First of all, it should be noted that the Nissan Leaf is not new car. It appeared in 2009, and has been mass-produced since 2010. During this time, the company managed to sell over thirty thousand cars. The main sales market are countries with a warm climate and a developed infrastructure - America, Japan and European countries. Since there is neither the first nor the second in Russia, the Leaf is not officially sold here yet, and the Nissan Russia representative office has "no specific plans for the car." It is noteworthy that even before the start of sales, the head office of Nissan received about six thousand pre-orders for the Leaf in Japan.
Now the cost of this car in the EU countries is about 35 thousand euros; for an American buyer, the price of an electric car will be significantly lower - about thirty thousand dollars, taking into account federal and regional subsidies for electric vehicles. It is easy to guess that the price of Leaf in Russia is likely to start from one and a half million rubles.
⇡ Exterior
Describing Leaf is easy. Imagine a compact MPV Nissan Note with a beveled and for some reason very small hood, bizarre front optics and a little lopsided back door. Voila, this is an electric car, the name of which is translated from English as “leaf”. The one that grows on trees.
Nissan Leaf - front view
Usually, the creators of electric cars want to make their cars as futuristic, unusual, outlandish as possible. So that they instantly stand out in the stream of the same type of gasoline self-propelled carts that pollute the atmosphere. Remember at least a single Renault Twizy - what is not the future? Yes, even the BMW i3 city car - and it looks very original. This does not apply to Leaf, the design of the car is rather modest. Nevertheless, she attracts the attention of her downstream neighbors quite often and answers the traditional questions “How much does she eat? How many pret? we had to many times.
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Nissan Leaf - front view |
Nissan Leaf - rear view |
Minus a couple of details, this is a completely classic five-door class C hatchback. Its dimensions are appropriate: it is almost four and a half meters long, the wheelbase is concentrated within 2.7 meters, and the electric car reaches a height of one and a half meters. The car also weighs a lot - with a driver about 1600 kilograms. The body of the car is very streamlined - a clear tribute to aerodynamics.
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Nissan Leaf with open doors
The car is quite spacious. Behind comfortably two adults with a height of 180 centimeters. Between them, a child will sit down quite well, and two more can be put in the trunk. Its volume is 330 liters. The rear seats fold down in parts, due to which the usable space can be slightly increased.
Nissan Leaf - front optics
A reference to the name of the car can be considered the shape of the headlights, resembling a folded sheet. The taillights are designed to divert airflow away from the rear-view mirrors, which again improves aerodynamics and reduces headwind noise. In addition, the headlights are very energy efficient - they consume ten times less energy than conventional lanterns.
Nissan Leaf - rear optics
The only clues to the absence of C0 2 emissions are the Zero Emission badges on the luggage and passenger doors and the blue color of the Nissan logos. Otherwise, as we said, this is an ordinary five-seater hatchback.
Nissan Leaf - Zero Emission badge
⇡ Specifications according to the manufacturer
| NissanLeaf | |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| engine's type | Electric |
| Layout | Front motor |
| Power | 109 hp/80 kW |
| Torque | Permanent, 280 Nm |
| Power reserve | 175 km |
| Full charge time | About nine o'clock |
| Dynamics | |
| Acceleration to 100 km/h | 11.9 s |
| Max speed | 145 km/h |
| Transmission | |
| Transmission | Single stage gearbox |
| Drive unit | Front |
| Chassis | |
| Front suspension | MacPherson, with anti-roll bar |
| Rear suspension | Semi-dependent, spring |
| brakes | Ventilated discs |
| Disks | Light alloy, 6.5 J x 15 |
| Tire size | 205/55, R16 |
| Power steering | Electro |
| Body | |
| Dimensions, length/width/height/base | 4450/1770/1550/2700 mm |
| Weight | 1525 kg |
| Trunk volume (VDA) | 330 l |
| The cost of a car in Europe: from 35 thousand euros | |
We expected to see unusual things under the hood, but even here everything is quite standard. The electric motor is covered with a quite typical cover, which is why it is easy to confuse it with an internal combustion engine through inattention. Next to it is a quite familiar 12-V battery. All electronics are powered from it - central locking, marker lights and so on. So if the electric car runs out of power, the driver can open or close the car and even turn on the radio while waiting for help. But the air conditioning unit is powered by the main battery and, accordingly, cannot be used in this case.
Nissan Leaf - under the hood
Under the bottom of the car, within the wheelbase, there are lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 24 kW and total weight 300 kilograms. Due to them, the center of gravity of the electric car has shifted down compared to gasoline "classmates". The electric motor produces a maximum of 109 horsepower and constant - available at any engine speed - 280 N * m of torque. The Nissan dealership notes that the “thrust” of this engine is like that of a three-liter gasoline V6. According to the digital speedometer, the electric motor accelerates the eco-friendly hatchback to the first hundred in less than ten seconds, and maximum speed limited to 159 km/h. The official data is a bit more modest: 11.9 seconds to 100 km/h and 145 km/h is the limit.
The manufacturer claims that on one full battery charge, the Nissan Leaf is able to cover 175 kilometers. This figure, it must be said, is very conditional. The number of kilometers a Leaf can cover is highly dependent on driving style, use of climate control, terrain, and battery age. In reality, the driver can count on 100-120 km in normal city traffic, and those who like to play checkers on the road and adherents of an aggressive driving style will be able to discharge the electric car even faster. However, acquiring a Leaf in order to drive it is clearly not the best decision. For its cost, you can become the owner of a completely sports gasoline car.
Nissan Leaf - charger connectors
In front of the hood is a hatch that hides two connectors for connecting chargers. The one on the left is designed for "fast" charging of the CHAdeMO standard from DC voltage up to five hundred volts; the second is from ordinary socket 220 V. When using "fast" charges, the Leaf batteries will be replenished from 0% to 80% in half an hour. If you power an electric car from a standard network, it takes about nine hours to complete a charge cycle. Now in Moscow there is only one network of "fast" charging stations. Unfortunately, its "electric filling stations" do not always work. In general, now owners of eco-friendly cars and owners of Nissan Leaf in particular have to charge cars from 220 V. This can be done in the garage, in the parking lot (for example, we powered the car in the intercepting parking lot near the metro station next to the house), as a last resort stretch the extension cord from the window into the courtyard.
⇡ In the salon
Inside the Leaf is a typical Nissan. The same ergonomics, the same buttons, the same finishing materials. Inside, it is easy to see the features of the already familiar Juke Nismo, even if they are completely different cars.
Nissan Leaf - steering wheel
Again, there is no futurism inherent in electric cars here. Absolutely familiar multimedia buttons on the steering wheel, conventional power window keys, standard buttons for heating the steering wheel and turning off the stabilization system.
However, for one feature of the eye still clings. The pseudo-gearbox selector is too unusual for the Leaf. It is in the shape of a puck. To go, you need to transfer it to yourself (set it to Neutral) and pull it back to “drive”. Re-transferring to Drive mode will switch the car to Eco, and if you pull towards you and forward, reverse gear will turn on. The transmission of the Nissan Leaf is implemented using a single-stage gearbox. Next to the selector is the electric hand brake lever.
Nissan Leaf - "washer" gear selection
Another attraction is the dashboard. It is completely digital here, and instead of the usual pair of speedometer and tachometer, there are power reserve and battery temperature indicators. At the top of the panel, with the help of special "round circles", it is displayed how economically the user travels by car. Otherwise, the dashboard displays standard information - total mileage, mileage for trips A and B, selected driving mode, light on, open doors, unfastened seat belt and other information.
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Nissan Leaf - Dashboard
The digital speedometer is located above dashboard and closer to the windshield. This position allows you to keep your eyes on the road - a kind of analogue of the projection of speed data on the windshield, which we saw in the BMW 5-Series GT.
Nissan Leaf digital speedometer
Time, outdoor temperature, turn signals and conditional (in the form of saved trees) signs are displayed next to the speed economic movement. The more modest the driver drives, the more often he uses regenerative braking, the faster new trees appear.
Nissan Leaf - driver's seat
On the central panel is a touch screen, which controls the multimedia functions and navigation. It also displays detailed data on energy consumption.
Nissan Leaf - Center Display
The screen is tilted. Behind it are slots for a microSD memory card, a navigation "flash drive" and a slot for CDs. The display is tilted by pressing the Open/Tilt button.
Nissan Leaf - media connectors
⇡ On-board computer
The interface of the on-board assistant is made quite user-friendly - you get used to it pretty quickly, and it is almost impossible to get confused in the keys. The main functions are activated using the hardware buttons located on the sides of the screen, the rest - with the help of virtual ones. Unfortunately, the system is not translated into Russian, since Leaf is not for sale with us.
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Nissan Leaf - on-board computer interface
However, the lack of localization is only the tip of the iceberg. The most unpleasant surprise was the lack of a navigation system for Russia. It would be possible not to pay attention to this if we were talking about an ordinary car - fortunately, stand-alone navigators were invented a long time ago. But the Leaf, without its own navigation, has a hard time. Or rather, its owner.
Nissan Leaf - Navigation Options
Perhaps the most useful section of the onboard assistant is the Zero Emission menu, which is responsible for energy consumption. With it, you can see detailed reports on the consumption and replenishment (recovery) of electricity and set the car to a more economical mode of operation.
Nissan Leaf - Zero Emission Main Window
The corresponding section displays the power consumption of the motor and the recovery of electricity when coasting or braking. It also notes how much energy is spent on the air conditioning system and other elements of the car. The on-board computer carefully suggests that turning off the "stove" (or air conditioning - depending on the season) will increase the power reserve by a dozen or two kilometers.
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Nissan Leaf - Energy Reports
Since the climate control system is quite power hungry, the driver can set a timer to run it intermittently. In total, two maps of the climate control operation can be stored in the memory of the on-board computer.
Nissan Leaf - climate control timer
The car is equipped with the CARWINGS system, which allows you to remotely monitor its condition and perform a number of functions. The corresponding client application is installed on a smartphone or tablet on operating system Android or iOS. With it, you can see the percentage of battery charge, start charging them (of course, if the car is connected to the network), turn on the climate system (it’s nice to warm up or cool down the car in advance), set timers and reminders, find the nearest “electric filling stations” and much more. You can log into the CARWINGS system using a regular browser
Nissan Leaf - CARWINGS
The settings menu focuses, again, on charging stations and error messages. Obviously, the manufacturer by all means wants to avoid a situation where the electric car is completely discharged in the middle of the road - hence the rich possibilities of "customization".
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Nissan Leaf - Settings
Finally, the Leaf is equipped with a rearview camera. It turns on automatically after switching to reverse gear. The on-board computer is able to draw the trajectory of the car depending on the position of the steering wheel - standard option, and again no futurism.
Nissan Leaf - rear view camera
⇡ Gag - personal impressions of the editors
Demo version
Alexey Drozdov
Test Lab Expert
Drives a BMW 125i
To be honest, I didn't expect anything from the meeting with Leaf. An urban 110-horsepower electric car for leisurely driving in the right lanes along routes that are predetermined and known up to a kilometer - this clearly does not fit my spontaneous and explosive (at least on the road) character. I did not expect anything from this car, except for a rudimentary demo version of the technologies of the future. And I was pleasantly surprised when the Nissan Leaf showed me something more.
With a low center of gravity and a constantly available 280 Newton meters of torque, this car allows you to frolic in city traffic and get to work with a breeze. Of course, it is not for the "straight", but it's easy to play checkers! For a front-wheel-drive hatchback, the Leaf handles very well and has little to no body roll in corners at medium speeds. In general, the car rides very well. Perhaps its only drawback is the slightly insufficient information content of the electric steering wheel, it just lacks feedback.
In general, I liked the Nissan Leaf demo. Unfortunately, the real 100-130 kilometers from a single battery charge is a tangible restriction on freedom of movement. And if you go fast, Leaf will ask for charging even earlier. When I made the first kilometer on it with the pedal “to the floor”, the on-board computer reduced the remaining range by (attention!) fifteen kilometers. Expected - after a conditional threshold of 70 km / h, the motor consumes energy almost with a vengeance. Hopefully, next-generation batteries will allow you to drive longer.
It is quite understandable why Nissan does not want to sell Leaf in Russia yet. After all, it is customary for us to go to work from one end of the city to the other, standing idle in many kilometers of traffic jams. Imagine - in pursuit of every potential kilometer, you will not even be able to turn on traffic jam air conditioner. Horror! In America, if the Leaf runs out of power, specially trained people will come and help. And in Russia, you will have to independently carry it on a tow truck to the garage or to one of the few "electric filling stations". In general, unfortunately, we are not yet ready for the future, and for the Nissan Leaf in particular. It's a pity - the car turned out good.
Do you like to ride...
Denis Nivnikov
Chief Editor 3DNews
Drives a Ford C-Max
The joking continuation of this proverb - "love and ride" - this time is not about me. I have to carry sleds, that is, study the issues of recharging an electric car after my colleagues have ridden it.
Alas, it was not possible to make a desperate act and open the summer season on the Leaf (or you could try, just 50 km before the cottage, even in traffic jams, the electric car had to overcome), which means that my own garage with a socket is not available to me. The editorial window is on the sixth floor, the apartments are on the third. But even if you decide to experiment with multi-meter extension cords - guard the car, extension cord and open windows from vandals for nine hours in a row (that's how long the Leaf is charging from the household network), I'm not ready. So, there are only two options left - a parking lot with supportive guards or the Moscow network of electric stations Revolta.
To be honest, I expected to recharge the car for free. But it was not possible to win the favor of the guards by only entertaining chatter about the wonderful machine and its characteristics, so the access to the parking space near the guards' booth and the outlet located in it had to be paid. However, quite inexpensive - the amount is equivalent to the cost of about five liters of gasoline. But the car is under supervision, so I was calm for the “device” left plugged into the power grid.
But the attempt to charge at the gas station of the Revolta network failed, and for a completely unexpected reason. Although there are still very few such gas stations, it is easy to find the nearest suitable one using the map on the site. And if you have any questions about the available formats of charging connectors, polite and friendly technical support specialists will give an exhaustive recommendation. A smart card for access to electric filling stations costs only 200 rubles, and at most stations they don’t take money at all for filling up. At points with a CHAdeMO connector, a car can be charged up to 80% in just half an hour. But it was not possible to get close to the electric column installed on the sidewalk because of ... cars parked nearby. And we did not try our luck with an almost dead battery. Let's continue the experiments on another electric car, but for now... Hello again, friendly guards!
Nevertheless, my wife liked the dynamic, nimble and absolutely silent Nissan Leaf so much that we seriously asked for it as an option for the role of our next family car. And very quickly descended from heaven to earth. Unfortunately, we still cannot afford to start a second car only for the city, and it is impossible to use the Nissan Leaf as a universal vehicle. If only because we, albeit infrequently, still travel distances of more than 150 km.
⇡ Conclusion
So who is the Leaf for? His gasoline classmates are usually purchased by family people for commuting and dacha - as one universal car for every day. Let's say a car similar to the Leaf with an internal combustion engine costs 750 thousand rubles, while the price of an electric car cannot be less than one and a half million rubles - and this is according to very optimistic forecasts. However, an electric car of one of the competitors supplied to Russia costs exactly 1 million rubles, and a “right-handed” one-year-old Leaf in Vladivostok can be purchased for 600-700 thousand rubles. If you close your eyes to the lack of a guarantee and the right-hand drive is an approximate parity with gasoline cars of the same class.
To fully charge a 24 kW battery, you will have to use about 30 kW from the mains. If you charge Leaf only at night at the appropriate rate - 1.16 rubles per kilowatt-hour - then the cost of a full electric tank will be about 40 rubles. If only the daily rate is available - 4.5 rubles, then you will have to spend about 140 rubles. It will cost about the same to charge the car in a guarded parking lot. This is enough to drive about a hundred kilometers. To travel so much petrol car, which can be filled with AI-92, with a consumption of about 10 liters per "hundred", you need to spend twice as much - about three hundred rubles.
With a run of 15,000 km per year Nissan owner Leaf will spend about 20 thousand on electricity. The driver of a petrol hatchback - already 50 thousand rubles. The benefit is definitely significant. But in the case of purchasing a new electric car, it will take almost 10 years to recoup the difference in the cost of cars! And this is if you are lucky and do not have to change the batteries, the warranty period of which is five years.
Obviously, buying a Nissan Leaf for fuel economy is not the most best idea. Especially when you remember that you will have to pay for these savings with a limited daily mileage. For example, it’s simply impossible to get to a dacha located 200 km from the house - you will have to make a stop for recharging, and since it’s unrealistic to find fast electric charging outside the city, the stop will take at least 4 hours. In conditions Russian winter mileage will decrease even more due to a decrease in battery efficiency and more active use of the stove.
In general, Nissan Leaf is a demo version of future technologies, and it is intended for wealthy enthusiasts, lovers of all kinds of gadgets or those who vehicle you only need to move around the city in the mode of home - work - home. It is still difficult to consider it as a car for every day. At least here. And now.
cost of 1 kWh of electricity * 20
With a two-zone counter, 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 only be designed to connect to the “American network”, and in order to connect to a regular outlet, this device needs to be modified a bit.
The modification consists in replacing the plug, but it is necessary to keep the temperature sensor, which is located inside and monitors the temperature of the electrical wiring.
Reworking the “American” charger will help save money, but if the work is done incorrectly and the grounding control process is excluded, there is a big risk of endangering the life of the user and costly repairs to the high-voltage part of the Nissan Leaf.
Fast Charging Station
The second charging method is the fast charging station. In order to charge with its help, you first need to install the station at home, the cost of the budget for such a European-made station is ~ 1000 Euros. Or use such a station in a public place.
Such stations can be found using the PlugShare service. This service has 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 gain access.
In order to connect to such a station, just insert the charger connector into the appropriate port, then contact the operator of the company / owner of the charging station and get power.
Depending on which energy saving module the Nissan Leaf is equipped with, the charging time as well as the cost at toll stations may vary.
Charging a battery for 100 km in a Nissan Leaf with a module that can provide a maximum battery consumption of up to 6.6 kW will take about 3 hours, and since such stations can be charged by the 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 whose maximum power 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 and free stations. They are mostly located on the territory of gas stations, but to use them you will need a special cable, which is most likely on filling station- will not be, so the best solution would be to buy a cable, the cost of which is about 200 Euros.
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 car’s regular 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 a different connector for connecting to the charging port.
Not all Nissan Leaf (ZE0) first generation were equipped with a fast charging port
Depending on how much energy the vehicle consumes, the charging time may vary.
If the battery is charged from a charging station with 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
Below are ways to charge a car battery that are best not to resort to at all or to do it 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 using towing - this mode is not provided for long-term charging of the car and this may well lead to failure of the high-voltage part;
- A test-maintained Nissan Leaf actually does about as much as the mileage meter says; it is quite possible to count on 130 km of power reserve. The new Nissan Leaf should drive even more - real 180-200 km.
- If desired, the car rides very cheerfully! Good acceleration, energy-intensive "dense" suspension, the battery in the bottom presses the car to the ground. At the same time, the Nissan Leaf is comfortable: it is so quiet that it hides the feeling of speed; a large wheelbase and "chubby" wheels contribute to soft ride. The only serious remark concerns braking: it slows down either the electric motor, or the pads, or all together; many transients; In other words, you need to get used to it.
- After playing around with the settings, I operated the electric car in the “ECO” driving mode and in the “B” (Brake) transmission mode. For normal city driving, where there are a lot of traffic lights and traffic jams, dynamics and smoothness in eco mode are enough. And braking-recuperation allows you to accumulate energy for new kilometers. My best result was "+3 km" on the odometer.
- The run distance can be both increased and decreased by your actions. As the test showed, you can drive smoothly and without heating, but drive up to + 30-50% more than promised! And you can drive dynamically, quickly, with maximum energy consumption (heating, headlights, wipers, radio, without recuperation) - and drive in the “real 1 kilometer per 1.5 kilometers according to the meter” mode.
As you know, the Leaf's traction battery is charged through a special port located on the nose of the car and hidden behind a small hatch with the Nissan emblem. In view of this design feature problems often arise with this door - since there is no familiar ICE in the Leaf, due to the lack of heat, the hatch often freezes over and, if necessary, it cannot be opened. Knowledgeable people in cold weather, in order to avoid trouble, it is advised to use “anti-ice” antifreeze agents.
Depending on the year of manufacture and Nissan modifications Leaf can be equipped with different charging connectors. All "trains" have a port for standard and accelerated charging, but not all cars have a heavy-duty CHAdeMO port, with which the traction battery gains 80% charge in just around 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 boost charges.
Is fast charging evil?
Some EV owners, and the Nissan Leaf in particular, find that boosted charging with the heavy-duty CHAdeMO port shortens battery life. Note that in particular, the manufacturer recommends 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 heavy-duty charging, it is necessary to feed the Akum once a week with a slow charge, during which it is calibrated, and when using CHAdeMO, it is very important not to overheat the Akum.
Not less than important knot for an electric car - a charger. Leaf has it built-in and happens different power: in the basic S versions it is 3.6 kW, while 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-kilowatt electric train battery in 3-4 hours, while basic versions the recharge time will be almost twice as long. But the charging time from a household power outlet with a voltage of 220V and a current of 16A (maximum 3.5 kW) for all versions of the Leaf will be the same and will be about 7-8 hours. As a rule, it is in this way that the owners have night “feedings” of the battery. By the way, pay attention - in winter, the charging time, especially outside warm garages increases by 30-40%.
As a rule, abroad, and in Ukraine, CHAdeMO heavy-duty charging stations are located in public places: parking lots of shopping malls, entertainment centers, in the central part of the city, etc.
Many motorists who try 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, to melting of electrical contacts and wiring. Often, the car's charging cable also deteriorates (reminiscent of an enlarged "lanyard" for charging a laptop), and it costs a lot - about $ 300.
By the way, quite often used Leaf come to Ukraine without this important device and the owners have to buy it in addition. American cables also require a special adapter for euro sockets. In order to avoid problems, experts advise all Leaf owners to specially prepare a household electrical network for its trouble-free charging (allocate a separate line with powerful wiring, a socket and a fuse).
The main enemies of the power reserve
Recall that the movement of the electric motor is driven by a traction lithium-ion battery, which on most Leaf 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 received a more powerful 30 kW battery, which is capable of providing a range of 172 km (EPA) or 250 km on the European NEDC measurement cycle. Although there are few versions with a reinforced battery in Ukraine.
Speaking about how much 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 heating and air conditioning system of the cabin. 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 the "stove" and air conditioning. Often, Leaf owners have to put up with the fact that in order to save charge, they have to sweat in the summer and freeze in the winter.
The presence of two additional driving modes allow you to more efficiently consume the charge of the traction battery. In the selector position of the gearbox "B" (Brake), energy recovery is significantly stronger than in the standard D (Drive). The ECO mode, which is activated by a button on the steering wheel, prevents dynamic driving.
However, there is technical possibility not only save battery power, but even replenish it. So, Leaf offers several driving modes. The usual transmission mode 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 slow down 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 at traffic lights. There is another ECO mode, which is activated using the button on the steering wheel. It prevents the active use of the “electric train”, reducing the intensity of acceleration when the accelerator pedal is pressed 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 comments about its automotive qualities and the reliability of the electric filling. Frequent owners of this model should also not be afraid of accelerated charging using the heavy-duty CHAdeMO port - if simple rules are followed, this mode does not cause much harm to the traction battery. Although, before purchasing a Nissan Leaf, its owner should best arrange a home charging place, where he can replenish its charge every night without problems, in a calm mode and without the risk of overheating the battery.
Results of "AC"
If you follow certain rules for charging through the heavy-duty CHAdeMO port, you can not be afraid. The presence of special driving modes allows you to save battery power.
– Basic S versions have a weak built-in 3.6 kW charger, which means that accelerated battery charges take longer than more expensive modifications. Most often, a conventional household network cannot withstand battery charging and requires special training. Fast driving, the use of air conditioning 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, a conventional household network cannot withstand battery charging - it leads to overheating of wiring, fuses, sockets and charging cable adapters.
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 conditioning and fast driving severely drain the battery.
The editors would like to thank the Oxy-Taxi company for their help in preparing the material.
If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.
However, then it was only an acquaintance with the world of electric vehicles in Ukraine. And now we managed to live with an electric car a full working week. So, can an electric car replace ordinary car V real life?
Beginning: trembling, trembling, calculator...
The Nissan Leaf test began even before the advent of the electric car itself. First - running around at work in search of an outlet and an extension cord: the office is 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 place: closer to the window with sockets. Finally, on Monday, I head to the office of the BLS rental company, where a flamboyant (in every sense) Nissan Leaf electric car is waiting for me. And here it is - a white and blue car, connected to a 220-volt, 30-amp charger. Quick check, discussing issues, signing documents, driving. On the mileage counter - 130 km, although the number "180" proudly flaunts on the windows. But enough is enough for me: let's go!
ExternallyNissanLeaf is just " family hatchback": connoisseurs will already understand what kind of advanced model it is (after allLeaf is always electric); and ordinary people do not need to be scared off by extravagance. Perhaps there are already a lot of “experts”, perhaps attracted by the bright “pasting” - but during the test, a dozen people turned to the author with questions, and on the road every third looked out of the windows of a passing car.
However, in designNissanLeaf also has its own characteristics: a charging hatch in the “nose” of the hood, a sloping rear end ... And also - such narrow protrusions at the top of the headlights and at the base windshield: this is done to improve aerodynamics and reduce the level of aerodynamic noise, which has become very noticeable in the absence of the traditional sound of the engine.
The first kilometers driving nissan Leaf calms the mind: the car drives well, feels like a normal C-class hatch, the odometer calculated everything correctly - which means I will have a guaranteed hundred "Ke-Me" when I get home and put the car in the parking lot. But, just in case, it is better to look for a parking lot with an outlet and the possibility of recharging the battery. This is also a kind of test: out of three parking lots near the house, two were refused with the argument “it will knock out traffic jams, burn the wiring.” Only at the third parking lot did they agree to put the electric car on overnight charging: for double the payment for the parking space and on the condition that the electric car is turned off if the guard freezes and needs a heater. However - first thoughts - even with double payment, driving a Nissan Leaf turns out to be comparable in price to the cost of daily trips to 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 touch screen on the center console; 2-storey devices with "kruglyash" of the indicator of energy costs; "trees" in the left corner of the upper display; unusual drive mode selector ...
Yes, and I was charged mainly at work: the management and colleagues appreciated the complex experiment and contributed to it in every possible way. They also arranged the first passenger test of the Nissan Leaf: bring one, show the other. 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 (because of the battery at the bottom), which pinches the space for the feet, and the large central tunnel, which interferes with the average rider in the back.
Colleague Max Spivak is 181 cm tall, 90 kg weight, voluminous down jacket. However, he does not feel constrained in the back seat.NissanLeaf: there is enough space for knees and overhead, the doors open wide and the opening is large - quite a family car!
The peculiarity of the rear of the cabin is a high floor and a central tunnel, which is a little in the way, but not critical. But here it is worth paying attention to other nuances. For example, all seats (both front and rear) of the testNissanLeaf were equipped with heating: it turns out to be noticeably more economical than conventional interior heating in terms of energy costs. In addition, the seats are covered with a special fabric that gives a feeling of warmth. Two examples of specific solutions required by the electric car
Due to an impromptu 2 hour Nissan test Leaf did not have time to fully charge: I left work with only 102 km of run on the instruments; and ahead - evening and morning passages of 35 km each. So…
Selector "box" - in the mode "B" (Brake) for maximum energy recovery; on the steering wheel - press the "eco" button for the most careful charge consumption, we handle the pedals smoothly and 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 “cork” and without rain. As a result, I drove the first 15-16 km of the route for 10 km according to the remaining mileage counter! The next segment - about 15-17 km more - also took 10 km. As a result, I drove to the parking lot with the rest of the run of 82 km, having spent about 20 km “according to the meter”, but having actually driven more than 30 km - excellent! The security guard is only a standard fee, no charges at night, we are waiting for the next morning.
Driving mode selection selector: button press - parking mode; move left and back - driving modeD (forward, low regen); repeated movement to the left and back - driving modeB (forward, intensive recovery); left and forward - driving modeR (reverse); movement to the leftN (neutral gear). It is convenient to use, you get used to it quickly, most often I drove in the “B", accumulating energy on the descents. For example, a gentle descent along Taras Shevchenko Boulevard to Victory Square gives + 2-3 km; the short one adds the same amount, but steep descent by Elena Teliha; even small descents at interchanges from bridges can “give” + 1 km of run.
Most of the time I traveled« Eco”, which is activated by a button on the steering wheel: there are enough dynamics in a leisurely autumn Kyiv, and more mileage. A bunch of modes "B+Eco" turns out to be the most economical for driving: we accelerate smoothly, if possible we collect energy on descents
The day started with fog and the same 82 km on the counter as yesterday. There are few cases and trips, so I allowed to periodically turn on the “stove” and drive as usual - it’s more pleasant in every sense. After all, in addition to the heat that comes immediately after the heating is turned on, and not as the internal combustion engine warms up, the Nissan Leaf electric car also pleased with extraordinary agility: I won almost all the “traffic light starts” with comparable C-class cars. After all, let the Nissan Leaf electric motor develops only 109 hp, but its torque of 280 Nm is available literally from the first turn. Maximum acceleration at the start, good dynamics on the go - 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 for the right things, cost me a supply of energy. Having overcome a total of about 35 km in the morning, I arrived at work with a power reserve of about 30 km (22% of the battery charge) against 80 km at the start. In total, the electric car “ate” 1.5 times more than it originally promised. All issues were resolved in the morning, the day itself promised to be calmer - so I didn’t panic too much when I saw that “the waiting time for a 100% battery charge will be 10 hours.” Despite the horrendous figure, it has already been known from past materials that electric cars usually charge faster than expected: after all, an empty battery is more likely to accept a charge and the first “+40%” is given much faster than the next “+40%”.
Estimated charging time (3 kW) - 10 hours! Those. an average of 10 km in 1 hour (power reserve 28 km, it is necessary to charge up to 130 km). But in reality, the electric car overtakes itself by about 2-3 hours: I got an almost full (120-130 km of travel) charge in about 7-8 hours. If you use a powerful 6-kilowatt charger (from $600), which is also available in Ukraine, then 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 forward!
Do not 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 the climate control with a timer to right time the beginning of the trip - he turned on, pulled out the current from the outlet, and not from the battery, and warmed up the interior to a comfortable temperature.
The only problem was the rain. And, as it turned out, traffic jams. No, no, the 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 on one section of the road and the backlog had to be made up on another. In the evening. In the rain. On a poorly lit bridge. In the end, I had to go fast, very fast; but how fast - I realized this just by looking at the speedometer. Peace and quiet in the Nissan Leaf hide the feeling of speed. And thanks to the low-lying heavy battery, the electric car literally presses 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 operation of the wipers, headlights, interior heating, and the need to hurry in one of the sections.
The next day started with the traditional road trips, but then I took the time to lightly "snip" on my favorite winding road. Then - a short drive "on 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 - several active starts, which again and again surprised the neighbors downstream.
Acceleration - white circles-indicators run to the right (energy consumption zone); braking - blue circles-indicators run to the left (energy recovery zone). By the way, pressing the brake pedal is not only the operation of the brake pads, but also a signal to the electric car: “you can brake more actively.” For example, on one roadNissanThe Leaf can turn on the regeneration with an intensity of 1 "circle" (ride modeD), in 2-3 "circles" (driving modeB), and even in 4 "circles" (driving modeB and lightly depress/release the brake pedal). Of course, “circles” are not the most accurate unit of measurement, but they are transformed into real kilometers.
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 more smoothly and carefully you drive, the more trees you “grow”. In such childish-naive trifles, the whole pointNissanLeaf: the electric car is very advanced, but it tries not to scare with technology, but to tell a person about them in a simple and understandable way. General feelings from the salon - " spaceship": but it does not scare, but captivates
But the Nissan Leaf can go fast! Yes, the steering wheel is light and "long" in the number of revolutions; yes, the suspension is more tuned for comfort and energy intensity; yes, it is difficult to predict double braking (regeneration and conventional brakes, plus transients). But a heavy battery in the bottom, a long wheelbase, high torque do their job: the electric car drives dynamically, reliably, confidently.
The last days I have been rolling in different modes. In which case, it froze, but the charge was saved and drove more; if possible — went for fun, dynamic and warm. I figured out an advanced multimedia system with a touch screen: here is a radio with a CD player; and connecting a smartphone via Bluetooth; and non-working navigation (only the USA and Canada, you can “alter” it at your own peril and risk without guarantees); and even voice control for a number of functions.
The center console is the realm of glossy plastic and a large touch screen: here is the audio system, smartphone connection, on-board computer, and much more. For all "electro-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”), and other systems. Navigation is recorded on a memory card, which is installed in the slot under the folding display. Here - navigation only 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 systems for controlling energy consumption were of the greatest interest. For example, you can track the recent energy consumption and the distance traveled per 1 kWh, or find out how much various additional consumers charge. Another interesting option is the aforementioned climate control with a timer: it is programmed for a specific departure time for pre-heating or cooling the interior. 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 is not fully charged by that time. There is a similar timer for starting battery charging: you can set the charging start time in the middle of the night, when the electricity tariff is reduced.
And here is the “climate” timer: we set the departure time, the days of operation, the desired temperature; you can also choose what is more important - warm up the interior or fully charge the battery
The very specific systems of an electric car are also interesting. So, to protect against theft of the charging unit, a built-in lock is provided to block 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; “LOCK” position – the lock is closed; position "AUTO" - the lock is activated together with the central lock. Comfortable! Such a trifle shows how much extra work the creators of the Nissan Leaf electric car had to do. After all, a massive electric car is a real revolution in the world of cars!
Charger lock control button. Nearby is the button for opening the charging hatch in the nose of the car. In this row - and the button for turning on the heating of the steering wheel. Top 4 buttons (small square) - serve to control the display in front of the driver: showing the percentage of battery charge (similar to the fuel reserve), energy consumption on the road (similar to fuel consumption l / 100 km), entering the settings menu, etc.
And here is the charging hatch itself: a backlight that flips up the red cover. Please note that there is only one charging port; there is no large connector for an accelerated "30-minute charge". They say that it's even better: fast 30-minute charges wear out the battery. In any case, you need to be prepared for a decrease in capacity and mileage: there are already statistics that newNissanLeaf can travel 180-200-250 km; 1-2 year oldsNissanLeaf ready for a run of 150-180 km; 3 year oldsNissanLeaf can travel 130-150 km. It all depends on the operating conditions...
My family, who willy-nilly tests all cars, summed up their results:
“The electric car is, of course, interesting; right, 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 layman" is of great importance. My opinion is the following...
Conclusions: is there life with an electric car?
Before answering main question article, let's sum up 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 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 don’t want to spend the power reserve on heating the passenger compartment; we constantly remember about charging - in the night parking lot, in the parking lot near the office, we are looking for an outlet in the shopping center ...
And now my answer to the question, for the sake of which 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 you to think and move: find outlets in the parking lot; adjust the climate control; calculate route. But, on the other hand, an electric car really replaces a car in daily city trains - and this is with an electricity bill comparable to a consumption of 1l / 100 km! No less 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 courtyard of a neighboring house or in the parking lot of the nearest office center. If it weren't for "progress through problems," we would still be riding horses by the light of a kerosene lamp today!
This week I've run into issues that the Nissan Leaf has been causing. But I found ways to solve them: charging, heat, power reserve. Is not Nissan question Leaf, this is a question of a specific person: is he ready or not to break stereotypes for the future and progress. I tried. It was difficult. But it seems to have succeeded.
Electric Car Scenarios: The 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 some more real examples of the use of an electric car in real life: in Ukraine and in the USA, a "private owner" and a company. Each example revealed something new, unusual, important. So…
Nissan Leaf rental
Stanislav Lutskovich, CEO car rental BLS
Our company exists for 8 years, annually we serve more than 1,000 orders throughout Ukraine. The idea to replenish the fleet with electric cars arose after one of our comrades gave us a test drive of the new Nissan Leaf and infected us with this idea. Prior to this, no one was interested in renting electric cars; we were the first to launch an electric car rental service in two cities at once: Kyiv and Odessa.
The first experience was very successful! Today, the loading of all electric cars is 75-80%, which is much higher than the loading of cars of the same class with traditional motors. Today in Kyiv, Odessa, Lvov we operate 6 electric vehicles: one Tesla Model S and five Nissan Leaf 2013-2015 onwards. with a power reserve of 120-180 km. In total, 6 electric cars drove more than 50,000 km in 3 months - no problem! The only remark is the queue for the electric car rental service. Nissan Leaf maintenance is carried out at the official service Nissan dealer. Standard maintenance is one name: in fact, only the diagnosis of the running gear, checking the car, replacing the cabin filter. The warehouse of spare parts and "consumables" is large, often even there body parts. In a word, continuous benefit and economy. Including for customers - after all, there is no fuel consumption. At the same time, we rent a Nissan Leaf for the price of an ordinary comparable hatchback, for example, a VW Golf.
Today we are already moving from renting electric vehicles to selling them. Yes, it was created subsidiary ECO CARS, with which we work in close partnership. For example, we are already offering a promotion for potential Nissan Leaf buyers: rent an electric car for 3 days; if you liked the car and decided to buy it, then we compensate the cost of the rental. In fact, the client not only receives a car rental, but also a 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 the Nissan Leaf at the box office, then decide to buy an electric car for themselves.
For the same purpose, we often conduct introductory test drives at the weekend. 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 include 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 conventional outlet. Such a station costs from $600, which makes it available to a private buyer for installation near the house, at the office, in the parking lot.
Finally, our latest idea is to link EV sales with BLS car rental, which solves the problem of long distance travel. We are currently working on a program of special rental conditions 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, he will rent a car from BLS. For how long, at what price, what model, maybe free of charge - we are working on these issues now. But the idea is already there, and with the resources of BLS, it completely solves the problem of long trips for owners of Nissan Leaf electric cars.
Nissan Leaf in the USA
Stanislav Petrovsky, private owner of an electric car 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! It will seem difficult to some, but it was a real challenge to the rules and traditions.
They also chose an electric car in order to do away with weekly gas expenses. Even if we take into account that the household electricity bill has grown by 15-20%, by saving money on fuel, the Nissan Leaf still covers the monthly loan payments by 70%!
Now about practice. When we took this 4-year-old Nissan Leaf, two bars on the battery life scale were already gone: now real stock travel approximately 60-70 miles (100-110 km) on one with a maximum claimed range of 80 miles (130 km) for our model. In addition, the range depends on many factors, and temperature is one of them: it is better to set the climate control timer to pre-cool or warm the interior.
We mainly charge the electric car at home every night when the electricity tariff is lower; to activate charging at night there is a corresponding adjustable timer. We charge in the garage or near the garage, where a charging station was installed (let's call it "stage 2") at 220 volts and about 30-35 amperes. In this case, Nissan Leaf fully charges in about 3-4 hours. Indeed, in the USA, a conventional network has a voltage of only 110 volts and normal 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. Actually, it all depends on the state: we have 5-6 "stage 2" charging stations, also local people can mark their home stations in mobile applications for common use This is how the infrastructure develops.
At the time of purchase of the electric car, its odometer was 20 thousand miles (32 thousand km), we have already driven 7 thousand miles (11 thousand km) - no comments: neither oil nor spark plugs need to be changed; In my opinion, the car doesn’t really have traditional maintenance - just check the suspension and brake pads.
I really like the acceleration, acceleration of the electric car. Happy with the maneuverability good equipment, advanced multimedia system. There is only one minus - you are limited by the mileage of the charge, and if you need to recharge, then you have to wait a long time. In the new 100-mile models, the situation should be better.
But there is one huge plus that covers all the minuses: I like the idea of partially ending oil and not being so dependent on it; idea to help environment- in Nissan Leaf, they even made a scoreboard for this, on which you can track the number of “rescued” trees.
My bottom line is simple. Our family has a second car with a conventional engine - for long trips. But in reality, the Nissan Leaf showed that electric vehicles are the future and we will see them more and more around. I recommend the Nissan Leaf to anyone who wants to save money on travel, wants to emphasize their eco-friendly character, and is ready to plan their trips wisely.
Nissan Leaf in Kyiv
Igor Timoshenko, private use of Nissan Leaf in Kyiv
I have a 2013 Nissan Leaf with good equipment: 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 ICE classmates comparable year and configuration.
I need a car for work, I travel a lot around Kyiv. 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 a power 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 in the parking lot unknowingly disconnected the electric car from the outlet: fortunately, the charge was enough to work - there he “refueled”. In a word, sometimes it is required to coordinate 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 meter usually gives a power reserve of 120-130 km with a fully charged battery (as a test at a specialized service station showed, the battery lost 16% of its capacity in 2 years). But I often focus on the battery charge indicator: 1% charge - 1 km of run. In total, we have 100 km of run under any driving conditions. Moreover, I rarely use the “ECO” mode, but in the “box” the “B” mode is almost always on: on each descent I collect additional 1-2-3 km.
What I really liked about the car was its good dynamics at “city” speeds; comfortable and energy-intensive suspension. Well, the multimedia systems already mentioned: a touch screen, phone connection, an “advanced” radio tape recorder, all-round cameras, adjustable climate control, etc.
Of the minuses, I note the frequent fogging of glasses, especially the windshield, low mileage on a single 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 Kyiv, but this is no longer a minus for Leaf, but for the development of the city's infrastructure. Hopefully this will change over time.
Three generations in one body
The Nissan Leaf electric car started only in 2010, but has already gone through several significant updates: barely noticeable external changes with a radical change in the filling inside, which affected the maximum mileage. So…
The first generation Nissan Leaf was equipped with a 109-horsepower 80-kilowatt electric motor (280 Nm) and a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery. Charging connectors were installed under the front cover, but the charger was located near the rear wheels, in the beam between the trunk and the passenger compartment. Hence the volume luggage compartment at 330 l. The electric car accelerated to 100 km / h in 11.9 seconds and drove 160-200 km. Exact value maximum mileage depended on the measurement method and test conditions: according to the most stringent EPA LA4 cycle (USA), an electric car could drive 100 miles or 160 km; the softest Japanese measurement JC08 gave about 200 km; European NEDC cycle in the middle - 175 km.
This is the schemeNissanLeaf of the first generation: pay attention to the location of the battery charging unit: 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 Nissan Leaf 2013 MG was shown, which we had on the test. With minimal external changes(other body colors, rims, dark interior) there was almost a revolution inside the electric car. Firstly, another 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 abutment wall described above rear seats and slightly increase the volume of the trunk - up to 370 liters. Plus, the heating system has been changed, plus better recovery efficiency, plus lightening of the entire electric car. 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 run on the glasses of a test car came from (and even for a new battery).
testNissanThe Leaf was released in 2013 - it has more of a converter and charger in a single unit on top of the engine ...
... and there is no jumper behind the rear seats, which not only increased the volume of the trunk, but also made it more convenient to fold the backrests for transporting bulky items
Finally, this fall, new refinements for the existing Nissan Leaf model were announced, although the next generation car is already being tested. So, the 2016 Nissan Leaf 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 a connoisseur recognizes it. However, there may be a larger battery under the seat: 30 kWh instead of 24 kWh. And this, according to calculations Nissan, will 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 noticeably more modest (170-200 km); and it is expected that the increased battery will be available as a paid option or as part of a certain 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 for electric vehicles in Ukraine: according to the results of 10 months of 2015, 384 electric vehicles were sold in Ukraine: sales growth amounted to +550%! These are the total sales of new and used electric vehicles.
The two most popular electric cars are the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model S. Moreover, the sales statistics for new electric vehicles are also interesting - 38 copies of the Nissan Leaf and 28 Tesla electric cars Model S: i.e. Nissan Leaf is mostly taken used, counting the money for the purchase and operation; and the Tesla Model S as a new status car.
But even with these sales figures for new electric cars for 10 months of 2015, there is a lot of interesting things: the Nissan Leaf outsold the Volvo V40 in its class, 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 interesting equipment - a touch screen, climate control, an "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 the block above) and a slightly worn out battery that has already lost part of its capacity (minus 10-20% of capacity in 2-3 years) - this is the answer why the test Nissan Leaf could travel a real 130 km instead of the ideally promised 180 km.
All-new Nissan Leaf, even in updated version 2016 MY with a power reserve of up to 250 km, they are also on sale. But "on order" and at a price of about $ 38-40 thousand. It is not surprising that the majority of Nissan Leaf electric vehicles sold are still used - about 90% of the total number of Leafs. But today they are the ones who find their first enthusiastic owners, promoting the idea of electric cars in Ukraine.
On the one hand, restoring the power reserve of an electric car does not require its owner to search for gas stations for a long and selective time; electricity, unlike gasoline, is the same everywhere. But on the other hand, improper charging of the battery of an eco-car can lead to battery wear and decrease in driving performance.
A new battery- pleasure is not cheap, the price of this element for an electric car can reach up to $ 6,000. However, if you turn to it, you can avoid unnecessary expenses by buying working battery modules to replace worn ones.
However, if you follow a few simple rules, then problems with the battery of an electric car will not arise soon. And first of all, we are talking about how to properly charge an electric car. Yes, yes, replenishing the range of an electric car should also be approached wisely, otherwise there is a big risk of noticing a rapid decrease in battery capacities.
In total, there are 2 main ways to charge electric cars:
1. "Refueling" an electric car from a 2-phase home electrical network alternating current using a special, with a converter. Its advantage is that it is practically harmless to the batteries of an electric vehicle.
2. Charging stations"fast" current. Now there are 2 types 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 the 24 and 30 kilowatt versions. The advantage of such charges is that 80% of the battery charge can be obtained 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 protocol for exchanging data with an electric car, in the first case, the CAN standard is used, in the second, PLN.
By themselves, Nissan Leaf batteries come with overcharging protection, so waking up in the middle of the night to unplug the car is not necessary. However, to be on the safe side, Nissan has equipped the electric car with a shutdown timer that 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, in 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 source of electricity must be grounded, otherwise charging simply will not work.
But high-speed charging, on the contrary, is not recommended to get involved. 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, in winter it is worth charging the Nissan Leaf battery every day, and it is advisable to do this in a warm, heated garage or parking lot. In the cold, you should never leave the car for a long time - otherwise you will have to go to disassemble the Nissan Leaf and buy new battery pack modules.
From all of the above, only one conclusion suggests itself: the best way to replenish the range of the most popular electric car is from the home network and using the proprietary Nissan Leaf charger. This is both more convenient and more profitable, given that the battery will last longer with such refueling.
Fast charging is better to use when you stop by the supermarket for shopping and just want to “refuel” your electric car a little. In this case, it is necessary to set a timer, which at some point will turn off the power and electricity supply. Otherwise, having collected those very “cherished” 80%, the system will not stop, but will continue to fill the batteries, causing irreparable harm to them.
