Used Nissan Leaf: operating experience and subtleties of choice. Should you buy a used first-generation Nissan Leaf? Prices and competitors are the main obstacles to Nissan's sales

The owner of the 2015 model year, who has been driving an electric car for exactly a year, shared his impressions.

After a year of running an electric car, I realized that driving it is much more enjoyable than driving a gasoline car. Like most people, I had my doubts before buying an electric car. I thought about battery capacity, range, charging capability, cost of the car, its performance in cold and hot weather, depreciation, and other factors.

After a year of driving the Leaf, I dropped all doubts. Every morning I get into my car and drive to work. I do the same every night to get home. I've been doing this for years in gasoline cars. The only difference is 10 seconds - 5 for disconnecting the car from charging in the morning, and 5 for reconnecting it in the evening.

In operation, the Leaf is much better than Toyota Corolla 2004, which I drove before. Of course, many of the benefits have come from overall progress. A reversing camera, center screen with navigation, heated seats and steering wheel, dimmable mirrors, Bluetooth and USB connections were previously only dreamed of. However, the Leaf is also good in terms of driving.

He's incredibly quiet. You hear neither the noise of the starter, nor the sounds of the engine when accelerating or decelerating. The electric motor emits a pleasant quiet hum. When accelerating or decelerating, the tone slightly rises or falls, but is much quieter than in gasoline or hybrid cars.

However, there are also disappointments. Although you are buying a new one modern car, you will not get modern assistants like cruise control with radar, automatic emergency braking or lane control.

Difficulty using the trunk. At first, in order to remove its cover, I had to take it out through the back door. Then they told me that there is a slightly more convenient way, but still using luggage compartment remains a problem.

You don't even have to turn on the driving app. For example, it takes a whole minute to turn on climate control with it.

However, I am delighted with the purchase. My wife envies me, who drives a gasoline car to a gas station at least once a week, while I just plug in the charging station. The ChargePoint Home 25 I bought charges the car for 40 kilometers in an hour, which is enough for a trip to and from work. There are fast charging stations on the main highways, but after a long trip (1,600 km) I realized that the Nissan Leaf is still better suited for city driving. For long journeys choose a hybrid with good range.

It would be good with its range of 380 kilometers, but there are not enough fast charging stations for it yet.

As for the energy efficiency of the latter Nissan models Leaf, then it ranges from 6.76 kilometers per kilowatt / hour in June to 4.67 kilometers per kilowatt / hour in December. Yearly operation has shown that the economy is 27% higher than the declared 5.31 kilometers per kilowatt / hour.

An analysis of my card payments showed that I spent an average of $ 68 a month on a gasoline car. Electricity bills have increased by $ 47 per month since the purchase of an electric car. So, despite the rather high cost of electricity in our area, there are certain savings that should be added to the savings on the cost of the car. Thanks to subsidies different levels I bought the car for only $ 16,000.

And if not for the restrictions! ... Due to the lack of charging stations, I still cannot go to Nissan leaf 2015 to a sister in New Hampshire. The way there needs to be laid in such a way as to recharge at the station that appeared only in the southern part of the state. So we have to travel long distances in my wife's car.

Despite the cancellation of customs simplifications for the import of electric vehicles into the country, Russians continue to actively import cars with electric motors. Even with large additional payments at customs, this transport can seriously save you money, since you do not have to call in for a gas station and go through expensive annual maintenance. But the problem of many affordable electric vehicles the fact that on one charge they drive only 130-150 km. This is not enough if you go to the track at least occasionally. After 1-2 hours of driving on the highway, the charging of the electric car will run out, and you will find yourself in an extremely unpleasant situation. Not so long ago, a new product was presented in the USA - updated model Nissan Leaf. The car became not only more beautiful in appearance, but also received new equipment. In particular, more powerful and durable batteries, a better and more efficient electric motor. The interior has also changed, which has become modern and comfortable to use.

The 1st generation Nissan Leaf turned out to be one of the most massive electric vehicles in the world. It is bought with great pleasure in the USA, Australia, Northern Europe. Used cars come to the CIS countries, but even in this state they delight the owners with a reliable and high-quality trip. The cost savings are especially noticeable if you operate the car on city trips, driving about 50-70 kilometers per day. Even on the first generation Leaf, you will have to charge the battery only once every 2 days. What will the new Leaf 2, which is already actively sold in America, offer us? The corporation had no right to oversight, since the market electric cars very competitive today. At the very least, it is worth remembering about Tesla Model 3, VW E-Golf, Ford focus Electric and others are very powerful competitors... But detailed review the second generation of Leaf says that the company did not fail.

Exterior and interior - important changes in the electric car

The machine has received a very pleasant and quite adequate appearance with modern features. Many people refused to buy the first generation Leaf due to its rather strange outlines of appearance. But the second generation received the classic features of Nissan, sporty bright style, interesting exterior details that make the car cute and fashionable. The bodice is hardly a laggard in the world of electric vehicles. Here are just some of the design features that will become important to the buyer:

• optics have acquired normal outlines, the car no longer looks like an alien insect, it can easily fit into the stream and disguise itself as a regular C-class hatchback;
• the stylish black insert on the tailgate goes over to the fenders and creates a special recognizable style, the body lines are smooth, but sharper and more sporty than their predecessor;
• the interior is also more like modern cars with gasoline and diesel engines, only the gear selector resembles a spacecraft control panel;
• in terms of control in the interior, everything is quite ascetic and familiar, only a huge number of buttons confuses, which they cannot refuse in any way Japanese manufacturers auto;
• on closer inspection, you realize that the Leaf is gradually becoming a gadget, there are a lot of electronic gadgets tied to the display in the center console of the car.

Perhaps someone will consider the new Leaf too ascetic, as for an ultra-modern electric car. But the era has passed when an electric car should be a curiosity. It's time for him to become a very common vehicle for comfortable daily use. This machine is able to please with its parameters of comfort of fit, ease of operation, efficiency of charging. And appearance has become another important advantage of the car, which in the first generation was a rather controversial statement.

Efficiency and technical parameters of the new Leaf

The standard battery received a capacity of 40 kW / h. This is much more than its predecessor. By European standards, this car can travel 378 km. American parameters are calculated differently, and in the United States, the mileage on a single charge is 240 km. But this is not the limit for an inexpensive electric car. The company promises a reinforced 60 kWh battery that will carry the electric vehicle up to 400 km on a single charge. Also, according to the characteristics, it is important to note the following features:

• the power of the electric motor has increased, now this parameter is equal to 150 horse power, the peak torque has also increased, amounting to an impressive 340 N * m today;
• up to 100 km / h new nissan Leaf accelerates in 7.4 seconds, which is very good result, taking into account all the data of competitors, and for gasoline cars this is the acceleration speed of sports versions;
• up to 80%, you can replenish the battery reserves from a home outlet in 8 hours, a high-speed charging station does this very work in 40 minutes, which greatly simplifies operation;
• ride comfort has increased significantly, engineers have worked too soft suspension, now it is more convenient to drive the car on bumps, there is no lethargy and rolls in motion;
• you will also enjoy driving on the track more than on the first generation of the Leaf, as the car has become more rigid on the road and perfectly copes with various challenges of the track.

The company tried to create not just another incarnation of an electric car, but to remove all the shortcomings and problems of the old model. By the way, the first generation Leaf has sold a total circulation of about 300,000 copies. This is an unprecedented success that is helping the company develop new technologies and make electric vehicles better. This model will be finalized annually, the company has certain plans to improve the project even before the next generation change. So the machine turned out to be very interesting.

Features and configurations of the Leaf 2 - what's new in the car?

Almost everything is new here. But some of the add-ons are really amazing. Many functions that were only partially implemented in the last generation have gained completely unexpected momentum in the new generation. The developers have come up with a variety of solutions that are usually available in more expensive vehicles. Before buying a car, it is worthwhile to study new items in terms of technology. Here are just a few of them:

• the ProPILOT function is essentially an autopilot for traffic jams or highways, it is an active cruise control that keeps the car in the lane and maintains its distance to other cars;
• one of the important features of autonomous control is an independent set of speed after the obstacle has left, that is, you get an almost full-fledged autopilot;
• assistant ProPILOT Park is new system parallel parking, which works much better than these systems of many other manufacturers, the car will not damage itself and other vehicles;
• e-Pedal system - a smart pedal that accelerates when pressed, and when released, the car slows down, that is, you can control the Leaf 2 with one pedal, not two;
• hold on a slope - the same e-Pedal, when fully released, automatically turns on the function of help starting the movement from an incline, which will help novice drivers to avoid collisions;
• the equipment is incredible, the car has everything you can think of for comfortable operation, the equipment is quite high-quality, and there are not so many versions of the car.

The company did not follow the path of some competitors and inflate the number of trim levels and equipment options. A simple price list allows you to quickly choose which Nissan option will be more acceptable to you. But in Russia, many are still scared by the question of buying an electric car. And this is reasonable, since while there are no many charging stations, there are no good roads, and distances for intercity travel in Russia are already very long for electric transport.

Prices and competitors are the main obstacles to Nissan's sales

In almost all countries today there are government subsidies and discounts for the purchase of electric cars. The base price of the most affordable version of the Nissan Leaf 2 is $ 29,900, regardless of country of sale. Further to this cost, customs duties, VAT and other nuances are added. True, when selling an electric car in Russia, Nissan may leave the price tag at the level of 29,900. In the US, the price, taking into account the discount, is from 22,100 dollars, and in Britain - from 19,000 pounds. In Germany, an electric car will cost 20,000 euros. In Russia, such discounts have not yet been provided.

As for the competitors, the Japanese electric car also has enough of them:

1. Tesla Model 3. American budget electric car with a price tag in the region of $ 30,000 excluding subsidies. The car is equipped with a 258 horsepower engine and travels about 350 km without recharging, which is quite good for this class.
2. Volkswagen E-Golf. A new generation of electric vehicles is under development. The car travels 190 km on a single charge, offers a number of power modes, including ECO, SPORT and other options that are convenient for the driver.
3. Ford Focus Electric. By European standards, it travels up to 190 km on a single charge, has a powerful motor with 143 horsepower, accelerates well and is equipped with important systems for the efficiency of using an electric charge.
4. Renault Zoe. Another European electric car that has received excellent performance. The car travels up to 200 km on a single charge, has a small and economical electric motor for 88 forces. The car is small and great for the city.

As you can see, there are not so few options for electric vehicles today. Cars with modern characteristics turn out to be quite adequate in value. On average, the price tag of a new electric car is kept in the region of $ 30,000. Premium options are more expensive - from $ 50,000. Nissan covers both categories and is a competitor to virtually all electric vehicles on the market. Today, Leaf 2 is one of the best offers for a combination of price and quality.

We offer you to watch a video with an overview of this car:

Summing up

Relatively high price and a rather large dependence on electricity sources and compact chargers so far make electric cars in Russia more of a toy than a real alternative transport. Nevertheless, we can already say that this area is developing. In the salons little by little new ones appear vehicles, dealers are trying to bring their electric cars faster than competitors. During the period of zero duty on electric cars, many Russians managed to bring used cars with a good resource reserve. This opened the doors to our man in the world of modern automotive technology.

There is definitely interest in the new generation of Leaf, but so far this interest is purely technical. We are interested in knowing how much this car can travel on a single charge, how long it takes to fully restore the charge. Many Russians do not even dream of buying a Leaf 2. The problem is not only that the car has not yet been officially sold in showrooms, but also that it will cost us at least $ 30,000. Unfortunately, the government has no time for subsidies for electric vehicles. Meanwhile, even post-Soviet countries with more low level life than in the Russian Federation, they introduce zero duties and various discounts on vehicles with an electric motor. Do you think there is a future for the Nissan Leaf 2 in the Russian market?

The popularity of electric vehicles in Ukraine is growing every year and is mainly based on the purchase of used electric cars, since new electric cars are still quite expensive for our consumer and are practically not presented officially.

The battery of an electric vehicle for 24 kWh consists of 192 cells interconnected in pairs, assembled into 48 modules, the state of each pair is subjected to diagnostics, which can be carried out using the program and in case of damage to individual elements, replace them separately without buying the entire battery.

To assess the degree of battery degradation when choosing an electric vehicle, you should pay attention to the "capacity indicators" located on dashboard... If a new battery in an electric car will show 12 bar, if the battery is worn out, the indication will be at the level of 9-10 bar. We note that a used Nissan Leaf can show 12 bar even with a loss from the original 100% of the volume, that is, a used electric car with 87% battery capacity will still display 12 bar, but if you see a 9 bar mark, this means that the battery retains about 70% capacity.

First generation Nissan Leaf cutaway © newsroom.nissan-europe.com

You should also take into account the features of operation. battery Nissan Leaf in winter, when it loses most of its capacity (about 30%) due to its design features... In such conditions, it is important to follow a few simple rules for maintaining the electric car's range, which will not only help you stay on the go longer, but also significantly reduce the rate of battery degradation. Details about all the nuances winter operation batteries can be read.

For Nissan Leaf buyers of the first generation, it is worth remembering that in addition to the main battery pack, which produces a voltage of 400 volts, an electric car also has a small 12-volt battery under the hood of the electric car. This small battery powers the switching of the charger, electric motor and inverter. It also supplies energy to the electronics: all electric heating, headlights, multimedia and interior lighting. This feature an electric vehicle should be taken into account when buying it and especially long-term transportation, since full discharge this battery is impossible, because without it it is impossible to start the car. Also, it is impossible to allow the main battery to be completely discharged - this factor most negatively affects its working qualities.

Charging the first generation Nissan Leaf battery

The electric car is equipped with two ports for charging batteries: SAE J1772 Type 1 for AC and CHAdeMO for DC fast charging. In the first two years of production, the CHAdeMO fast charging port was available only in selected versions, since 2013 it could be ordered additionally or it was the basic one by default, depending on the selected configuration. Therefore, if you are interested in early models of an electric vehicle, make sure that there are both connectors under the cover on the front bumper.

Early Nissan Leaf models (2010-2013) were equipped with 3.3 kW on-board chargers (charging time 8 hours). For some modifications of this period, more powerful 6.6 kW chargers (charging time 6 hours) were available, which since 2014 have become basic for all models.

First generation Nissan Leaf charging ports: left CHAdeMO (up to 50 kW), right - SAE J1772 Type 1 © website

It is necessary to add that with the connected to charging station cable, even if no voltage is supplied to it, you will never be able to move, as the car simply will not turn on in the “ready to drive” mode.

The electric vehicle has a charge timer that only works when the electric vehicle is connected to the grid. With its use, you can achieve significant savings, for example, by setting the start of the charge at a certain time if your meter is connected to the night tariff, or setting the timer to charge continuously when connected and until the set shutdown time (upon arrival from work and until 7 am).

First generation Nissan Leaf ride modes

For those who are going to buy a used Nissan Leaf, especially if it will be your first electric car, you need to explain the features of driving an electric car.
The electric car has five modes:

• Parking "P"
• Reverse "R"
• Normal ride "D"
• Mode "B" for SV / SL trim levels or ECO for S trim levels
• Neutral "N"

During operation, you need to be careful and remember that the electric car should never be pulled, pushed or towed in the off state when its front wheels are spinning - this can lead to burnout of the inverter.

Enabling ECO mode leads to a decrease in the intensity of heating and ventilation, the responsiveness of the accelerator pedal becomes less sharp.
Mode "B" enhances the regenerative capabilities of the electric vehicle, when, when the accelerator pedal is released, the electric car gradually reduces its speed until it comes to a complete stop. Note that in models after 2013, the "B" and ECO modes work separately.

The nuances of servicing Nissan Leaf 2010-2017

The first generation Nissan Leaf, like most electric vehicles, does not require the traditional fuel cars Maintenance(oil changes, consumables, etc.). However, there are a number of details that periodically require replacement or inspection and the person who decides to buy a used Leaf should know and take into account them. Replacement or condition monitoring will sooner or later require:

• wiper blades;
• windows;
• air conditioning system;
• tires;
• engine coolant;
• console buttons and touchpads;
• electric parking brake(in early models from 2011-12).

Differences between the first generation Nissan Leaf lineup

As for the first generation lineup, over the course of 7 years of production, visually, the Nissan Leaf practically did not change externally, but inside it had quite a few changes that will help its potential buyer better understand what year of production it is dealing with.

The first generation Nissan Leaf lineup looks without distinction © newsroom.nissan-europe.com

The first thing to know when buying a used electric car is that the 2011-2012 Nissan Leaf was produced in Japan and was different from the 2013-2017 American and British Leafs. In the first two years, it had a charging port built in between the two rear wheels, the location of which reduced the volume of the cargo compartment. Subsequently, it was moved under the hood, significantly and for the better, changing the layout of the trunk.

Nissan Leaf 2010-12

Electric cars of this period have the following configuration:

• Synchronous AC electric motor of the EM61 series, located on the front axle with a power of 107 hp. and a torque of 280 Nm.
• A block of lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 24 kWh located in the floor of the car. The battery consists of 48 modules and is the heaviest part of the vehicle. Its low position gives the electric car better handling. The manufacturer guarantees that the battery capacity remains at the level of 70-80% for 8 years of operation.
• Two battery charging ports: SAE J1772 for AC and CHAdeMO for DC fast charging (optional on select versions).
• Onboard Charger power of 3.3 kW, which charges the battery from a household home network in approximately 8 hours.
• Front airbags for driver, front passenger and side airbags. There are also roof-mounted curtains.
• System directional stability ABS.
• VSP pedestrian warning system (works at low speeds up to 30 km / h).
• Solar battery on the spoiler for powering some elements of on-board electronics (it migrated to all subsequent modifications of the model).
• The Nissan Leaf's range of this production period is 175 km on the European NEDC cycle or 117 km on the American EPA cycle, which decreases markedly depending on driving style, temperature environment and the use of climate systems.
• The car's interior is designed for five passengers, the trunk volume is 330 liters and can be increased to 680, but its shape will not allow transporting bulky items.

Nissan Leaf 2013-2015

An updated version of the first generation Nissan The Leaf was released in 2013, the car got cheaper and received several evolutionary changes.

• A fully integrated drive unit that combines the charging module, inverter and electric motor of the EM57 series for the first time. Since 2013 model year all this is in a single block. The engine did not change the power numbers, but slightly reduced the peak torque for a smoother start.
• The charger was moved from the rear of the car, which significantly increased the boot volume to 370 liters. In addition, the car has become more practical, now in the center of the floor luggage compartment there is no more obstacle that prevents folding rear seats, which also changed the shape of the pillows and now the feet can be under the front seats.
• The new smart i-Key opens and closes the charging module and the charging cable lock.
• The front seats have received height adjustment.
• 4.3 "display for S and 7" monitor for SL / SV versions.
• The new biofabric for all seats is made entirely from sugar cane, making it even more sustainable and more recyclable. Leather trim and a more practical dark fabric trim are available as an option.
• Appeared Neon lights in the area where the chargers are connected.
• In the heating and ventilation system, the ceramic heater was replaced with a heat gun. This reduced energy consumption and significantly increased the range in real conditions exploitation.
• In order to reduce roll and increase maneuverability, the stiffness of the shock absorbers has been increased.
• The transmission settings have been changed to increase the amount of energy recovered.
• There is a new BOSE stereo system - more efficient in terms of energy consumption.
• Updated package installed navigation system Nissan Carwings with advanced functionality and the ability to remotely control individual functions of the electric car using mobile applications.
• A circular view system has appeared, which, using several cameras, generates a "top view" of the electric car and displays it on the central display, making it easier to park traffic in limited conditions.
• New wheel disks: 16-inch steel caps with full-size decorative caps in the basic version and light alloy in the SL version. In the maximum version of the SV, wheels of the 17th radius became available.

The electric car received three trim levels: S, SL and SV. The only change in external appearance was a redesign of the front air intake grille, which reduced the drag coefficient to 0.28 and improved the range, the certified indicators of which for cars of this period of production are 200 km according to the NEDC cycle and 135 km according to the EPA cycle.

Nissan Leaf 2016-2017

2016 saw the last update to the first generation Nissan Leaf range. The key change was the installation of a new 30 kWh battery on the SL and SV models. basic models the S versions left a 24 kWh battery. All 30 kWh Nissan Leafs were produced at Nissan's plant in Sunderland, England.
The new 30 kWh battery has the same dimensions as the 24 kWh battery and is slightly heavier (21 kg). Increased capacity achieved through innovative design and process optimization chemical reactions... With a new 30 kWh battery, the electric vehicle's range has grown to 250 km on the NEDC cycle or 172 km on the EPA cycle.

Other important changes in the equipment of the electric car include:

• The Nissan Connect EV navigation system replaces the previous Carwings.
• There is a map of the location of charging stations.
• The function of the warning about the period of maintenance.
• Electric vehicle search function.
• 7-inch display with the ability to resize the map and scroll through the menu with a touch.
• Redesigned roof antenna, redesigned headlights and taillights.
• Additional body color - Bronze.

First generation Nissan Leaf interior

We are buying a used first generation Nissan Leaf!

Buying a used electric car is always associated with certain problems, however, in the case of the first generation Nissan Leaf, everything is more or less transparent, and if done correctly technical inspection car, you can buy a reliable, economical and practical electric car for everyday use in urban areas.
The main thing with buying a used Leaf understand how its current cost was formed (what factors influenced the too low or high price), in what condition it is and in what conditions it was used, where you will charge it and whether you can change or repair the battery in case of its significant degradation according to the possible salon or even manufacturer's warranty.