Should I Buy A Used Nissan LEAF -- Then Replace The Battery?
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- čas přidán 26. 02. 2017
- With early used Nissan LEAFs now down into the $5,000 territory, we're answering a regular question from readers: does it make sense to buy an early 2011-2012 LEAF cheap -- and then replace the battery? The answer depends on what your preferences are and what your requirements are.
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awesome commentary. Nice pace, perfect narration, proper vocabulary and no mistakes or cut offs...well done lady!
You’re such an excellent speaker to listen to. You seriously know your stuff. I’m new to watching your channel. You probably hear this all the time but as an American I love to hear your accent.
Great video! Thank you! I’m an original owner of a 2013 Leaf and have noticed my battery is dwindling fast. It’s definitely below 50 mile range. It’s a put around town on the weekends car until my daughter (15) gets her driver’s permit next month, then it will be her car. I bought a new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (love it!) last August (2019) for me. After watching this video, I’m going to keep the Leaf for her and buy a new battery when the time comes, if the rest of the car is still holding up. My Leaf has about 127k miles and ZERO issues. I’ve spent probably $300 in maintenance in 7 years (not counting tires). Such a great car.
Lovely and informative. I'm amazed at how you are able to speak so eloquently for such a long time. I try in my videos but I always sound hesitative and stuttery.
One of the best presentations ever on the topic of electric cars.
I just bought a 2011 with a brand new pack already in it for $4600. I couldn’t believe me eyes when I saw the price.
I envy you
Lucky champ
MrJHate Is it a New 24 kw battery? Or how big and how long is the range now?
If you're still using this account: did it last? I wanna try to do this too!
Isaac Bragg-Gardiner it’s still going! I actually sold it to a friend whose wife uses it as her daily driver. She has a tendency to BLAST her AC (we live in south Texas) and I think her typical range is 60 miles or so, but that’s MORE than enough for her. Apparently she’s absolutely in love with it.
I have a used 2013 leaf with only about 80% of my original range and im going to drive it until the weels fall off. Then i will get an aftermarket Battery that goes 300 miles in 2020.
Correction: 5 years or 60,000 miles and replaced if below 9 bars. I know for a fact: I had 8 bars, under 5 years, but had 63,000 miles and Nissan said no.
No they don't. They are replacing the entire battery here.
I have a 2013 Nissan Leaf with 24,000 miles on it that I bought certified used from the dealer for $6,200 in December 2016. the contract for certified used extends the warranty to 100,000 miles and will replace the entire battery if it degrades by one third
I have not lost any bars at this time. the battery still works perfectly
Wade you are a winner. That is the best way to by a leaf.
This is something I didn't know, so a good video !
This is awesome info. 5400 for a new battery isn't that bad. I'm totally looking at multiple Leafs for 5500-7000. I will ride out the battery until the upgraded battery is needed. Thanks for the info!
I am a retired 72 year young ex Donnington GT champion .1980.I have just bought a low mileage 17,000 miles Nissan LEAF from Ancaster Bromley .. The salesman there was super accommodating and did me a special price to help with the transporter costs from the UK to Portugal £650 UK Pounds . 1400 road miles is not an option unless one has loads of time on ones hands .I have not done the maths but I guess it would take a couple of weeks .So the transporter option seemed good value . My Nissan LEAF has been collected and should soon be arriving in Portugal and delivered within easy LEAF driving distance of my home in Portugal. Your video reasoning was the very best advice I have come across .. Well done ..
Thank you Nikki I'm buying a 2012 Nissan Leaf SL with 31k for around 7,999 thanks for that info
Great discussion of Nissan batteries. Removes some of the fear of buying a 2011 or 2012. But I still want the newer heater.
Good comments. Things have changed a bit since 2017 but still sound.
This is exactly what we did. We purchased a used 2011 Leaf and replaced the battery 2 years ago. The car is basically new-- very clean and incredible to drive.
Hi. Where /which company did you use? Are you in the UK?
How did you replace the battery?
Great video. I purchased a used 2014 Nissan Leaf for about $7,000 on December 26th, 2016.It had only 24,200 miles on it, and still had all 12 bars. Yes it was only the S Modle, but I can live without the level 3 charging and navigation. I don't think I could of landed with a better deal than that. Keep those videos rolling in!
Jackson Bangs Congrats. That's a good deal.
Jackson Bangs Well played Jackson! The navigation feature is not worth anything. Smart phone is way better. The value of level 3 charging is questionable for most people. It depends on you use (I know a guy who uses his Leaf to Uber and he would be nowhere without it) and the available level 3 charging infrastructure in your area. The hybrid heater I am told really improves winter range in most moderate climate locations.
New battery is around $6400, that's less than $200 a month for 3 years, less for a five year loan
I picked up a 13 for $8500 with 47000 amd 12 bats of battery. shout out to Paramount Motors in Seattle for having reasonable pricing on all their EVs.
I have been wanting a use Nissan leaf and the batter concerns me a bit because I may need to replace it if it's used. Thank you so much for this video, it's very helpful.
great vid....this relates to me as i will be going the used leaf route (2015) model
just got a 2014 leaf acenta...24kw...fantastic car .flying carpet .Yes it would be worth buying a battery pack as our zafira 1.7 diesel costs 20 pounds to cover 120 miles....plus sick and tired of the bills for egr valves .sensors .timing kit .having to drive 20 miles at 3000rpm .sick and tired of it .Electric is the future .
This is really good information. Prices are definitely coming down on replacement battery packs. My guess is that they will continue to come down in price over the next 5 years as costs continue to go down. Exciting! The last time I looked at the pricing of battery replacement it was closer to 8K. Big difference.
Yeah... about that they're now up to $15k :////
This helped so much, thank you!!!!
Enjoy your updates. Subscribe to your site and want to thank you for the work you put into doing this
I got a brand new 30 kw 2016 Leaf S. End of year in December. $13,550. No down. $215.00 per month. Includes maintenance. Has blue tooth & Cruise control. 2500 from the state 500 from PG& E. Two years of free mostly charging.
Fantastic review thanks for sharing 👍👍👍👍
Very informative video
A great video! Apparently the answer is yes! Go and find a slightly used Nissan Leaf and replace the battery pack with a brand new battery pack. Total cost under $12000 Dollars.
Thanks for the very informed presentation! Nissan Consumer Affairs just reported $5,499 for a new 24kW battery (and 85 miles range at 100% charge, even though they highly recommend charging to 80% to preserve battery life, doubly ironic) less $1000 discount and that new battery comes with the same "capacity" warranty as with a new car: free replacement before 5 years/60K miles if the capacity drops 4 bars (from 12 to 8) (the"capacity" warranty is not mentioned in the used car manuals because it came about apparently due to a court case after the fact).
Thanks Nikki, your comments are as always thought provoking. I have been driving gasmobiles since 1960 and with rare exceptions have done my own maintenance and this included rebuilding brakes, A/C, engine, transmission and differentials. My question is... can a knowledgeable home mechanic realistically do his or her own repair of the drivetrain or replace a battery pack? I really have a problem with car dealers, they are overpriced and often use a "shotgun" approach to troubleshooting and repair. If the first repair did not fix the problem bring it back in and I can pay for them to try again and again and then "maybe" they will get it right. Early on car dealers really left a sour taste in my mouth. My current car is 22 years old and I have been holding off buying an E/V until the 200 mile range vehicles are more plentiful. Though now I am also considering used thanks to your input.
Wish they had an upgrade for the battery found in the Mitsubishi i MiEV. I am happy that my 2017 i MiEV car comes with a Thermal Management System to keep the battery cool when I quick charge it.
I think Nissan should give you the option to replace the battery with a 24 or 30 kwh battery pack
You don't need Nissan to allow you to do that. The aftermarket option is out there already.....
The question is: Is it "Nissan leafs" or "Nissan leaves"?
Eng. Yazan AlKhalaileh Leafs. Like Toronto hockey plural.
make like a tree, and leaf ?
william webb its LEAVE you idiot ! MAKE LIKE A TREE.. and LEAVE ! God you sound like damn fool when you say it wrong !
It's "Make like a tree, and get outta here!"
Either pronunciation will get you into a voting booth in California, no ID required.
I have been thinking about this issue for a while, and I think it depends on a few variables.
First, it depends on the extreme summer temperatures at your location; second, it, also, depends on how much you drive in a city and how many road trips you make. Finally, it depends on the used car condition.
A second thought is don’t take the $1,000 for the used battery. You can convert this to residential electricity storage. A similar sized electricity storage battery will set you back over $20,000.
Love your talk!
Really helpful video because I have been thinking exactly along these lines (I am retired and do a low mileage). One thought - in the UK and Europe - battery degradation doesn't seem to be as much of a problem as in the warmer states in the USA. £11,000 (car plus battery) could buy you 10 years motoring. Important though to make a firm decision that you are going to keep the car for the long haul. Bailing out two years down the line would make the whole thing economically suicidal.
You are a talented speaker. Make more videos, maybe on other subjects too.
Thanks for a great little video there Nikki But one big issue many Leaf owners are aware of now is that the shell is built to a cost and one vulnerable rust area is the front strut crowns under the bonnet/hood these are exposed to the rain water being swiped in by the wipers,, The thing is the ill informed owner wont be aware of this as there hidden by to small plastic covers on the plastic scuttle cover... there are covers you can buy from Nissan £7 each uk price part no, 54330-ED000
I bought a 2011 Leaf coming off lease with 24K miles in early 2015. In October 2016, I took it in to a Nissan dealer for it's checkup (48k miles) and mentioned that the range was down to about 45-50 miles per charge. They qualified it for a main battery replacement since it was 9 bars and under 60,000 miles and < 5 years Cost to me $0. After 6k miles on the new battery, my range is 68-72 miles and my average daily trip is 45-55 miles.. Take aways are: 1) Take it in to Nissan Dealer and ask. 2) Do not let the 5 year or 60,000 mile period lapse. The Leaf is an awesome commuter and around town vehicle.
Great video commentary!
I've been shopping around, considering these very options, and I think the feature upgrades in the 2014-15 and newer are well worth it. (plus no hassle of replacing the battery for a few years) I've been able to find 2015s in my area (full battery bars, less than 20k miles) for around $10,00. You really can't beat that :)
Very good analysis. Thanks.
I just bought a 2014 Leaf with 12 bars on the battery (35k miles) for about 10,900. It was an SL with the premium package. With the additional benefits of the post '13 models, I think this was the best way to go. Still cheaper than buying the '11 or '12 and getting a new battery. Plus the interior is sooooooo nice on the SL. Leather, Bose, 360 degree camera. I know this is a family hatchback, but sitting inside it feels like a luxury car. Or, maybe I'm just getting used to a new car after driving a Subaru from 2004.
Alex Brown Sounds like you got a really good deal. I have not seen many that good. Smart move. I am curious what part of the country you live in.
Works for me! Thank you!
Tq Nikki. Great vid !!! 👍 👍 👍
Great video thanks
I did and it is all excellent. The new battery carries a new warranty. The car has 50,000 miles, 8,000 with new battery/software and even with the old fashion heater, the range is much improved and with DC Fast Charging available, mostly for free, this car meets 100% of my needs with zero issues. Just like an EV scooter or bike or motorcycle meets the needs of many, this 1st. Gen Leaf works great for many. I am retired, make my own schedule, know where charging is available and both the choices to buy an used Gen 1 Leaf for cheap and to upgrade the battery at my own cost were made with lots of facts and my use analysis. Range has been 90 miles with AC and with home pre heating, the winter, which was mild and more wet than cold, I was not affected as to use. Other improvements in later years were considered but not enough to make a difference. Now, I have a 2017 Nissal Leaf SL that will last at least 10 more years. Cheers and whatever car you elect, please, go electric.
I just got a 2015 Leaf that had come off lease. 19K miles. So it's all pretty new. I don't regret that decision. It's a nice car.
Great video! That is a good option for a local run around.
Wanted to point out that I believe your reference to the possibility to upgrade the Tesla battery from 60 to 85 is actually 60 to 75 software lock out. So far I don't think Tesla has ever offered the ability to literally change a 40 to 60, 60 to a 85, 85 to a 90, or 90 to a 100. Or any combination of that. But we (Tesla owners) are all anxiously waiting for that option. I would guess to your point about Nissan that Tesla would rather make you buy an entirely new car to upgrade that pack.
And the over the air update for the storm in america shows it can be unlocked... hmmmm hackers might find that :)
In Europe the cheapest Leaf's are still 11.000 euro. So the option to buy a new battery pack here is even a more difficult choice, if not a bad one.
I'm driving an i3 - 2016 with 22kW battery, if there is at least a 40kW battery available I will consider changing the battery too.
Good video, your a real "connaisseur" of the Leaf model !
I actually was wondering this exact question. This happens rarely to me, usually it's research on concepts I hadn't considered. As it turns out- the nearest charging station (besides home) is 350 miles away, so the point is mute. :-(
And I think there will get a point where aftermarket companies will offer newer larger batteries for early EVs, and secondary battery add-ons for added range. Just talk to EV West, they're developing new products all the time.
Well that's an interesting point. Li-Ion battery cells are freely available, many a workshop could make up a good battery pack, it's not like manufacturing a complex ICE from scratch is it. Very good comment.
I hope someone comes out with a 60Kwh battery, for the leaf for say 10 grand.
The only problem with that... it hasn't happened yet.
So nobody knows whether that's going to happen either. Probably not, is my guess, but you never know!
Ernie. If you don't know anything, or are unsure what's going to happen, or if you're total engagement with reality is based only on stuff that's already happened...then my guess is you're pretty fucked up.
Jo Rey that would be awesome
I know it's 2022 now, but this video was extremely helpful. I just bought a (worst they'd ever seen, apparently) degraded Leaf for about $7000. At 5 bars, I have to charge often to and from work. I'm looking into possible swapping, but through Nissan now, it's up to $10k. No longer $5500. My guess is they want everyone out of the first gen and second gen and out of money as well, instead of standing behind their product line, like another Japanese brand that I know well. As this is my first Nissan purchase, it will probably be my last. Still, one must think that a new-ish $17k leaf would be an upgrade. However, there are many other viable used EV options now, and one doesn't have to worry about this battery pack going bad too.
I guess I just don't want the leaf with the 24 kw battery pack. You answered all my questions with this video. My main question was " could you buy a 2012 or earlier leaf and replace the battery with a 30kw pack that is sold in the 2016 version of the car, and if so for how much?" I appreciate the answers you gave me and it is then over for me. I wanted the extra range that the 30 kw battery provided and I'll just have to wait a couple more years for my ev
Bravo! Looking to get into a 2011 SL with 30-75k miles (they're still out there!) for our first EV for about $5k regarldless of degredation. My commute is only 20 miles round trip. Now that the refurbished packs are available for $2850 supposedly, this is an even sweeter deal. 8_) May go the refurb route may not. As long as I find one with the CHAdeMO upgrade we're golden until we can get a Rivian/Tesla in about 5 years for our long range EV. Keeping the trusty 2008 prius for our long range car 2nd car until then. Cheers!
how about the 3rd party refurbished battery packs?
It would make more sense to purchase one of the newer Leafs for less than the combined price of the 2011-2 Leaf plus battery swap.
I have been thinking about buying a used Leaf myself. One advantage I have is area NH isn't too hot or cold most of the time. And I do charge at home. With my leased cars I don't stop at 80%, I just plug it in. I do sometimes leave it unplugged after use. With three leases I haven't seen any battery degradation. And my VW Jetta is getting old now. If I do buy a used Leaf, I like the original dashboard. Of course, I prefer the range of the newer. If Nissan wants to sell lease returns a battery upgrade would be a good sales pitch. I don't know if they have trouble getting rid of lease returns or not. I do see UNSOLED SUVs going dirt cheap!!!! But it seems like that is all you see now a days SUVs and Pickup Trucks. I would like an electric SEDAN that isn't 30k + PLEASE somebody, anybody. A sporty little two door. Like for instance an electric Karmann Ghia. I have asked for it before, and I will again.
I have a 2012 used leaf and I'm in the process of replacing the 24kw battery at the cost of $1,800.00 using the tail end of the warranty. My tags are $32.00 for five years and the cost of power is between $12.00 and $20.00 per mo. I got the car for 8,000.00 best deal ever. I will never go back to ICE ever!
Very well done. Thanking you. :-)
Yes good analysis, but not for me, an old design car, with an old design battery system, but for some, yes a very good option.
Thank you!
Thanks for this. Most informative. What's particular disappointing though is that Nissan should be encouraging owners to swap batteries over the flawed idea of disposal of your car. To suggest otherwise is an environmental disaster. I know they attempt to "sell" you the idea of battery replacement - because this is what they are ethically responsible for promoting but you're quite right - they'd much rather you scrap the car and buy a new one. Ridiculous marketing strategy considering we're ALL supposed to take the responsibility for a greener future.
Preach it!! I agree.
Bought a 2011 off of Craigslist in June of 2015 with 22150 miles and 10 of 12 capacity bars. Drove it like I stole it from jump street! Nissan replaced the battery pack for free last summer when capacity bars dropped to 8of12 at 45k miles. Had to fork out for new DC accessory battery
I leased a 2015S in April 2015. on a 3 yr lease. We were offered a buyout of $8000 off the balance (which is different to the residual at the end of the lease) so we were able to buy a 2015 S less than 2 yrs old for $8400 (plus taxes and fees etc).
Duncan Cunningham Score!
Duncan, did you take over someone's lease and buy it out at the end? Doing the math over here... So did you lease it for 36 months and then at the end pay $8400? Or it was $8700 total including the lease? Hey, thanks so much for clarifying, I am looking to do a lease take over, that is why I am asking. Have a good day!
I have the same 2015 leaf, residual value on my contract is $16000! I don’t think I would buy it for a half though...
We charge our leaf with three pin plug Granny charging cable, at 9miles/hour rate, is great for Popping round town. So 2.9Kw/hr at 16p/Kwh To charge 20% to 80%
14.4Kwx 16p=£2.30 for 50 miles that =🤣👍
Soon to get Octopus smart meter with cheaper night charging rate. Oh and if you own a Leaf congratulations it is going up in value, due to high demand for second hand Ev's
I own a 2012 Leaf in Florida. Two years ago, the 4th bar of capacity disappeared. Nissan has extended the warranty to 100k miles for these circumstances. Got the new battery at no charge. Range restored! Oh, and it's a much lighter battery pack so range actually improved a bit from original.
Is this extended warranty still in effect?
Thanks; I find this is really useful for someone who can do the math and go for the best-possible cost effective option.
I have one question is it possible to use a Tesla long rang battery for Nissan Leaf , is there any structural differences in the process of installation?
I hope you will upload another video on above regard .
If you plan on saving up for the new battery pack, this isn't a half bad option! I was thinking about doing this myself (and putting a basic cooling system in because that's like the number one thing that kills these things here in California). Here I can actually find a 2011 leaf with a worn out pack (~7 bars left) for roughly $2k. I planned on replacing the cells to make a 60kWh pack for extended range. After pricing that out, I came up with roughly a $12k budget. That's DIY, obviously, so labor not included.
But what can I get for $13k? A 2017 Bolt with 220mi of range, and heating/cooling for the batteries built in.
Unfortunately, yeah, heating is still all resistive and sucks up like 12 miles of range when I turn it on, but it's not bad for an option that ends up being the same price.
There is the issue with the recall on the battery pack lowering me to 188mi on average, but it looks like they're offering buybacks to some people, and may just give us all new battery packs so they don't have more cases of fire...
Hi! Quick, kind-of-on/off topic question. I'm thinking about buying a used Fiat 500e or the recent Toyota Rav4 EV. Do you know if battery degradation has been an issue for either? If I were to bring a used 500e or Rav4 EV to their respective dealerships, would they be able/willing to test the battery's capacity? Thanks! (BTW Love the show while driving, in studio, or in a tree for that matter. My only concern is that you not be distracted if recording while driving. Just promise you'll be extra careful. - Big hugs to you and your family!)
I very much agree to keep or buy a 5 year old Leaf and replace the battery, which is what I am planning for our 2011 whenever the range gets too small. The only thing you might want to consider is: in case of an accident, insurance will not cover the cost of the replaced battery, just the misery value of the Leaf - but if you bought it cheap, it may be ok? Whereas we silly early adopters bought the car with the worst resell value that's now barely usable after just 5 years in Southern California's sun - but we still love the her!
The early LEAFs have only a 3.6 KW onboard charger. When I upgraded my 2012 to a 2016, the ability to charge at home at nearly
twice the speed (6.6 KW) and add 20+ miles of range per hour was a big plus for running more errands. I would spring for the extra cost of a car with the 6.6 KW charger and the heat pump vs. resistance heat.
Good video :-)
We only charge ours on the AC trickle charge from the 240v EVSE unit. Our 24KW 2016 leaf is still showing full capacity. If you buy a used one, look for one that’s been home charged mostly and you could well get a good’un!
I own a 2012 Nissan Leaf: The $5500 price that you are quoting does not include the initial test to confirm you need a replacement battery ($149.00), The replacement brackets that are different than the original battery (additional $295), the installation, rebooting of your cars computer to talk to the new battery, and tax. The "out the door price" I was quoted was $8000. On top of that the 2011 and 2012 are completely different cars compared to the more advanced 2013 and up. They have much slower charge times, their heaters/air conditioners will lower your mileage by 25%, and their regenerative breaking is only half that of the 2013 models. Don't waste your time on the 2011 or 2012 models. There are many used 2013's that are comming out on the market. I have seen many in the $9000 range here in California. When searching always make sure that they show 12 bars on the battery health and get it in writing from any dealer that the battery has not been altered to trick the car in to showing better battery health. Good luck.
Yeah I remember I got quoted the battery test too. I'd just opt out of the test if you know you want a new battery.
I did upgrade my 2011 a couple of months ago to a new 2017 battery. Somehow, I guess with software upgrade, this car is now over 100 miles of range in mixed city/highway driving. The heater use does not affect our range very much specially when heated connected to the charger. Once the liquid is heated the draw subsides a lot. As to the comment about range, my experience is that it does increase the range. As to cost, with the Telematics upgrade I paid just short of $7,000. Very reasonable to have a "new" car that is close to the 107 mile range advertised for the 30 kWh battery. I am happy and satisfied with my choice. Cheers.
What things did they bill you for? Was it just the battery 3 hours of labor? Or did they make you pay to test the battery and other little things? I'm thinking of swapping my battery. It's still pretty useful though around town even with 64% health.
For the telematics upgrade, you mean that $200 upgrade to the use 3g data?
Thanks
A straight replacement does not require a test. You just buy it.
Thank u very very much very well done
australia 2012 ac80kw 52500km odo, 17k$ it does look clean though. i am looking into buying now i know the battery changing price will be revamping it for my son to use
Hey, think about redoing this video with the 2018 battery pack. I have a 2017 with hardly any miles, but the range sucks(85-90miles)...can I get a 2018 battery pack(150miles) for it....
I'm from Alaska but live in California now anyhow when the temp was below zero in Alaska, in desperation when a heater would tank on me, I would run a power cord out to my car and plug in a electric heater and run it all night. when the morning came I would go n start it up to warm it up, cause u never want to just start up a engine n drive right away, ne how I would leave it running with the heater going come back unplug n go. my car would stay warm for a good long while at least to work, n I was lucky we had plug ins at work, to the point you could do the same with a electric car, so u wouldn't have to use it right away, to help u save your range. I still want a bolt tho
Also, auctions are really great place to pruchase directly from Nissan. I purchased a Nissan Leaf 2013 fully loaded SL with merely 13k miles on it for $8400 a month ago directly from Nissan. Flawless condition and never wrecked. The range anxiety and availability of other options (bolt and model 3) that are flooding the market in 2017, in California, makes Nissan Leafs surprising undesirable in comparison since Nissan didn't react with at least a 60 Kw battery. Given that Nissan is still asking similar pricing compared to much longer range/power to weight ratio alternatives, Nissan is begging its current lease owners to purchase them at lease sunset. I've heard they are willing to write off 7k to entice Leaf owners to buy to no avail.
TL/DR A superb buy for anyone with a short commute (
thx for the good suff :)
How does the heater work on the current (2016/2017) Leaf?
Right now is not the time to buy a leaf. With a new model around the corner the used ones are gonna depreciate a lot more
Zimpaz so short term lease? Bike is best still, I recommend a Sondors ebike.
There is also another company named Zero that specifies in only making electric motorcycles.
If you just need/want an electric car, and do not need that much range, a few months from now is going to be the best time to buy a used Leaf, the prices are going to drop.
Why not? They are going to make a new model each year. The good thing is that the 2018 reviews are not that good in regards to the battery charging
Maybe once they've depreciated they could be a good buy if the battery pack could be inexpensively reconditioned as it's often only one cell that fails in a pack. The early Prius used industry standard sub D format cells such a that a pack could be reconditioned by anyone who knew how to solder but I bet these newer EV's would have packs designed for design obsolescence which of course can be marketed as "better" battery technology than their competitors.
I love when she says battery pack
Bat tree?
As we're now in 2019 here is an update to the buy an old LEAF and replace the battery pack. In Australia, in the ACT, a chap bought a LEAF in 2012. From the outset it never got the range claimed but now with less that 100K/kms on the clock it is down to 25km range in winter when the heater is used and believe me you want to use the heater in winter. He approached the dealer he bought the car from about a replacement battery pack. They quoted him $33K (AUD) now the car in proper running order is probably worth about $12K (AUD) so it makes no sense to replace the battery. Note the price quoted is from Nissan it is not the dealer trying to gouge (labour was quoted at about $700 (AUD)). It would make no sense to buy this car as a used car and then replace the battery because the cost would still be the same. Nissan made an offer to those who owned 1st generation LEAFs that they could up grade the battery from the 24kwh to the 40kwh one for a hefty $10K (AUD). A similar program in Japan cost $4K (AUD). Even allowing for freight that seems a tad expensive. Nissan say they warrant the battery on the new LEAF for 160K/kms or 8 years which ever occurs first. They also say that should the battery fall below 9 bars they will replace it. Everyone who has even a passing interest in EVs knows that the "passive cooling" that Nissan uses is useless and doesn't work. Every other manufacturer uses an "active cooling" system. This is the problem with the LEAF.
I agree, you can't short cut proper TMS by using air to cool the batter pack. Glad I did not take the early bait and saw the light and went Tesla.
From what I've gleaned, at the moment the best outfit doing Leaf battery upgrades is EV Rides, LLC in Oregon. I've spoken to them at length, and they really sound like good folks who are passionate about keeping our favorite EV (the Gen 1 Nissan Leaf) on the roads and giving these excellent-but-abandonware cars a second life. They use Nissan packs salvaged from wrecked or otherwise totaled Leafs, and using electronic trickery they retrofit these packs into older Gen 1's and Gen 1.5's (2011-2017 model years). The 24 kWh Leafs can even be upgraded all the way up to the 62kWh packs that are normally only available on the Gen 2's. EV Rides can even install a quick-charge CHADEMO port onto Leafs that lack it. Here are their prices:
2011-2012 Leaf battery upgrade options:
1. 24kWh battery, 80-85 mile range, cost starting from $3000 (Gen2 battery from 2013-2015 Leafs, battery health guaranteed to be greater than or equal to 80%)
2. 30kWh battery, 105-110 mile range, cost starting from $5000 (battery health >= 80%)
3. 40kWh battery, 150-160 mile range, cost starting from $9000 (battery health >=90%)
2013-2015 Leaf battery upgrade options:
1. 24kWh battery, 80-85 mile range, cost starting from $2500 (battery health >=80%)
2. 30kWh battery, 105-110 mile range, cost starting from $4500 (battery health >=80%)
3. 40kWh battery, 150-160 mile range, cost starting from $8000 (battery health >=90%)
4. 62kWh battery, 230-240 mile range, cost starting from $12000 (battery health >=90%)
2016-2017 Leaf battery upgrade options:
1. 40kWh battery, 150-160 mile range, cost $6500 (battery health >=90%)
2. 62kWh battery, 230-240 mile range, cost $11000 (battery health >=90%)
CHADEMO upgrade (any year): $1000
I spoke with "Joe" who was very generous with his time. This guy was a wealth of information on the intricacies of the Nissan Leaf and its battery. I got a really good impression of this little outfit, and though these prices seem high, when you consider the cost of an equally well-appointed used Bolt (to say nothing of comparing the cost to a new Tesla), these upgrades could provide the best bang for your buck, assuming you've got a decently-optioned Leaf in good condition. In my opinion, this upgrade is only worth doing for 2013 and later Leafs with the SV or SL trim and the 360 bird's eye camera (I believe this is the package that also includes the Bose premium speakers). If you live anywhere with cold weather, I would also consider only putting this much money into a Leaf with the winter package (the one that includes the heat pump). If we're talking about 2011-2012 Leafs, or any Gen 1 w/o the tech package, I would say the EV Rides upgrades are probably not worth it. If you have a very basic Leaf, frankly I'd only put this kind of money into a used Chevy Bolt in the basic LT trim, because you can get one without too many miles on it for $17-18k.
But if you DO have a nicely appointed Gen 1 Leaf, and you want a long-range EV with comparable comfort and safety features, then the upgrades available from EV Rides are a very attractive option indeed! I'm not affiliated with them; I'm just a prospective customer looking for a way to give my 2013 SV a second life, and also looking to get the most bang for my buck.
EV Rides, LLC: (503) 410-9742
3230 NE Columbia Blvd, Portland, OR 97211
I considered ev rides, but I've heard rumors that they are taking the best cells for their home storage supply and leaving in degraded cells in the car battery pack. That to me is not ethical, but this is a rumor, your mileage may be different. If you go that route keep watching them and let the nissan groups and transport evolved know.
I had read a few other similar articles about buying a 2011-12 cheap and replacing the battery. Making it a new car for cheap. A great idea in concept. So I tried it and failed. I bought a 2011 for less than $5k with 7 of 12 bars. I started looking for a battery for it. First, remember you cannot put a newer 30kw or higher batter in these, only a 24kw. A new 24kw from the dealer costs $8,400 (including tax for CA and labor), that does give you an additional warranty on the battery. You an find someone outside to replace the battery for you. The best I could get was $4,400 for a 2015 battery at 90% capacity, obviously no warranty. Also, not sure what it means when answering the question on your insurance "has this vehicle been modified from the factory build", in case there is ever a problem due to the private battery replacement does it void your insurance if they find out? In other words I would have paid about $9k. Instead I decided to sell the 2011 SV model for $4.6k and bought a 2015 SL (more features) for $11k. It had 22k miles on it and the battery shows 12 of 12 bars. The other big thing I noticed was that the electronics in the 2015 are much better. The regeneration is much more effective, starts sooner. For my usual driving habit, I used to charge the 2011 everyday. It used to show 37 miles when fully charged but used to go to zero in about 30 miles. The 2015 shows 79 miles when fully charged. Usually after 40 miles it goes down about 55-60%. My drive is a lot of up/down hill, so the better regen really helps the performance.
I found a 2015 with 4500 miles for 12900. In Utah brought in from Oregon.
Hello I bought a 2011 nissan leaf for 3200 at a auction.. but didn't know anything about the car... do u think it's a good or bad buy?
Nice overall. So, as I understand, if you live in moderate weather region (not very cold), there is no reason to buy new battery pack, until they start failing, as no range benefit. Is there any way to add additional battery? Nice to have a video on this subject.
I've considered getting an older one and doing a new battery but I'm waiting for an off lease 2016. I want the 30kwh pack.
The 30kwh pack has a poor reputation. I learned this from the Leaf forum after my 30kwh pack lost 2 bars. I really need the range of a 40kwh battery, esp while using AC in summer warmth.
@@CrustyCrip my 30kWh has lost 2 bars. The range loss is noticeable, it sucks but I still have more range than a degraded 24kWh car. 😂
@@hondaguy9153 My 30kwh has also lost 2 bars. Unfortunately that terminates the ability to get from my home to a couple places in metro Denver (e.g. the airport) without a time-consuming and inconvenient charging stop. That's why I would gladly pay for a (reasonably-priced) 40kwh pack, if such a thing existed in CO, which it does not.
@@CrustyCrip that does suck. Luckily mine still serves my needs but an extra 70 miles of range would be amazing.
I am considering buying a used nissan leaf sometime in the future.
My answer to that question is “NO”, unless you are close to a 3rd-party mechanic who knows how to find a reasonably-priced used battery, and do the swap. I bought a 2016 with the “lettuce-pack” 30kwh battery. When it lost 2 bars, I could no longer get to certain important places. So when I took it to a Nissan dealer and asked what a 40kwh would cost, I was quoted $13500. Unreasonable. Nissan Motor is not interested in keeping older Leafs on the road.
what if you can get a 2011 Leaf with only Km 20 000 on the clock. Will the battery be a problem?
we are in 2021 now and still no great result for old nissan leaf gen 1 battery alternatives in nz and Aus. Would you have any further updates on this topic?
I have a 2011 Leaf too with 22000 miles on it. It has lost capacity and max travel on a fully charged battery in only and exactly 56.4 miles. SOC shows 91% and I have lost bars. But that works for what I do. Buying a new battery pack makes what I paid for the Leaf not practicable.
great video , i was thinking of buying a used renault zoe (this comment is 2023) with a leased battery which would cost £49 per month , it seems to me it makes more sense to buy an old zoe with leased battery as the battery will more likely need replacing and it would be free....
I just saw a nice 2013 SV for sale on the interwebz, and my eyes bugged out when I saw the dash picture -- 8 bars!! It is less than 60k miles, and thus still covered by the battery capacity warranty. If I buy it for $8.6k I can have Nissan install a new battery pack for free :-)
Make sure that the odometer hasn't been rolled back. Do a title history on it.
We bought an ’08 Honda Odyssey that had 105 k miles on the odo. The sellers said that it was actually 205 k, the previous owner had run the odo back. When we bought it it was over 10 years old so mileage was exempt anyway.
We put a 70 k motor in it after the radiator split wide open and toasted the motor.
About time this was updated. I would NOT pay that sort of money for a DATSON, anyway.
Which year leafs had the newer (presumably longer lasting) chemical battery, and how can you tell?
STUDIO STUFF - meaning with the green screen included. :)
Why does BMW doesn't have the option extra battery-pack instead of the range extender motor?