The number of owners of the electric car Nissan Leaf is growing from year to year, so it is very important to know how this revolutionary vehicle works. If you are going to buy an electric car or have already done so, then you should familiarize yourself with where, how and when you need to charge your electric vehicle.
So the first thing you should understand is that there are three types of Nissan Leaf charging.
Level # 1 (140 volts)
The Nissan Leaf tier 1 charger is suitable for those EVs that have small battery systems, as this is the weakest charging level. In principle, in this case, several hours will be enough to fully recharge the car, you can also leave your vehicle charging overnight.
Level # 2 (240 volts)
This method is much more effective than the first and will not lead to unnecessary hassle, since most household appliances operate on a 240 volt network. In this case, charging Nissan Leaf, respectively, will be twice as fast and does not require the purchase of an additional adapter - a standard connector is enough.
Fast chargingDC
In this case, direct current is used, the name "DC" means Direct Current, which translates as direct current. Using direct current implies that you cannot charge a car in a domestic environment where only alternating current operates. In this situation, the Nissan Leaf is charged using special charging stations, which should be equipped with modern tracks.
It should be said that recharging with DC stations is possible only with the use of special adapters.
All charging cords that are supplied with electric cars have a three-pronged plug at one end, this is a car connector. When the charger is connected, the entire circuit is automatically checked for proper grounding and sufficient current to supply power. To make it more convenient, the device has a variety of indicator lamps that signal one or another action.
It is most convenient to charge the Nissan Leaf at home, which is what most owners of a unique electric car do. Thanks to the modern dynamics of progress, it is easy to install a home charging system, which does not require a lot of money. It is most reasonable to install such a system in your own garage, in extreme cases at the entrance to the garage or in the parking lot.
Charging the Nissan Leaf has improved a lot lately. Moreover, the electric car Nissan Leaf itself boasts high mileage... This is truly unique vehiclethat will soon be able to use the wireless charging system that many car owners will surely appreciate.
As you know, the Leaf traction battery is charged through a special port located on the nose of the car and hidden behind a small hatch with the Nissan logo. In view of this design features problems often arise with this door - since there is no usual internal combustion engine in the Leaf, due to the lack of heat, the hatch often freezes over and, if necessary, cannot be opened. Knowledgeable people advise in cold weather to use anti-icing agents to avoid trouble.
Depending on the year of manufacture and nissan modifications Leaf can be equipped with different charging connectors. All "electric trains" have a port for standard and accelerated charging, but not all cars have a super-powerful CHAdeMO port, with which the traction battery gains 80% of its charge in just 30 minutes!
The charging port, hidden behind the red door, is for standard charging, and the larger one with a black door is for CHAdeMO quick charges.
Is fast charging evil? ……
Some electric vehicle owners, like the Nissan Leaf in particular, find that boosting charges using the super-powerful CHAdeMO port will shorten battery life. Note that, in particular, the manufacturer recommends performing no more than one such charge per day. But the taxi service specialists who advised us said that they almost always charge their cars through CHAdeMO and their batteries are still in full working order. True, with this mode of operation, it is important to observe small tricks: with regular use of super-powerful charging, it is imperative to recharge the Akum with a slow charge once a week, during which it is calibrated, and when using CHAdeMO, it is very important not to overheat the Akum.
No less important node for an electric car - a charger. The Leaf has it built-in and comes in different capacities: in the basic S versions it is 3.6 kW, and in the more expensive SV and top-end SL it is 6.6 kW. It is better, of course, to purchase more expensive versions - after all, with accelerated charging from stations with a capacity of 10-20 kW (located at some gas stations and near large supermarkets), you can fully charge a 24-kW electric train battery in 3-4 hours, whereas with the basic versions the make-up time will be almost twice as long. But the charging time from a household electrical outlet with a voltage of 220V and a current of 16A (maximum 3.5 kW) will be the same for all versions of Leaf and will be about 7-8 hours. As a rule, this is exactly how the owners of the night "feeding" of the battery take place. By the way, pay attention - in winter the charging time, especially outside warm garages, increases by 30-40%.
As a rule, both abroad and in Ukraine, CHAdeMO heavy-duty charging stations are located in public places: parking lots of shopping supermarkets, entertainment centers, in the central part of the city, etc.
Many motorists who are trying to buy a Leaf mistakenly think that it can be charged from a regular home or office outlet. This is not true - because even with slow charging, the "electric train" consumes a current of 3.5 kW and such a voltage often leads to overheating of standard sockets and, as a result, melting of electrical contacts and wiring. Often, the car's charging cable also deteriorates (it resembles an enlarged "lanyard" for charging a laptop), and it is not cheap - about $ 300.
By the way, quite often used Leafs come to Ukraine without this important device and the owners have to buy it. For American cables, a special adapter for euro sockets is also required. In order to avoid problems, experts advise all Leaf owners to specially prepare the household power grid for trouble-free charging (allocate a separate line with powerful wiring, an outlet and a fuse).
The main enemies of the power reserve
Recall that the electric motor is powered by a traction lithium-ion battery, which on most Leafs develops a power of 24 kW and, under optimal conditions, provides a range of 135 km (EPA). More expensive versions (SV and SL) released since 2016 have received a more powerful 30 kW battery, which is capable of providing 172 km (EPA) or 250 km on the European NEDC metering cycle. Although there are few versions of a reinforced battery in Ukraine.
Speaking about the mileage you can drive on a fully charged battery, it is important to mention what affects its discharge. The main enemies are dynamic driving, as well as the interior heating and air conditioning system. Powerful starts from traffic lights and movement with the gas pedal recessed into the floor actively eat up the remaining power reserve. The same applies to the use of a "stove" and an air conditioner. Often, Leaf owners have to put up with the fact that they have to sweat in summer and freeze in winter to save battery power.
Having two additional modes driving allow more efficient use of the traction battery charge. In the gearbox selector position “B” (Brake), energy recovery is noticeably stronger than in the standard D (Drive). ECO mode, which is activated by a button on the steering wheel, inhibits dynamic driving.
However, there is a technical possibility not only to save the battery charge, but even to replenish it. So, Leaf offers several driving modes. The usual mode of transmission is the position of the selector washer D (Drive), the second is the economical position B (Brake), in which energy recovery is noticeably stronger - the car begins to actively decelerate immediately after the driver takes his foot off the gas pedal. This mode allows you to recharge the battery by storing energy on descents and when slowing down in front of traffic lights. There is another ECO mode, which is activated using a button on the steering wheel. It prevents the active use of the "train", reducing the intensity of acceleration when you press the accelerator pedal and allowing you to add about 5% to the power reserve.
Summary
The active experience of operating the Nissan Leaf as a taxi showed that this electric car turned out to be quite reliable and unpretentious. Experts have no serious remarks about its automotive qualities and the reliability of the electrical filling. Frequent owners of this model should also not be afraid of accelerated charging using the super-powerful CHAdeMO port - if you follow simple rules, this mode does not do much harm to the traction battery. Although, before purchasing a Nissan Leaf, its owner should best equip home place for charging, where he can easily, in quiet mode and without the risk of overheating the battery every night to replenish its charge.
Results of "AC"
If you follow certain rules for charging through the super-powerful CHAdeMO port, you can not be afraid. The presence of special driving modes allows you to save battery power.
- Basic S versions are equipped with a weak 3.6 kW built-in charger, which means that fast battery charging takes longer than more expensive versions. Most often, an ordinary household network cannot withstand battery charging and requires special training. Fast driving, the use of an air conditioner and the “stove” significantly affect the discharge of the battery. Used cars often come to Ukraine without charging cables, and they are expensive. American "cords" require an additional purchase of adapters for euro sockets.
Weaknesses Nissan Leaf
Most often, an ordinary household network does not withstand battery charging - it leads to overheating of the wiring, fuses, sockets and adapters of charging cables.
The built-in charger of the basic versions is weak, which is why accelerated battery charging takes more time and, accordingly, such cars are more expensive to operate.
The operation of the "stove", air conditioner and fast driving drains the battery.
The editors would like to thank Oxy-Taxi for their help in preparing the material.
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cost of 1 kWh of electricity * 20
With a two-zone meter, charging the battery at night can save even more.
American charger
If the Nissan Leaf is from the USA, then the charger will most likely be designed only for connecting to the "American network", and in order to connect to a regular outlet, this device needs to be slightly modified.
The modification consists in replacing the plug, but it is necessary to keep the temperature sensor, which is inside and monitors the temperature of the wiring.
Redesigning the "American" charger will help save money, but if the work is done incorrectly and the grounding control process is excluded, there is a great risk of threat to the user's life and expensive repair of the high-voltage part of the Nissan Leaf.
Fast charging station
The second charging method is an accelerated charging station. In order to charge with it, you first need to install the station at home, the budget cost for such a European-made station is ~ 1000 Euro. Or use such a station in a public place.
Such stations can be found using the PlugShare service. This service contains a map of charging stations, but most of them are paid.
It is possible to use such a station after purchasing a subscription, for this you need to register with the owner of the charging station and get access.
In order to connect to such a station, it is enough to insert the charger connector into the corresponding port, then contact the operator of the company / owner of the charging station and receive power.
Depending on which energy saving module the Nissan Leaf is equipped with, the charging time, as well as the cost at paid stations, may differ.
Charging a battery for 100 km of run in a Nissan Leaf with a module that can provide maximum battery consumption of up to 6.6 kW will take about 3 hours, and since such stations can pay per minute, the final cost of one full charge will be quite expensive.
It is not difficult to guess that if the car is equipped with a module, maximum power which is limited to 3.3 kW - it will take more time, respectively, and twice as much money.
Thanks to the PlugShare service, it is possible to find free stations as well. They are mainly located in the territory of gas stations, but to use them you will need a special cable, which is most likely on gas station - will not be, therefore the best solution would be to buy a cable, the cost of which is about 200 Euro.
As in the case of standard charging, in the case of a cable, you must first connect one part of it to the station unit, and then connect to the vehicle's standard charge port.
Fast charging "SuperCharge"
The third way is with the SuperCharge fast charging station. This station has a more massive appearance, a larger power cable and another connector to connect to the charging port.
Port fast charging not all first generation Nissan Leaf (ZE0) were equipped
Depending on how much power the vehicle uses, the charging time can vary in different ways.
If the battery is charged from a charging station with a high power, it is recommended to monitor the temperature of the high-voltage battery on the instrument panel, as its overheating can lead to premature failure.
How NOT to charge your car
The following are ways to charge your car battery that you shouldn't use at all or as little as possible:
- do not charge with charging stations and "handicraft" devices - the consequences are unpredictable for both the owner and his car;
- constantly use paid stations, since the meaning of maintaining an economical electric car disappears;
- charge the battery by towing - this mode does not provide for long-term charging of the car and this may well lead to the failure of the high-voltage part;
- The tested Nissan Leaf actually drives about as much as the odometer counts; it is possible to count on 130 km of power reserve. The new Nissan Leaf should travel even more - real 180-200 km.
- If desired, the car drives very cheerfully! Good acceleration, energy-intensive "dense" suspension, the battery in the bottom pushes the car to the ground. At the same time, the Nissan Leaf is comfortable: it is so quiet that it hides the sense of speed; the large wheelbase and "plump" wheels contribute to a smooth ride. The only serious remark concerns braking: either the electric motor, or the pads, or all together brakes; many transients; in a word, you need to get used to it.
- Having played enough with the settings, I operated the electric car in the "ECO" driving mode and in the "B" (Brake) transmission mode. For ordinary city driving, where there are many traffic lights and traffic jams, dynamics and smoothness in eco-mode are enough. And braking-recuperation allows you to store energy for new kilometers. My best result amounted to "+3 km" on the mileage counter.
- The running distance can be either increased or decreased by your actions. As the test has shown, you can ride smoothly and without heating, but drive up to + 30-50% more than promised! Or you can drive dynamically, quickly, with maximum energy consumption (heating, headlights, wipers, radio tape recorder, without recuperation) - and drive in the “real 1 kilometer for 1.5 kilometers on the meter” mode.
On the one hand, restoring the power reserve of an electric car does not require its owner to search for a long and picky gas station, electricity, unlike gasoline, is the same everywhere. On the other hand, improper battery charging of an eco-car can lead to battery wear and a decrease in driving performance.
And a new battery is not a cheap pleasure, the price of this element for an electric car can go up to $ 6,000. However, if you turn to that, extra costs can be avoided by purchasing working battery modules to replace worn-out ones.
However, if you follow a few simple rules, then problems with the battery of an electric car will not arise soon. First of all, it is about how to properly charge an electric car. Yes, you should also be smart about replenishing the range of an electric vehicle, otherwise there is a big risk of noticing a rapid decrease in battery capacity.
There are 2 main ways to charge electric cars in total:
1. "Refueling" an electric vehicle from a 2-phase home power grid alternating current using a special, with a converter. Its plus is that it is practically harmless to the batteries of an electric vehicle.
2. "Fast" charging stations. There are now 2 types of similar installations: CHAdeMO and CCS. Basically, such devices are mounted near large shopping, office and entertainment centers. The first is perfect for the Nissan Leaf electric car, both for 24 and 30 kilowatt versions. The advantage of such charging is that you can get 80% of the battery charge in half an hour! CCS stations have the same capabilities, but their connector is designed for European cars. Also, these types of charging "columns" differ in the communication protocol with the electric car, in the first case the CAN standard is used, in the second - PLN.
By themselves, Nissan Leaf batteries come with overcharge protection, so waking up in the middle of the night to disconnect the car from the electricity is not necessary. However, as a safety net, Nissan has equipped the electric car with a shutdown timer, which will cut off the power supply at the time specified by the user and evenly distribute the charge replenishment process, which will positively affect the "health" of the batteries.
So, the first recommendation is to charge the Nissan Leaf battery from a household, two-phase network and with a timer. Yes, this process can take a long time, but if you do not drive a car at night, then such a "refueling" is unlikely to add discomfort to you. Moreover, this way you can significantly extend the life of the batteries. If you decide to replenish the power reserve in this way in the garage, then keep in mind that the electricity source must be grounded, otherwise the charging will simply not work.
But high-speed charging, on the contrary, is not recommended to get carried away. Operation of the Nissan Leaf has shown that high-speed ports almost double the capacity loss of batteries. However, this phenomenon is relevant, if you try to charge 100%, but if you connect to such a "column" for half an hour to replenish 80% of the battery capacity, then there will be no great harm from this.
By the way, it is worth charging the Nissan Leaf battery every day in winter, and it is advisable to do this in a warm, heated garage or parking lot. Under no circumstances should you leave the car in the cold for a long time - otherwise you will have to disassemble the Nissan Leaf and buy new battery pack modules.
From all of the above, only one conclusion suggests itself: it is best to replenish the range of the most popular electric car from the home network and using a branded Nissan Leaf charger. This is both more convenient and profitable, given that the battery will last longer with such a refueling.
Fast charging is best used when you go to the supermarket for shopping and just want to refuel your electric car a little. In this case, it is imperative to set a timer, which at a certain moment will turn off the power and electricity supply. Otherwise, having typed the same "cherished" 80%, the system will not stop, but will continue to fill the batteries, causing irreparable harm to them.
However, then it was only an acquaintance with the world of electric vehicles in Ukraine. But now we have managed to live a full working week with an electric car. So can electric car replace regular car in the real life?
Beginning: trembling, trembling, calculator ...
The Nissan Leaf test began even before the EV itself was introduced. First - running around at work in search of an outlet and an extension cord: an office on the 3rd floor, you need a 10-15-meter cable. Then - coordination of issues with electricians and power engineers: so as not to overload the network and not "burn" the wiring. Finally - the choice of a parking spot: closer to the window with sockets. Finally, on Monday, I head to the BLS rental office for a bright (in every sense) Nissan Leaf electric car. And here it is - a white and blue car, connected to a 220-volt 30-amp charger. Quick check, discussion of issues, signing documents, driving. On the mileage counter - 130 km, although the number "180" proudly flaunts on the windows. However, that's enough for me: let's go!
ExternallyNissanLeaf is just a “family hatchback”: connoisseurs will already understand what kind of advanced model it is (after allLeaf is always electric); and ordinary people should not be frightened off with extravagance. Perhaps there are already a lot of "experts", perhaps the bright "pasting" attracted them - but during the test, about a dozen people asked the author with questions, and on the road every third person looked out of the windows of a passing car.
However, in designNissanLeaf has its own peculiarities: a charging hatch in the "nose" of the hood, a sloping rear part ... And also - these are the narrow protrusions on the top of the headlights and at the base windshield: This is done to improve aerodynamics and reduce aerodynamic noise, which has become very noticeable in the absence of the traditional sound of the engine.
The first kilometers behind the wheel of the Nissan Leaf calm the mind: the car drives well, it feels like an ordinary C-class hatch, the odometer calculated everything correctly - which means that I will have a guaranteed hundred Ke-Me when I get home and park the car. But, just in case, it is better to look for a parking lot with an outlet and the ability to recharge the battery. This is also a kind of test: out of three parking lots not far from the house, two were refused with the argument "will knock out traffic jams, burn the wiring." Only at the third parking lot did they agree to put the electric car on night charging: for double payment of a parking space and on condition that the electric car was turned off if the guard freezes and needs a heater. However - first thoughts - even taking into account the double payment, driving a Nissan Leaf turns out to be comparable in price to the cost of daily travel on public transport, not to mention a regular car. Not bad…
And here is the salonNissanLeaf (company photo) is already "the future today": 3 displays including the main touchscreen on the center console; 2-storeyed devices with “rounds” of energy consumption indicator; "Trees" in the left corner of the upper display; unusual selector of driving modes ...
Yes, and I was charged mainly at work: the management and colleagues appreciated the difficult experiment and contributed to it in every possible way. They also arranged the first passenger test of Nissan Leaf: take one, show the second. By the way, there is enough space in the cabin for 4 people: the roof is high, the distance for the knees is sufficient. The main remarks are the high floor (due to the battery underneath), which clamps the foot space, and the large center tunnel, which interferes with the middle rider in the back.
Colleague Max Spivak is 181 cm in height, 90 kg in weight, a voluminous down jacket. However, he doesn't feel shy in the back seat.NissanLeaf: there is enough knee room and overhead space, the doors open wide and the opening is large - quite a family car!
The peculiarity of the rear part of the cabin is a high floor and a central tunnel, which is a little disturbing, but not critical. But here it is worth paying attention to other nuances. For example, all seats (front and rear) of the testNissanThe Leaf was equipped with heating: it turns out to be noticeably more economical than conventional interior heating in terms of energy consumption. In addition, the seats are covered with a special fabric that gives a warm feeling. Two examples of specific solutions required by an electric car
Due to the impromptu 2 hour nissan test The Leaf didn't have time to fully charge: I left work with only 102 km of run on the devices; and ahead - evening and morning rides of 35 km each. So…
Selector "box" - in mode "B" (Brake) for maximum energy recovery; on the steering wheel - press the “eco” button for the most careful consumption of the charge, we handle the pedals smoothly. The evening turned out to be not too warm (and I was driving without a heater, because it eats up 6-8% of the charge), but not too “corky” and without rain. As a result, I drove the first 15-16 km of the route in 10 km according to the mileage counter! The next segment - about 15-17 km more - also took 10 km. As a result, I drove into the parking lot with the remainder of the mileage 82 km, having spent about 20 km "according to the meter", but actually having driven more than 30 km - great! For the security guard only a standard fee, no charges at night, we are waiting for the next morning.
Driving mode selector: pressing the button - parking mode; movement to the left and back - driving modeD (forward, low recuperation); repeated movement to the left and back - driving modeB (forward, intensive recuperation); left and forward - driving modeR ( reverse); movement to the left -N (neutral). It is convenient to use, you get used to it quickly, most often I went in the "B "accumulating energy on descents. For example, a gentle descent along Taras Shevchenko Boulevard to Victory Square gives + 2-3 km; the short, but steep descent along Elena Teliga adds the same amount; even small descents at junctions from bridges can "give" + 1 km of run.
More often than not, I drove in mode« Eco", Which is activated by a button on the steering wheel: there are enough dynamics in a leisurely autumn Kiev, and the mileage is more. A bunch of modes "B +Eco "turns out to be the most economical for driving: we accelerate smoothly, collect energy on descents whenever possible
The day began with fog and the same 82 km on the counter as yesterday. Business and travel a little, so I allowed to periodically turn on the "stove" and go as usual - so much more pleasant in every sense. Indeed, in addition to the heat that comes immediately after turning on the heating, and not as the internal combustion engine warms up, the Nissan Leaf electric car pleased us with extraordinary agility: I won almost all the "traffic light starts" with comparable C-class cars. After all, let the Nissan Leaf electric motor develop only 109 hp, but its torque of 280 Nm is available literally from the first revolution. Maximum acceleration at the start, good dynamics on the move - and the Nissan Leaf no longer seems like an electric vegetable, but a car with the makings of a "warmed up" hatchback!
Weaknesses in the form of heat and dynamics, plus a slight deviation from the route along necessary business cost me my energy reserve. Having covered about 35 km in total in the morning, I arrived at work with a power reserve of about 30 km (22% of the battery charge) versus 80 km at the start. In total, the electric car "ate" 1.5 times more than originally promised. All issues were resolved in the morning, the day itself promised to be calmer - so I did not panic too much when I saw that "the waiting time for a 100% battery charge will be 10 hours." Despite the terrifying figure, it was already known from past materials that electric cars usually charge faster than the calculated one: after all, an empty battery takes charge more readily and the first "+ 40%" are given much faster than the next "+ 40%".
Estimated charging time (3 kW) - 10 hours! Those. on average 10 km in 1 hour (cruising range 28 km, you need to charge up to 130 km). But in reality, the electric car overtakes itself by about 2-3 hours: I received an almost full (120-130 km of travel) charge in about 7-8 hours. If you use a powerful 6-kilowatt charger (from $ 600), available in Ukraine, the electric car can be charged twice as fast
If only not to overheat the wiring, but not turn off the electricity, as it was last "fan winter" ...
Emboldened: gas, gas and go!
Don't worry, everything ended well: in 8 working hours - almost a full charge and more than 120 km of power reserve. Plus, even a heated interior: I set up the climate control with a timer for the desired start time of the trip - it turned on, pulled the current from the outlet, and not from the battery, and warmed the interior to a comfortable temperature.
The only problem was rain. And, as it turned out, traffic jams. No, no, Nissan Leaf does not waste "fuel" in traffic jams, as it happens in a car with a conventional internal combustion engine. But traffic jams were delayed in one section of the track and the gap had to be made up on the other. In the evening. In the rain. On a poorly lit bridge. As a result, I had to go fast, very fast; but how quickly - I realized it just by looking at the speedometer. Peace and quiet in the Nissan Leaf hides the feeling of speed. And thanks to the low-located heavy battery, the electric car literally presses it to the ground, which adds stability to it. Having overcome the traditional evening 30-35 km, I returned home with a power reserve of 86 km: in total, the electric car "ate" more than the estimated mileage, which is explained by the work of the wipers, headlights, heating the interior, and the need to hurry at one of the sites.
The next day began with traditional driving, but then I found time to slightly "sweep" along my favorite winding road. Then - a small passage "along the only autobahn in Ukraine", where the Nissan Leaf scored 110-120 km / h on the speedometer without any problems (maximum speed 145-155 km / h, depending on the version), however, at the same time it began to quickly consume battery power ... Finally, there were several active starts, which again and again surprised the neighbors in the stream.
Acceleration - white circles-indicators run to the right (energy consumption zone); braking - blue indicator circles run to the left (energy recovery zone). By the way, pressing the brake pedal is not only the actuation of the brake pads, but also a signal to the electric car: “you can brake more actively”. For example, on the same roadNissanLeaf can turn on recuperation with an intensity of 1 "circle" (driving modeD), in 2-3 "circles" (driving modeB), and even in 4 "circles" (driving modeB and lightly press / release the brake pedal). Of course, "circles" are not the most accurate unit of measurement, but they are transformed into real kilometers of run
And here is the upper display for the driver: speed, time, temperature, and ... a forest of trees in the left corner! It looks childish, but it works: the smoother and more accurate you ride, the more trees you “grow”. In such childish-naive little things, the whole pointNissanLeaf: The electric car is very advanced, but it tries not to scare people with technology, but to tell people about them in a simple and understandable way. The general feeling of the cabin is a "spaceship": but it does not frighten, but carries away
But the Nissan Leaf can go fast! Yes, the steering wheel is light and "long" in the number of revolutions; yes, the suspension is tuned more for comfort and energy intensity; yes, it is difficult to predict double braking (recuperation and conventional brakes plus transients). But the heavy battery in the bottom, the long wheelbase, the high torque do their job: the electric car rides dynamically, reliably and confidently.
The last days I have been rolling in different modes. If something happens - it froze, but the coast charge and passed more; if possible - I was driving with pleasure, dynamically and warmly. Understood in an advanced multimedia system with a touch screen: here and a radio with a CD-player; and smartphone connection via Bluetooth; and non-working navigation (only the USA and Canada, you can "change" it at your own risk and without guarantees); and even voice control of a number of functions.
The center console is the realm of glossy plastic and a large touchscreen display: here is the audio system, and the smartphone connection, and on-board computer, and much more. For all "electrical functions" there is a button "ZeroEmission ". One of the most interesting options is viewing energy consumption: you can estimate how much the electric motor "eats", climate control ("when the climate is turned on, there will be -2 km of run"), other systems. The navigation is recorded on a memory card, which is installed in a slot under the flip display. Here - navigation is only for the USA and Canada. And without navigation, there is no way to find out the nearest charging points in Ukraine, you have to use a third-party application on your smartphone or tablet. In a word, good Ukrainian navigation is doubly important here ...
But the most interesting were energy control systems. For example, you can track the recent energy consumption and the mileage of 1 kWh, or find out how much various additional consumers take. Another interesting option is the aforementioned climate control with a timer: it is programmed for a specific departure time to preheat or cool the passenger compartment. Moreover, in the corresponding menu, you can set the priority of what is more important: charge the battery up to 100% without taking into account the "climate" or still turn on the climate control, even if the battery will not be fully charged by that time. There is a similar timer to start charging the battery: you can set the start time for charging in the middle of the night, when the electricity tariff is reduced.
And here is the "climate" timer: we set the departure time, activation days, the desired temperature; you can also choose which is more important - warm up the cabin or fully charge the battery
The very specific systems of the electric car are also interesting. So, to protect the charger against theft, a built-in lock is provided to lock the plug in the nose of the car. This lock is controlled by a button under the steering wheel: middle position - the lock is open; position "LOCK" - the lock is closed; position "AUTO" - the blocking is triggered together with the central lock. Conveniently! Such a trifle shows how much additional work had to be done by the creators of the electric car Nissan Leaf. After all, a mass electric car is a real revolution in the world of cars!
Button to control the lock-blocker for the charger. Nearby is a button for opening the charging flap in the nose of the car. In this row - and the button for turning on the steering wheel heating. At the top there are 4 buttons (small square) - used to control the display in front of the driver: showing the percentage of battery charge (similar to the fuel level), energy consumption on the way (similar to fuel consumption l / 100 km), entering the settings menu, etc.
And here is the charging door itself: the backlight, the red flip open cover. Note that there is only one charging connector here; there is no large connector for fast "30-minute charge". They say it's even better: quick 30-minute charges wear out the battery. In any case, you need to be prepared for a decrease in capacity and mileage: statistics already exist that newNissanLeaf can cover 180-200-250 km; 1-2 year oldNissanLeaf ready to run 150-180 km; 3 year oldNissanLeaf can drive 130-150 km. It all depends on the operating conditions ...
My family, which willy-nilly tests all cars, summed up their results:
“The electric car is, of course, interesting; straight, touched the future. But driving every morning in the cold, looking at the power reserve meter and choosing - either speed, or mileage, or radio, or heat - is, to put it mildly, not very pleasant "
The opinion of ordinary people who just want to go about their business, but this “opinion of the ordinary person” is of great importance. And my opinion is the following ...
Conclusions: is there a life with an electric car?
Before answering the main question of the article, let's summarize some intermediate results:
In fact, the situation with the title photo at the beginning of the article, where we push the car, never happened -NissanLeaf has never failed in terms of power reserve! For an electric car, a different situation is more typical: we drive in warm clothes - after all, we do not want to waste the power reserve on heating the interior; We always remember about charging - in the overnight parking lot, in the parking lot near the office, looking for a power outlet in a shopping center ...
And now my answer to the question why the test was carried out: is there life with an electric car?
If we consider the Nissan Leaf as the only universal car, if there is no possibility of constant recharging at work and / or at home, then “NO”.
However, I will say YES. After all, on the one hand, an electric car requires thinking and moving: find sockets in the parking lot; adjust climate control; calculate the route. But, on the other hand, an electric car really replaces a car in daily city trains - and this with an electricity bill comparable to the consumption of 1 liter / 100 km! Equally important is the fact that the Nissan Leaf electric car is an example of progress, and no longer “somewhere at an exhibition in a distant country”, but here and now, in the yard of a neighboring house or in the parking lot of the nearest office center. If it were not for "progress through problems", we would still ride horses by the light of a kerosene lamp!
I ran into problems this week that the Nissan Leaf was causing. But I also found ways to solve them: charging, heat, power reserve. This is not a question of Nissan Leaf, it is a question of a specific person: is it ready or not to break stereotypes for the future and progress. I tried. It was difficult. But it seems to have succeeded.
Scenarios for the electric car: three lives of the Nissan Leaf
So, I talked about my impressions of the Nissan Leaf and my real life with an electric car. We also found a few more real examples of the use of an electric car in real life: in Ukraine and in the USA, a "private trader" and a company. Each example opened something new, unusual, important. So…
Nissan Leaf at the box office
Stanislav Lutskovich, cEO car rental BLS
Our company has existed for 8 years, annually we serve more than 1,000 orders throughout Ukraine. The idea to replenish the fleet with electric vehicles came about after one of our comrades gave us a test drive of the new Nissan Leaf and infected us with this idea. Before that, no one was interested in renting electric cars; we were the first to launch an electric car rental service in two cities at once: Kiev and Odessa.
The first experience was very successful! Today, the loading of all electric cars is 75-80%, which is significantly higher than the loading of a car of a similar class with traditional motors. Today, in Kiev, Odessa, Lviv, we operate 6 electric vehicles: one Tesla Model S and five Nissan Leaf 2013-2015. with a power reserve of 120-180 km. In total, 6 electric cars have covered over 50,000 km in 3 months - no problem! The only remark is the queue for the electric car rental service. Nissan Service We carry out the Leaf at the official Nissan dealer service. Standard maintenance is one name: in fact, it is just running gear diagnostics, car check, replacement of the cabin filter. The warehouse of spare parts and "consumables" is large, often there is even body parts... In a word, sheer benefit and savings. Including for customers - there is no fuel consumption. At the same time, we lease the Nissan Leaf at the price of an ordinary comparable hatchback, for example the VW Golf.
Today we are already moving from electric car rental to selling them. Thus, a subsidiary company ECO CARS was created, with which we work in close partnership. For example, already now we are offering a promotion for potential buyers Nissan Leaf: take an electric car for a 3-day rental; if you liked the car and decided to buy it, then we will compensate the rental price. In fact, the client not only receives a car rental, but also free long test drive, during which he can understand whether the Nissan Leaf suits him or not. As a result, sales growth directly depends on our activities: many people who have tried Nissan Leaf at the rental, then decide to buy an electric car for themselves.
For the same purpose, we often conduct introductory test drives on weekends. We are also working on the development of a network of charging stations. For example, by the end of the year we are opening more than a dozen charging stations. And the plans for the next year are 100 charging stations throughout Ukraine. Moreover, it is possible to use powerful charging stations for 6-8 kW - with them the Nissan Leaf is fully charged in 3.5 hours instead of 7 hours when charged from a regular outlet. Such a station costs from $ 600, which makes it available to a private buyer for installation near the house, near the office, in the parking lot.
Finally, our latest idea is to link the sale of an electric car with a car rental from BLS, which solves the problem of long-distance travel. Now we are working on a program of special conditions for renting an ordinary car for buyers of Nissan Leaf electric cars with us. As a result, a person will be able to drive an electric car every day in the city, and if necessary, a long trip will take a car at BLS rental. For how long, at what price, what model, maybe free of charge - now we are working on these issues. But the idea already exists, and with BLS resources, it completely solves the problem of long journeys for owners of Nissan Leaf electric cars.
Nissan Leaf in the USA
Stanislav Petrovsky, private electric car owner in the USA
In our family, the 2011 Nissan Leaf appeared about six months ago. We chose an electric car for an innovative idea - it literally turns the world upside down! This may seem difficult to some, but it was a real challenge to the rules and traditions.
They also chose an electric car to do away with the weekly gas bill. Even if we consider that the household electricity bill has increased by 15-20%, then by saving money on fuel, the Nissan Leaf still covers the monthly loan payments by 70%!
Now about the practice. When we took this 4-year-old Nissan Leaf two divisions on the battery "life" scale had already gone: now the actual range is about 60-70 miles (100-110 km) on one with a maximum declared range of 80 miles (130 km) for our models. In addition, the range depends on many factors and the temperature is one of them: it is better to set the climate control timer to pre-cool or warm up the passenger compartment.
We generally charge the electric car at home every night when the electricity tariff is lower; to activate charging at night there is a corresponding configurable timer. Charge in the garage or near the garage where the charging station (let's call it "stage 2") was installed at 220 volts and about 30-35 amps. In this case, the Nissan Leaf charges fully in about 3-4 hours. Indeed, in the United States, an ordinary network has a voltage of only 110 volts and regular charging (by analogy, this is "stage 1") from the network can take up to 24 hours!
We did not find fast 30-minute charging stations (by analogy, this is "stage 3") in our small town, but, for example, there are many such stations in California. In fact, it all depends on the specific state: we have 5-6 stage 2 charging stations, and local people can also tag their home stations in mobile applications for general use - this is how this infrastructure develops.
At the time of the purchase of the electric car, its odometer was 20 thousand miles (32 thousand km), we had already driven 7 thousand miles (11 thousand km) - no comments: no oil or candles need to be changed; In my opinion, there is really no traditional maintenance in the car - just check the suspension and the brake pads.
I really like acceleration, acceleration of an electric car. Pleasing maneuverability good equipment, an advanced multimedia system. There is only one minus - you are limited by the mileage of the charge, and if you need to recharge, you have to wait a long time. The situation should be better on the new 100-mile models.
But there is also one huge plus that covers all the minuses: I like the idea of \u200b\u200bpartially ending oil and not being so dependent on it; idea to help environment - for this purpose, Nissan Leaf even made a scoreboard on which you can track the number of "saved" trees.
My bottom line is simple. We have a second car in our family with conventional motor - for long trips. But in reality, the Nissan Leaf showed that electric cars are the future and we will see more and more of them around. I recommend the Nissan Leaf to anyone looking to save money on travel, want to emphasize their eco-friendly character, and are willing to plan their trips wisely.
Nissan Leaf in Kiev
Igor Tymoshenko, private service use of Nissan Leaf in Kiev
I have a 2013 Nissan Leaf with a good package: there are all-round cameras, a Bose audio system, etc. This was one of the factors in choosing an electric car a couple of months ago: an innovative and well-equipped car that does not consume fuel, at the price of classmates ICE comparable year and equipment.
I need a car for work, I travel a lot around Kiev. There are charging points in the parking lot near the house and at work - I just had to develop the habit of plugging the Nissan Leaf into an outlet every time I parked. However, the electric car has never failed - there was always enough power reserve. But there was a case when a new guard at the parking lot unknowingly disconnected the electric car from the outlet: fortunately, the charge was enough before work - there he "refueled". In a word, sometimes it is required to agree and resolve all issues before starting to operate an electric vehicle.
And this despite the fact that I drive dynamically, with constant heating or air conditioning. The mileage counter usually gives a power reserve of 120-130 km with a fully charged battery (as shown by a test at a specialized service station, the battery has lost 16% of its capacity in 2 years). But I often focus on the battery charge indicator: 1% of the charge - 1 km of run. In total, we have 100 km of run under any driving conditions. And I rarely use the ECO mode, but in the "box" the "B" mode is almost always turned on: on each descent I collect an additional 1-2-3 km.
What I liked about the car was good dynamics at "city" speeds; comfortable and energy-intensive suspension. Well, the already mentioned multimedia systems: touchscreen display, phone connection, "advanced" radio tape recorder, all-round cameras, customizable climate control, etc.
Of the minuses, I will note the frequent fogging of the windows, especially the windshield, low mileage on one charge - you get used to almost free trips, you want more and more. There is also a minus in a small number of charging stations in Kiev, but this is no longer a minus of Leaf, but of development of the city's infrastructure. Hopefully this will change over time.
Three generations - in one body
The Nissan Leaf electric car was launched only in 2010, but has already gone through several significant updates: barely noticeable external changes with a radical change of the filling inside, which affected the maximum mileage. So…
The first generation Nissan The Leaf was powered by a 109-horsepower 80-kW electric motor (280 Nm) and a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery. The charging connectors were installed under the front cover, but the charger was near rear wheels, in the beam between the trunk and the passenger compartment. Hence - the volume of the luggage compartment is 330 liters. The electric car accelerated to 100 km / h in 11.9 seconds and covered 160-200 km. The exact value of the maximum mileage depended on the measurement method and test conditions: according to the most severe EPA cycle LA4 (USA), an electric car could travel 100 miles or 160 km; the softest Japanese measurement of JC08 gave about 200 km; European NEDC cycle in the middle - 175 km.
This is the schemeNissanFirst generation Leaf: note the location of the charging box battery: by moving it under the hood and changing the layout, it was possible to increase the volume of the trunk
At the end of 2012, the 2013 MG Nissan Leaf was shown, which we had on the test. With minimal external changes (other body colors, wheel disks, dark interior) there was almost a revolution inside the electric car. First, a different electric motor was used in a block with an inverter and a charger: now everything is assembled under the hood. This, in turn, made it possible to remove the wall-stop described above for rear seats and slightly increase the volume of the trunk - up to 370 liters. Plus, the heating system has been changed, plus better recuperation efficiency, plus the lightening of the entire electric vehicle. As a result, according to the JC08 cycle, such a Leaf could travel up to 228 km under ideal conditions. European and American measurers were tougher - that's where the declared 180 km of mileage on the glass of the test car (and even for the new battery) came from.
TestNissanThe Leaf was released in 2013 - it has more converter and charger in a single block above the engine ...
... and there is no jumper behind the rear seats, thanks to which not only the volume of the trunk has increased, but also it has become more convenient to fold the backrests for transporting bulky items
Finally, this fall, new improvements were announced for the existing nissan models Leaf, although the next generation vehicle is already being tested. So, the Nissan Leaf 2016 MG received another new body color, slightly modified headlights and emblems, a different antenna on the roof and an updated multimedia system - in a word, only an expert will recognize it. However, there may be a larger battery under the seat: 30 kWh instead of 24 kWh. And this, according to calculations nissanwill increase according to the NEDC cycle.
Latest global update forNissanLeaf promises a range of up to 250 km
But according to US standards, the mileage will be much more modest (170-200 km); and it is expected that the extended battery will be available as a paid option or as part of a specific configuration. However, Nissan's commitment to improving the Leaf is commendable.
Electric vehicle market in Ukraine: Nissan Leaf and others
This year has become a breakthrough year for electric vehicles in Ukraine: by the end of 10 months of 2015, 384 electric vehicles were sold in Ukraine: sales growth was + 550%! These are the figures for the total sales of new and used electric vehicles.
The two most popular electric cars are Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. And the statistics of sales of only new electric vehicles is also interesting - 38 copies of Nissan Leaf and 28 electric cars Tesla Model S: i.e. Nissan Leaf is mainly taken as second-hand, counting money for purchase and operation; and Tesla Model S is like a new status car.
But even with such numbers of sales of new electric cars for 10 months of 2015, there are many interesting things: Nissan Leaf in its class bypassed the sales of Volvo V40, Honda Civic, Audi A3; Tesla Model surpassed in sales Porsche panamera, Audi A7, Jaguar XF.
ExpensiveTeslaModelS successfully competes with well-known brands and premium models - and often wins the "battle for the wallet"
A used 2-3-year-old Nissan Leaf today in Ukraine can be bought for $ 15-20 thousand, which, taking into account the interesting equipment - a touchscreen display, climate control, "automatic" - looks quite comparable to the prices of a traditional C-class hatchback in a similar configuration. However, it should be borne in mind that with a low price, the buyer also receives slightly outdated technologies (see block above) and a slightly worn out battery, which has already lost part of its capacity (minus 10-20% of its capacity in 2-3 years) - this is the answer why The test Nissan Leaf could drive a real 130 km instead of the ideal-promised 180 km.
Absolutely new nissan Leaf, even in updated version 2016 MG with a power reserve of up to 250 km, also on sale. But "on order" and at a price of about $ 38-40 thousand. It is not surprising that most of the sold electric cars Nissan Leaf are still used - about 90% of the total number of Leafs. But it is they who today find themselves the first enthusiastic owners, promoting the idea of \u200b\u200belectric cars in Ukraine.
