May 16, 2017


Nissan Leaf Charging in a Garage

The Nissan Leaf is the perfect vehicle for eco-friendly drivers who want to preserve the environment and save a ton of money. Some have wondered how long the Leaf’s battery is designed to last as it is a non-traditional vehicle with unique engineering and a variety of other idiosyncrasies. The exact answer to this question depends on a multitude of factors.

Nissan Leaf Battery Life

The Nissan Leaf’s battery life hinges on variables including but not limited to:

  • The number of miles driven
  • The frequency of the battery charge
  • Vehicle year: 2013 Leafs and beyond are equipped with a heat-resistant battery
  • Climate: Colder climates allow for prolonged battery life but reduced range
  • The driver’s tolerance level for range degradation

The Leaf’s battery gradually degrades as it is used. The more a driver recharges the battery, the more degradation occurs. However,charging the Leaf’s battery on a daily basis won’t prove excessively detrimental to its functionality and/or lifespan. Yet drivers who elect to charge their Leaf battery several times per day will hasten the rate of degradation.

Nissan Leaf

A Word About Climate

Climate is one of the most important factors for Leafs produced in 2011 and 2012. These Leafs have climate sensitive batteries compared to those produced in 2013 and beyond. As an example, if you park your Leaf in the blazing hot sun throughout a scorching summer in which temperatures exceed the 90 degrees Fahrenheit mark, you should expect the battery to experience some degradation. Heat is also generated when the battery is charged. It is prudent to charge the battery during a cooler time of day rather than midday when temperatures are peaking.

Driver Tolerance for Lost Range

One’s willingness to accept a gradual range reduction plays a part in determining when the battery is “dead” or still useful. Some Leaf drivers rely on the vehicle to cover 10 miles or less per day to get to work and a close destination like the corner store. Such a driver is much more willing to tolerate a considerable amount of degradation. However, drivers who need a vehicle to reach distant destinations won’t be as accepting of lost range. In general, it is prudent to select an electric vehicle with double the range one needs on a daily basis.

The Nissan Leaf Battery

Range Effect

The effect of range is even more important. Internal resistance is heightened as the battery ages. When the car rolls of the lot and is driven in an efficient manner, the driver can get about 4.3 miles per kWh. This provides a range of 86 miles with the 24kWh battery. Yet the vehicle won’t let the driver access the entire battery. Drivers can’t discharge the battery much beyond 20kWh. Leaf engineers decided on this restriction to guard the battery against excessive discharge.

  • 240V – Fast Charging (Home & Public) – 1 Hour Charge = Up to 22 Miles of Range
  • 50KW – Fastest Charging (Public) – 30 Minute Charge = Up to 88 Miles of Range

Leaf Battery Warranty

The Leaf’s battery warranty for United States drivers provides coverage for a loss of four capacity bars. In total, a dozen capacity bars exist. The vehicle’s software does not eliminate the first bar until the battery is reduced by about 15 percent. Additional bars are removed for each 7.5 percent thereafter. This means the initial bar equates to two other bars. This design was selected as all batteries endure a quick drop in capacity until settling out. As a result, your Leaf battery might be down to about 60 percent of its initial capacity once you reach the 60,000 mile mark (or drive the vehicle for five years) and the warranty won’t apply.