago... so more like “opportune buying” than “rich man” 😉

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#1920732 17-Dec-2017 09:18

quickymart:

afe66:
quickymart:

I test drove a Leaf on Sunday (with my boys in the backseat). It was pretty cool! I didn't take it very far but wow what a smooth quiet ride. The boys loved it too. Sadly it was all I heard about for the rest of the afternoon.

I could see myself driving one of these things to Hamilton, but somewhere like doing a loop of the Coromandel would be a little bit more challenging - charging stations seem to be few and far between there (as far as I can tell).

Are you sure?

Plugshare.com seems to show 4 Chademo rapid chargers on the coromandel loop.

I had no idea that was the case - thanks for the info.

There are 5 fast chargers on the Coromandel as of Friday; Thames, Coromandel Town, Whitianga, Tairua and Whangamata ( which opened Friday).

I drove around the Coromandel a few weeks ago before the Whangamata site opened. This could be an easy way to Tauranga, too, as Whangamata is only 90km from the TGA........though you have to go through Tairua from Thames to get to Whangamata.....

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#1920734 17-Dec-2017 09:24

PhantomNVD:
RUKI:

I need a parrot on my shoulder who would advise - "buy the fresh car (3-5 years) with low odo and good initial battery health and if you can afford to throw it away after 5 years - do not worry then about upgrades. If it lasts longer - consider it as a bonus".

And this is why EV’s are still considered a Rich Man’s world... only a “RichMan” can afford to buy a new car every 3-5 years and basically write it off afterward... and this mentality TOTALLY destroys the whole notion that EVs are economically viable, OR ecologically better!

True. There probably needs to be legislation requiring car makers to support their cars.

But at the same time, the tech is evolving so rapidly you would want to upgrade frequently for the next 1-5 years......like smart phones from 2008-2011.....a newer, better one every few months.

But now they are at a point where you can keep the same phone for years and be just fine.

EVs will be like that ....and the sooner we can get there, the better.......but cars, logistically, are a much bigger and more complex thing to make than a cellphone. So it's happening slower. But it needs to happen as fast as it can.

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#1920748 17-Dec-2017 10:57

I think the primary difference between cellphones and EVs development (other than the cost!) would be that my iPhone upgrade has been driven by increasing app sizes, photo use, and internet speeds (2G>3G>4G etc)... however my commute doesn’t grow, and the speed limit has (in some places) increased marginally for the first time in 20+ (?) years, and is VERY unlikely to change for another 20+ years...

Essentially while our phone’s use has changed dramatically, and although _Energy source_ for the car is changing, the use (distance/speed/internal volume) is not going to change for the foreseeable future, until driverless cars/legislation forces it to.

So if my Leaf suits SWMBO’s commute now, all I need is for it to still suit her commute in 5/10/20 years too?

Lastly, while our distance car is still an ICE (‘92 Corolla) due to cost and limitations of current EVs capable of 500KMs, this I will affect our ‘other’ car decision, not our ‘commute car’ upgrade path...

Linuxluver

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#1921426 18-Dec-2017 17:30

Looks like there has been a breakthrough in importing new and refurbished LEAF traction batteries.

This is cool.

http://evtalk.co.nz/ev-battery-import-breakthrough/

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#1921510 18-Dec-2017 20:58

Linuxluver: Looks like there has been a breakthrough in importing new and refurbished LEAF traction batteries.

This is cool.

http://evtalk.co.nz/ev-battery-import-breakthrough/

Great news! Next step is being able to export them from Japan, Nissan is apparently reluctant :(

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#1921517 18-Dec-2017 21:16

Wonder if any new LEAF traction battery importer will be willing to give 9 bar 8y/100000km warranty. If they did, and it was say $5k, I'd get one in a heartbeat. My lemon battery gets more sour as each month goes by...

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#1921521 18-Dec-2017 21:24

Having a major headache with a windscreen replacement for my Leaf Tekna. The issue is the rain sensor not working properly after replacement.

They replaced the windscreen after I had a stone hitting it on the highway. When I noticed during a good shower it didn't work properly they had the gel re-applied which clearly didn't work out still having the same issue and they referred me to the dealer to have it calibrated. IC Motors in Whangarei was not aware of any calibration requirements and told me upon observations that the job was not properly done. Air bubble underneath was the assessment. Referred back to the windscreen repairer they had another go at it today but didn't get it too work properly. We made some progress as the wipers only responded intermittently before even when really splashing a bucket of water and now they get to continuous wiping. Still missing the 'fast' wipe for when it pours.

The repairer believes it is the windscreen itself and is going to replace the windscreen with one from another brand assuming it has something to do with the glass and its opacity.

Anyone similar experiences or any tips even though all the work is done under insurance/warranty, it seems like a waste.

Linuxluver

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#1921533 18-Dec-2017 22:03

AA Glass replaced my Tekna windscreen after it was smashed only 10 days after I got the car. It was a piece of chip thrown off the top of the wheel of an incoming truck speeding through road works on SH2. I now always slow right down to the posted speed. Driving to fast is how wind screens gets smashed.

Anyway..... My rain sensor works fine.

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Linuxluver

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#1921534 18-Dec-2017 22:03

AA Glass replaced my Tekna windscreen after it was smashed only 10 days after I got the car. It was a piece of chip thrown off the top of the wheel of an oncoming truck speeding through road works on SH2. I now always slow right down to the posted speed. Driving to fast is how wind screens gets smashed.

Anyway..... My rain sensor works fine.

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I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

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