Nissan Leaf Battery Replacement and Upgrades: Full Guide
Since arriving on the scene back in late 2010, the Nissan Leaf has become a popular choice in the world of electric cars. With almost 150,000 units sold in the US since release, thousands of drivers have gotten to grips with the Nissan electric driving experience. The somewhat limited range of the Leaf is one of the reasons that sales were more conservative than more popular and longer-range models like Tesla.
The latest version of the Leaf is rated with a range of about 226 miles, which still places it firmly behind others in the marketplace. For city-dwellers on the other hand, it has more than enough range and the Nissan Leaf is a much more affordable alternative to the more luxury likes of Tesla.
However since the battery is such a big part of the price of the Leaf (up to 40% of its total price), it’s worth fully understanding the Leaf’s battery, including how much it costs to replace or upgrade it.
It’s All About the Battery
The range in electric cars depends entirely on the kind of battery that is used in the powertrain. Below is a summary of the various battery sizes and ranges used in Nissan Leaf models from 2010 to the present generation.
First-Generation Nissan Leaf (2010-2017, ZE0)
- 2011-2015 – 24kWh lithium-ion battery; EPA range 73-84 miles
- 2016 – 30kWh lithium-ion battery; EPA range 84-107 miles
- The 2016 Nissan Leaf S also used the 24kWh battery
Second-Generation Nissan Leaf (2017-Present, ZE1)
- 40kWh lithium-ion battery; EPA range of 151 miles
- 62kWh lithium-ion battery; EPA range of 226 miles
As you can see, the Nissan Leaf has made big improvements on its first generation, but it’s still far behind the Long Range version of the Tesla Model 3, which can already offer 353 miles of range. You do pay a premium of around 38,000 for the benefit of that extra hundred or so miles of range, which is another reason the Nissan Leaf remains a popular and more budget-friendly choice.
How Long Does the Nissan Leaf Battery Last?
Besides pure range, it’s also important to know how long the battery will last. Electric cars are not cheap, and so drivers want to ensure that the critical components have a decently long life.
Nissan offers a standard 5-year or 60,000-mile warranty on the Nissan Leaf powertrain. The bumper-to-bumper warranty is 3 years or 36,000 miles. The battery, however, is given its own special limited warranty of 8 years of 100,000 miles, or at least they are for the 2020 model year. The warranty specifically covers defects in materials or workmanship for that period/distance.
Therefore, we can expect the battery of a Nissan Leaf to last at least for that limited warranty period, 8 years or 100,000 miles. The abcnissan.com blog reports that most owners predict the battery will last for about 10 years. Given that the car was only first released in late 2010, and its second and latest generation is just entering its 5 th model year, it’s still too early to tell for sure how long overall the batteries will last.
In the next section of this article, we’ll look at the common problems that Nissan Leaf batteries face.
Nissan Leaf Battery Upgrade Project
New Zealand owners of Nissan Leafs have no options to upgrade their car with a new battery pack to extend the useful life of their car. At Blue Cars we recognised this looming environmental problem years ago and started working on a solution. In 2017 we launched our pilot project with co-funding from EECA This allowed us to design, build and test our own replacement battery module for a Nissan Leaf. Our new module achieved 45% greater capacity than new original Leaf modules and gave us the confidence to set our sights on a full upgrade solution.
Image 1 – Inside a Nissan Leaf battery pack with original modules (24 kWh)
Prototype Status
Since completing our pilot study we’ve continued to develop further designs towards our goal of a commercially viable solution. In July 2019 we built our first full Nissan Leaf upgrade prototype, which fits 38 kWh of new cells into an existing Leaf battery pack (58% more capacity than the original pack). We still have some technical issues to solve, but initial run-out tests have been promising with our test-car achieving nearly 200 km in winter conditions and mostly highway driving. We believe we can increase this to 240 km with further tweaking of the design and better cell balancing.
We are a small startup company with limited revenue from our core activities to fund development and trial projects. Our initial pilot study was made possible thanks to EECA, but our applications for further funding since then have been unsuccessful. We can still keep the project moving forward, but any support we do get will help us to finalize and prove our solution and scale up to volume production much quicker! We have just submitted an updated application into Round 7 of the LEV fund and also just launched a Givealittle crowdfunding campaign.
The project will benefit not only the ~7,000 existing Nissan Leaf owners in New Zealand, but all EV owners (we plan to adapt our solution to other makes/models of electric cars), future EV owners and generallyl anybody who just enjoys clean air, less pollution and a greater chance that we might yet solve this pending climate catastrophe.
Expressions of Interest
We have previously advertised that we are looking for Leaf owners in New Zealand who may be interested in participating in a trial study of our Leaf battery upgrade solution. So far we have received ~70 expressions of interest, including a dozen or so enquiries from around the world. To express interest or even if you just want to be kept informed, please email us at pilot@bluecars.nz.
Please email us with:– Your name and contact details – Details of your Nissan Leaf vehicle – A recent LeafSpy screenshot (if possible)
Criteria for trial participation: – Owner of a Nissan Leaf in New Zealand (priority for cars with SOH 70%)– Allow us to collect performance data from your upgraded battery pack – Willing to pay around 20k for the trial upgrade pack (see notes)
Deposit required to secure place in queue: – Positions in the queue are according to the order deposit payments are received. – Option to request a full refund if the project doesn’t proceed. – Deposit amount is set at 3,000.
Notes on upgrade pricing: 1. The earlier target price of 15k depended on co-funding from the LEV contestable fund (our application was unsuccessful). 2. Our latest application doesn’t include funding towards pack costs (only integration and testing costs). 3. Sufficient demand and volume production should enable lower pricing longer term.
Nissan Leaf Lawsuit: New Battery Replacement for Unhappy Customers
Just like it happened to many respectable automakers (see Toyota), in 2012 a class action lawsuit was targeted against Nissan for its great car, the all-electric Leaf.
The unhappy Leaf owners claimed that their batteries failed after having only a short lifespan, and that the car didn’t perform as in the ads, through they had charged it to 100% each and every time. I repeat: each and every time.
Now, here’s the problem: you DON’T charge an electric car to 100% each and every time because the lithium ion battery it has inside was not meant for that. Either the manufacturer is Smart enough and prepares for this by allowing only a partial recharge from the car’s software, or you program the car not to do it. Tesla recommends that, Nissan apparently didn’t, and if you read about lithium ion battery you already know that.
Before purchase or lease, Nissan failed to disclose its own recommendations that owners avoid charging the battery beyond 80% in order to mitigate battery damage and failed to disclose that Nissan’s estimated 100 mile range was based on a full charge battery, which is contrary to Nissan’s own recommendation for battery charging.
However, Nissan offered to give the unhappy Leaf owners a brand new battery in exchange if their battery goes south of nine bars of energy capacity, on the car’s display. They can also select the option of 90 days of free charging (lame, imho, could’ve been for life) at some of the No Charge to Charge locations, or a 50 check if the owners don’t have access to such stations.
Nissan also had troubles with their initial 2011 battery in warm climates, where people used to charge it to 100%. The new and improved battery chemistry supposedly does away with that and any other lawsuits of this kind.
Recently, Elon Musk announced that Tesla would be upgrading the batteries with ones 5% bigger each year, for a fee. Nissan should learn from that – instead of changing your entire car, better change the battery while it’s still in good standing.
While I was writing this, I incidentally talked to Brian Kent, the guy who wants to do world’s first Carbon Negative Road Trip, since he owns a Nissan Leaf with the old battery chemistry. He racked up more than 25k miles since 2013 and only lost 1-2% of the initial capacity. Not much, in my opinion, but he lives in the state of NY and, to my surprise, said he charges the thing to 100% each and every time.
If there are Leaf owners among our readers, please shout out loud on the following question: What’s your opinion? Have you ever experienced battery fading in your Leaf? Provide details, they may be useful to other folks out there.
39 Комментарии и мнения владельцев
Ive torn up a lot of sports cars that cant take it like a LEAF. Fun car. Amzing car, silly looking but very fun.
I drive my 2012SL Leaf very hard. I have my forth set of tires in my garage waiting for my third set to show threads. I lost 4 bars at 44K and Nissan replaced the battery. Very Nice. I have 19K on my new batteries and they still have 12 bars. Very nice. I’m at 63K now. Great car, best sports car I ever owned. The 2012 has the best performance. 2013 better range with less performance. Tires last about the same as on all my previous 300Zxs, Miata, and 323 GTX. Tough tough car. I do not drive a lot at high speed, just 20 or 30 high speed accelerations everyday embarrassing V8s. I imagine if you drive 90mph everyday for 40 miles in 115F heat it could wear out a battery pretty quick. Fun isn’t it.
I purchased a 2012 Leaf new for a 34 mile each way work ride share commute with my girlfriend. New the Leaf did the round trip on one charge with 20 miles to spare. 10 months later it barely made it home. After that it was charging at work to make it back home. About three months ago it became a struggle to make it one way – 34 miles. We were about to sell it (for damn little BTW – no resale value) when the last bar ticked down and we hit the replacement level. 59160 miles of the exact same commute at 3.7 efficiency or better. All level 1/2 charging except for a dozen level 3 charges. San Diego weather and a flat commute at 60 MPH max. The car does suck. Don’t believe the hype. Look for the Leaf with the plate MJRLEMN in San Diego as you can see it yourself.
Bought a 2012 Leaf 9 months ago. It only had 11k miles and no battery loss. I have put 7k miles on this car since purchased, and lost 2 bars of capacity driving 40 miles a day 5 days a week. I called Nissan and they told me its because of my driving habits and anyone could have lost a bar in the first week of ownership due to DRIVING HABITS! Really now Nissan! What a lame ass answer. All we intended to do is drive and charge this glorified golf cart so we can make the funds necessary to pay it off and possibly enjoy it without having to worry about it not taking us where we needed to arrive to, to accomplish that goal.
I would suspect that somehow someone pulled a fast one on you. I have heard of people resetting the odometers or battery bars. I also heard if you leave it uncharged and store it for several months, like on a car lot, it will kill the battery. Sorry for your pains. Touch base with Nissan about history. Start a repertoire with Nissan Leaf after sales. The new batteries are awesome.
The car was legitimate and checked out thoroughly. No one tampered with it. You must be working for Nissan.
So the same place you just accused of a “lame ass answer” is “legitimate and checked out the car thoroughly?” Make up your mind.
I guess when you decide to wake up and reply months later you make yourself look like an ass….Jack…. especially when you assume it was checked out by Nissan. Have some fun with that.
A lame ass answer is a lame ass answer. Just like a Jackass is a Jack ass.A great forum should be a place to find usable corresponding, thoughtful information. Not such as your personal spin on matters you think you have the answers to.
Well, someone tried to offer you a plausible explanation (Not that it is necessarily the only answer) and your reply was “You must be working for Nissan”. I mean if you want to talk about lame ass answers…. Therefore I figure you’ll pretty much cry regardless of the answer gives so what would be the point of further discussion.
You’re a lame ass. Go seek help out. By your immature words. You probably do drive like a speed demon of a wreck less jackass. Grow up!
If you bought a 2012 a year ago it should have only cost 6000, you should save that in gas in 3 years. Then your driving a free car. If you bought a Celica for 6,500 you spend 5000,000 a years for gas and oil. I would be upset about someone tampering with the car, not Nissan.
With my 2011 leaf. it dropped to 8 bars at 43,000 miles, and it was a couple weeks before 5 year deadline. In my head I thought I had 7 year 70,000, so I did not get to dealer until a couple weeks later. Dealer said I was 4 days after 5 year deadline, and they denied me! I asked them and the Leaf Nazi Dept. to please reconsider. I said look at the electronic record of the drop. They brushed me off and would not return calls. So I went to BBB and filed a complaint, suddenly a Nissan lady for corporate consumer affairs, 9or some joke dept. like that,) called me and said they would only replace it if I paid half the 6,040 cost. I requested it go to BBB arbitration, and BBB buckled to Nissan saying it was already decided in Court, and should not be decided upon again! So I agreed to get the 30 kw replacement battery for my cost of 3,020. That was about 6 months ago. I just today looked closely at pictures the Nissan mechanic took for me, and the label on the new battery states 24 kw! I think they pulled a fast one on me! So now I am furious again at Nissan. They lie, and avoid their lawsuit settlement agreement. They don’t honor the capacity warranty, and even after I confirmed with lady in Corp. Office, and Nissan dealer, that it was going to be a 30 kw battery, it turns out it isn’t! I hate Nissan. You can’t trust them. Never buy a Nissan!
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As EVs take up a larger share of the auto market, it’s also expected that a network of third-party suppliers will arise to swap out batteries with off-brand replacements. A similar phenomenon has already occurred in the market for gasoline-electric hybrids.
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“Now with the hybrids it’s at a point where you don’t just have to go to the dealership,” said Sabrina Spenceley with the Duncan Dirt N Speed Shop, a Vancouver Island auto shop specializing in hybrid battery replacements.
The shop sources most of their batteries from third-party supplies such as Bumblebee Batteries or Global Hybrid Batteries. As a result, when customers drive in an older Toyota Prius with charge issues, Spenceley said they’ve often been able to quote battery replacements that are half as expensive as those offered by dealerships.
Clayton Brander says he remains all-in on electric vehicles, and will continue driving his Leaf as long as he can. As someone who went electric for its environmental benefits, he told the National Post he simply objects to a system that seems to prioritize replacement over repair.