We share our first experience of operating an electric car Nissan Leaf (Nissan Leaf), rented in Mallorca. We will review, talk about the characteristics, pros and cons, charging and real power reserve.
I must immediately note that this report does not claim to be professional. automotive review. Although, I think, many years of experience in the automotive business will still have an effect ... Here you will find a minimum of technical characteristics and declared figures from the official brochure. In this review - real indicators and impressions of travelers based on our experience operating Nissan Leaf on the island of Mallorca.
Initial data. Two adult passengers and a one-year-old daughter in a car seat. Luggage: small suitcase, bag and backpack (everything went as hand luggage on the plane), a foldable stroller (not a cane), a grocery bag and a 5L bottle of water. 8 days and approximately 400 km of the Mallorca itinerary .
Read in the previous article about our not very successful experience of renting a car with Goldcar in Mallorca .
Read in the article:
Appearance
The first thing that catches your eye when meeting with the Nissan Leaf is a kind of appearance. He is not as extravagant as Toyota Prius or BMW i3, but still. Wedge-shaped front, convex headlights, reminiscent of a close relationship with Nissan Juke, as well as the original sloping design of the rear of this electric car, definitely attract attention. Although, the primary role of all this is not the views of others, but ... improving aerodynamics.
Salon
The Nissan Leaf interior is comfortable and quite spacious. The profile of the front seats is comfortable and the back did not get tired on our trips around Mallorca, although the distances, of course, were not very long. Between the seats a wide opening armrest. The rear row of seats, designed for three people, is located noticeably higher, as there is a higher battery module below it.
Finishing materials are of high quality and pleasant to the touch.
Visibility is good as Windshield, as well as in side mirrors, resembling leaves in their shape ... Leaf, by the way, translates as "leaf".
All controls are in place. Ergonomics are top notch. Despite the slightly futuristic dashboard, there are not many buttons and they are of a normal size. Instead of a gear lever, a small joystick will help control the CVT.
As is often the case with regular multimedia systems, she did not particularly please us in the Nissan Leaf either. Of the complaints, first of all, there are mediocre brightness and contrast of the display, an insufficiently responsive sensor, slow response to menu clicks and when interacting with the navigator ... Charging stations are marked on the navigator's map, but not all of them.
The mentioned "two-story" dashboard fully electronic - no arrows. On the narrow upper tier is a digital speedometer, clock, thermometer and environmental scale. On the bottom - trip computer in the center, the temperature scale on the left, the battery level scale, which is very important in our case, on the right with the remaining kilometers and a large scale of the energy efficiency of your movement. That's exactly what you look at all the time, especially if you are driving along a mountain serpentine, the power reserve remains small, and e-charge charging stations are not expected nearby ...
The four left circles of the energy efficiency scale are the energy recovery (recovery) section. If you practically do not press the gas pedal, go downhill or coast, then the indication in this section will indicate that you are not consuming energy, but charging. The rest of the circles on the right show how much you burn the energy reserve of the batteries. The harder you press the gas, the higher the scale reading and the lower the average range in kilometers.
Trunk
The trunk in the Nissan Leaf is ambiguous ... On the one hand, it is very narrow, narrowing even more towards the seats due to their inclination and wheel arches, and access to it opens through the same narrow doorway ...
On the other hand, the trunk floor is low due to the lack of a gas tank underneath. And, despite the small volume, in a narrow but deep trunk, we easily fit all our things, including a pram. Plus regular Nissan Leaf bag with two charging cables.
Charge and power reserve
Compartment for nissan charging The Leaf is under the emblem above the front bumper. The hatch opens with a button from the passenger compartment or with a key. As I said, a bag with two cables is included. There are also two connectors under the hatch - for normal and fast charging. Charging stations with conventional charging or ordinary sockets 220 - 240 V will fully charge the Nissan Leaf in 4 - 5 hours. Fast charging stations (usually installed at gas stations) will charge the Nissan Leaf by 80% in 30 minutes.
In our case, there were 80 conventional charging stations in Mallorca and only 8 fast ones...
The Nissan Leaf has been updated several times since 2011, and each update primarily concerned an increase in charge speed and range. If the first Leaf had a power reserve of only 117 km with an eight-hour normal charge, then in latest version In 2016, the range has already increased to 199 km / 250 km with 24 kW / 30 kW batteries, respectively, with 4-5 hours of normal charging!
The real range of our Nissan Leaf in the penultimate generation with a 24 kW battery was about 160 km on a full charge. At 80% charge - 125 km. But this is with the Eco mode on, at a speed of about 70-80 km / h and flat road. If you turn off Eco or move uphill, the power reserve will drop by at least a third, and sometimes by half ...
Specifications
Rest specifications have remained virtually unchanged since release.
- Vehicle weight ~ 1"500 kg
- Length / width / height - 4"445 / 1"770 / 1"550 mm
- Wheelbase - 2 "700 mm
- Electric motor power - 80 kW / 109 hp
- Torque ~ 250 Nm
- Acceleration to 100 km / h - 11.5 seconds.
- Maximum speed ~ 150 km/h
Dynamics and controllability
Until that moment, I had no experience of driving either with a CVT or an electric car. Therefore, complete silence after pressing the engine start button put me into a stupor. I expected, if not the growl of the engine, but at least some sound. However, after releasing the brake, the car drove off in the same complete silence. Before that, I had repeatedly heard complaints from some drivers about the lack of noise from the electric motor and the monotony of the variator ... Like, you don’t get any pleasure from driving such a car ... Well, I don’t know - with such a responsive reaction to pressing the gas pedal, silence and the absence of jerks in gear shifting I was given absolutely no discomfort. While my daughter fell asleep in the car seat in the back row, Lena and I calmly talked in a whisper at a speed of 90 km / h.
The dynamics of the Nissan Leaf only frustrated me a little in the first minutes, but later I noticed that the Eco mode was on. Disabling Eco mode instantly added agility to the car. Here it is - the "trolleybus traction" of an electric car thanks to the torque of the electric motor! However, the jump in energy consumption and the rapidly declining range forced me to switch back after only 5 minutes ... A long trip through Mallorca lies ahead and at that time complete "misunderstandings" with charging stations...
Thanks to the batteries located under the seats, the Nissan Leaf (like all electric vehicles) has a very low center of gravity. This provides him with excellent handling and minimal roll in corners. We appreciated this in Mallorca like nowhere else - on the mountain serpentines of San Salvador and Cape Formentor.
Our Review
Nissan Leaf is a really great car...for many European countries with a developed infrastructure for its charging. Completely free charging at e-charge stations will save a lot of money at European prices for gasoline and additional fees for refueling! A power reserve of 160 - 250 km, when moving home - work - home, is enough for most drivers, and for some for several days ... no problem. But this is in Europe.
In Russia, in traffic jams of a large metropolis like Moscow, in the absence of infrastructure with charging stations, when the range is approximately equal to the distance to work and back... an electric car is still a utopia.
On the other hand, we are not in Russia - we are on the island of Mallorca. And the route from home to work did not interest us. We are now much more interested in - is the Nissan Leaf electric car suitable for TRAVELING at least on this small island? Will it have enough power reserve for this purpose and is the e-charge infrastructure sufficiently developed so that the journey does not turn into torment with car charging?!
That's what we'll find out soon...
It took just two years for the Nissan Leaf to go from concept to operational. production model, and once on the conveyor in 2010, a year later NISSAN LEAF The ZE0/AZE0 won Car of the Year in Japan, the US and Europe.
Design
Outwardly, the Nissan Leaf is no different from representatives of a car in its class, except that the electric car does not have exhaust pipes, but it will be difficult not to notice the NISSAN LEAF in city traffic. And although the appearance may seem to someone not quite outstanding, nevertheless, the car has compact dimensions and quite roomy.
on the left is the CHAdeMO port for direct current (fast charging"CHADEMO"), on the right is the SAE J1772 port for alternating current(from outlet)
It is possible to charge from a standard AC network, that is, from a household outlet (16 Amp / 220 Volts) - but longer. A full charge from an outlet takes 5 to 8 hours.
With a 40 Amp socket, the battery will charge to 80% in 1.5 hours, to 100% the battery will charge in 2.5-3 hours.
With fast charging, it is possible to charge the battery to 80% in 20 minutes, but this requires a special charging station.
Safety
The electric car is completely bladeless, as it does not contain flammable liquids, and is equipped with eight airbags.
There is no risk of electric shock as the battery and motor are sealed.
It is also worth noting that the Nissan Leaf absolutely calmly overcomes a ford up to 60 cm deep.
Crash test
In a crash test conducted by the European New Car Examination Institute, the Nissan Leaf received the highest marks.
The tests took place in three stages:
- passenger safety;
- safety of the high-voltage network;
- battery protection;
The Nissan Leaf has undergone extensive endurance testing, including head-on collisions, side kicks and a pole kick.
In the event of an accident in which the airbags deployed, the power supply to the car will be cut off.
The crash test determined that the combination of a strong body and a strong battery ensured the integrity of the car and the electrical grid.
The five-door hatchback Leaf showed strong results:
- 89% in adult safety tests;
- 83% for child safety;
- 84% for work onboard systems security;
In addition, the Nissan electric car turned out to be relatively safe for pedestrians (65%) due to the small number of so-called “hard points” in the front of the car.
Minor change
In 2015, the Nissan Leaf received a minor facelift. Externally, the car has not changed much. Inside and technically updated, the Leaf has been slightly modernized in order to reduce power consumption.
In 2017, the new Leaf 2018 was introduced model year, more modern, technological and efficient.
Advantages and disadvantages
There are disadvantages in absolutely any vehicle, and they are individual for each of them, so for starters, let's highlight the advantages of an electric car over a car with a gasoline / diesel engine.
Of the advantages of the Nissan Leaf, perhaps the most important one is environmental friendliness, because the purpose of creating such a car is to preserve the environment.
The car does not pollute the air and, in comparison with a car running on an internal combustion engine, has fewer fluids and oils that need to be changed periodically. On top of that, NISSAN LEAF's carpets, protection, and quietness are made from recycled materials.
One of the considerable maintenance costs is scheduled maintenance, and since the electric car does not have an engine internal combustion and transmission, it is enough to change the oil in the gearbox once every 24,000 km.
A small but nevertheless pleasant point in the life of the brake pads. This is due to the fact that the main braking occurs due to energy recovery, and the pads perform a secondary function.
Outcome
Summing up, Nissan Leaf the first generation is characterized as an absolutely environmentally friendly urban electric car, battery which can be charged at home.
The electric motor, which is installed instead of a conventional motor, is quiet and with high-speed acceleration gives a completely different feeling during the trip.
To understand what an electric car is, it is enough to make one trip, at least to find out what disadvantages it may have as in a car for daily use.
For example, the same Leaf is perfect as a second car, or as vehicle for movement within the city and suburbs.
Nissan has unveiled a new generation Leaf e+ electric vehicle with extended range.
Nissan has added Leaf electric car new generation long awaited version e+. The car was supposed to be shown last year, but due to the arrest of Carlos Ghosn, the premiere was postponed - as a result, it took place at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that opened yesterday in Las Vegas.
Nissan Leaf e+
Nissan Leaf e+ is more efficient than the base model power plant. While maintaining approximately the same battery dimensions, the developers increased its energy density by 25%, and its capacity by 55% (from 40 to 62 kilowatt-hours). As a result, the estimated range increased by about 40%: from 322 to 458 kilometers according to the Japanese WLTC method, or from 270 to 385 kilometers according to the new WLTP world cycle. At the same time, thanks to the support of the new 100-kilowatt Charging Leaf The e+ charges in about the same time as a regular Leaf at a 50kW station.
The output of the electric motor has also increased - from 150 hp. and 320 Nm up to 217 hp and 340 Nm. Consequently, maximum speed increased by about 10%, and the acceleration time from 80 km / h to 120 km / h was reduced by 13%.
Visually, the Nissan Leaf e + differs from the standard Leaf, mainly in the design of the front part with blue accents. All intelligent assistants are preserved, while the electronic e-Pedal has been reprogrammed.
In Japanese dealer centers Nissan Leaf e + will appear at the end of January, in the US - in the spring, and in Europe - in the summer. Note that for the EU market, the base Leaf was renamed Leaf 3.ZERO, adding to it multimedia system with an eight-inch touchscreen and new online services such as door-to-door navigation and an improved NissanConnect EV app.
Such an electric car was estimated at 39,900 euros. The new “long-range” version is offered to Europeans only in the form of a limited 5,000 copies of the Leaf 3.ZERO e + Limited Edition series for 45,500 euros. At the same time, it is possible that in the future the circulation will be increased. published
07.09.2017
Nissan LEAF (Nissan Leaf)- electric car class "C" (hatchback) developed Japanese concern Nissan. Surely, each of you thought about how to reduce the cost of maintaining a car ( fuel savings, extended service intervals, etc.). To date, all more automakers trying to solve not only this problem, but also the problem of environmental degradation on our planet. One of the leaders in the segment affordable electric vehicles is Nissan, which developed a full-fledged hatchback called LEAF, which is no different from representatives of the golf class, except for the absence of exhaust pipes. Today I will tell you about all the advantages and disadvantages this car And characteristic problems, which are often encountered when buying a used Nissan LEAF.
A bit of history:
Nissan has been working on the creation of a mass-produced electric car for many years, while we are talking about a specially designed car, and not an addition to petrol version previously introduced to the market. The first attempt to make itself known in the electric car segment was the presentation of an electric minivan called "Altra". The novelty was first introduced in 1997 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The production of an electric car began in 1998. This model equipped with a third-generation Li-ion battery, one charge was enough for 230-250 kilometers. Unfortunately, this project was not successful, as the car was not in demand. For all the time, 200 copies of the Nissan Altra were produced. Despite the failure of the project, Nissan did not stop trying to create serial electric car and launched on the urban market compact hatchback hypermini. The novelty was equipped with a Li-ion battery, the cruising range on a single charge did not exceed 115 kilometers. For all time, 219 cars were produced.
After several unsuccessful attempts, the Nissan concern took a break of eight years, during which the main flaws were corrected, and the basis for a new prototype was created. stock car on electric power. Nissan engineers installed the developed electrical “stuffing” on the Tiida and called it the “EV-11” concept, which debuted in 2009. In 2010, the public was presented production version this electric car, named "Leaf" (with in English- "leaf"). Few people know, but the abbreviation “Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family car” is encrypted in the name of the car - “leading, environmentally friendly, affordable family car". It was possible to order this electric car only via the Internet.
During the first year, Nissan expected to sell more than 50 thousand copies of this model, but it was not possible to achieve its goal. The company was forced to temporarily suspend production of the car due to the accident at the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima. It was not until 2011 that production resumed. The company's management drew conclusions from the current situation, after which it was decided to place additional production capacity in the US and UK. The production of the car continues to this day, it is worth noting that the Nissan Leaf is the best-selling electric car in the world.
Problematic and weak points of Nissan LEAF with mileage
Given the ideology of the car ( saving resources and cleanliness of the planet) paintwork made on a water basis. Because of this, chips and scratches on the car body appear even from a slight mechanical impact. As for corrosion resistance, it is too early to talk about its reliability ( most copies are operated in the CIS for no more than 2-3 years). Most of the Nissan LEAF is brought to us with the help of the so-called "gray dealers", who, as a rule, import cars restored after an accident or floods, therefore, in order to check body elements and electronics, it is better to turn to a specialized service. On examination, pay attention to the hood, it is made of aluminum and is difficult to straighten ( on cars of the first years of production, doors were also made from the same material). The American and European versions have differences in optics settings, because of this, many fail to get certified until they replace the optics, and this is not a cheap pleasure (500 USD).
Another difference between American and European version is the absence of repeaters in the wings and in rear optics. This fact adds inconvenience and additional costs during certification. On copies of the first years of production, you need to pay attention to the fastening of the aerodynamic visor installed on the trunk lid ( mount loosens). Due to the lack of heat under the hood, with the onset of severe cold weather, the charging port hatch often freezes over. In order not to get into an unpleasant story ( V right moment hatch may not open.) in the cold season it needs to be processed special means"anti-ice".
Engines
Nissan LEAF is equipped with an 80 kW electric motor (about 108 hp, 280 Nm), depending on the year of manufacture, the power may vary slightly. When you look under the hood of a car for the first time, the thought creeps in that there will be a small motor there, from which the axle shafts go to the wheels, however, this is not so. The power unit looks quite serious and differs little from internal combustion engines. In addition to the engine, there is a regular 12V battery under the hood, which powers most of the electronics ( air conditioning and stove are powered by an electric motor). This motor good not only because it does not need to be fed with fuel, but also because it does not require maintenance. Having bought an electric car for yourself, you will forget what an oil change, timing belt, spark plugs, pump and other costs that are required to maintain an internal combustion engine are. The only thing to change here is brake fluid(once every 2 years), top up with glass cleaner and check the battery charge level. 
A lithium-ion battery with a volume of 24 kW is responsible for the operation of the engine; reinforced batteries of 30 kW were installed on cars manufactured after 2015. The power reserve on a fully charged battery largely depends on the driving style, but, in most cases, one charge is enough for 120-150 km, on a reinforced battery - up to 180 km. The manufacturer guarantees the battery for 8 years or 160,000 km. At experienced motorists the question often arises, what can go wrong with this motor, and my answer will surprise you - nothing. The only thing that can make you call for a service ( only applies to motor and battery) is only the loss of capacity of the battery itself that occurs over time. It is worth noting the fact that the more often the car is operated, the longer the battery life will last. To prolong battery life, it should not be allowed to discharge below 20%. If you frequently discharge the battery completely, its life will be significantly reduced.
You can check the battery status on the instrument panel ( 12 section post). If all 12 sections are lit on it, this means that the battery is working. If over time their number begins to decrease, this means that the battery is losing capacity. Fortunately, when the battery capacity decreases, it will not be necessary to change the entire battery, but only the worn-out module ( battery consists of 48 modules). The voltage in some wires of the car network is 390V, so if you decide to do any repair work V garage conditions, be extremely careful.
Transmission
Nissan LEAF does not have the usual, for most, gearbox, here its function is performed by a conventional single-stage gearbox. Inclusion reverse gear is carried out by changing the polarity of the electric motor, as a result of which it begins to spin in reverse side. Unlike power unit the gearbox must be serviced, the lubricant must be changed every 40-50 thousand kilometers. As for the reliability of the gearbox, then, to date, there are no complaints about its performance.
Nissan LEAF driving performance with mileage
The Nissan LEAF has a semi-independent suspension from, in front - MacPherson strut, in the back - a beam. Ground clearance is only 160 mm, therefore, many experts recommend installing protection on the battery (located under the bottom), which will protect against possible troubles, or replace the racks with higher ones (suitable for Nissan Juke). Traditionally for modern cars the weakest point of the car is the stabilizer struts and bushings, their resource does not exceed 50 thousand km. Also, to weak points pendants can be attributed ball joints, in most cases they change every 60-80 thousand km ( original part only sold as a complete assembly). Silent blocks are able to last 100-120 thousand km, the front shock absorbers serve about the same. 
The rear suspension is considered not to be killed, the only thing that needs to be replaced here is the “elastic bands”, but they also change no more than once every 100,000 km and shock absorbers (with careful operation they can last up to 150,000 km). Steering it has an electric power steering, which, depending on the speed of movement, changes the degree of reinforcement on the steering wheel. As for its reliability, there are no complaints about it. Steering tips serve 70-90 thousand km, thrust - up to 150,000 km. No complaints and brake system, so, for example, with a calm manner of movement brake pads can last up to 100,000 km.
Salon
The Nissan LEAF salon is fully consistent with the ideology of the car (economical and environmental protection of the planet) and is made from recycled materials (recycled plastic), despite this, even on cars aged 4-5 years there are no extraneous sounds (I mean squeaks and knocks from plastic elements
). Cabin equipment is generally reliable, the only thing that can be criticized is the air conditioning system on cheap versions of the car. With time on the tube high pressure cracks appear most often cracks appear at the junctions). On expensive versions this ailment has not been identified. 
Outcome:
Nissan LEAF will be the perfect option if you are looking for an inexpensive, economical, and, at the same time, reliable car. When choosing such a car, you must have a place for charging (in the garage, in the parking lot) where it can easily replenish the battery charge from the 220V network every night without problems (it takes 8 hours to fully charge the Nissan LEAF battery, up to 3 hours at specialized stations, fast charging 80% in 29 minutes).
Advantages:
- Lack of engine maintenance.
- Economy ( on full charge battery consumes 24-25 kW of electricity).
- In terms of capacity, the car is not inferior to representatives of the golf class.
Flaws:
- Small power reserve on a single charge ( on average 120-150 km).
- Most of the cars secondary market restored after an accident.
- When importing a car from the USA, there are difficulties with car certification.
If you are the owner of this car model, please describe the problems that you had to face during the operation of the car. Perhaps it is your review that will help readers of our site when choosing a car.
The entire cabin has one 12-volt outlet and one USB connector. And is it an electric car? The Japanese were surprised at my question and promised to think about how to fix it.
My experience of driving in countries with left-hand traffic limited to the UK. And in Japanese cars“Incorrect” is not only the steering wheel, but also the levers: the wipers are on the left, the turn signals are on the right. And so I rode the Leaf around Yokohama, periodically changing lanes with the windshield wipers on.
I confuse the pedals
Helps you get used to it faster adaptive cruise control ProPilot, which keeps the car confidently within the lane. Actually, it is designed for highway driving, but no one forbids using it in the city (the system works from 30 km / h). True, the ProPilot starts to panic because of the ProPilot's hands removed from the steering wheel too early. To calm him down, I have to take the steering wheel and with a few energetic movements let the system know that everything is in my hands. No, namely adaptive cruise control. Do not confuse.
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I drive the new Leaf in dense stream by operating only the accelerator pedal. The recuperation system effectively dampens the speed of the machine. Nissan engineers have brought the degree of its impact to the maximum.
The technology was called e‑Pedal. Electronics provides deceleration with an intensity of up to 0.2g, while the brake lights flash. With such settings, it is quite comfortable to push in a traffic jam or drive at a measured pace. If there is a need to stop faster, you press the brake - as usual. True, the same problem arises as when using cruise control: believing in the independence of the car, you forget that it can do far from everything on its own. Once I almost landed in rear bumper the same Leaf, on which a colleague rode.
The art of saving
Nissan still positions the Leaf as one of the most affordable electric vehicles in the world - at least in its class. Has it really dropped in price? Don't think. So, did you save money on something? No, no, I did not find outright crime, but traces of economy are visible to the naked eye.
The steering wheel is not adjustable for reach, the climate control is single-zone (for a golf class, this is already nonsense), rear seat there is no folding armrest. Finishing materials are solid, but inexpensive. Only equipped with a self-closing driver's window. A LED headlights for an electric car is not a luxury at all - they help save precious energy.
On a short trip, the driver's seat seemed very comfortable. With a height of 186 cm, I did not feel discomfort due to the short pillow, common in some Japanese cars.
Behind you can sit down and the three of us, although the margin in width and space for the knees is far from a record. In other words, the new Leaf differs from other C-class hatchbacks only on the go - perfect silence and enviable dynamics in almost the entire speed range.
Visibility through regular mirrors, like any modern car, Nissan does not shine, but the driver has many assistants: parking sensors in a circle, a system automatic parking, cameras all-round view, scanners dead zones. And also - . Like expensive Cadillacs, with the movement of a lever it turns from a classic mirror into a rear-view camera display - and the traditional problems with rear visibility (when the rear seat headrests and roof pillars interfere) are gone.
welcome guest
IN Russian representation brands Nissan they really want to supply Leaf to our country. The main trump card is a sufficient power reserve: 378 km in the European NEDC cycle and 400 km according to the Japanese test method. Even if our winter cuts autonomy in half, real 200 km will be enough for city trips and short suburban outings.
In Japan, the base Leaf in terms of rubles costs 1.6 million, the top one - 2.0 million. It is still expensive, although environmental optimists will call such prices tolerable.
How much the Leaf will be valued with us and what its operation will cost will depend primarily on. And it's nothing but free parking V major cities does not promise. And this is clearly not enough to lure buyers.
