How to extend the life of your Nissan Leaf battery
5 simple tips to extend the battery life of the Nissan Leaf, one of the most popular electric cars
How long will a Nissan Leaf battery last?
The first generation Nissan Leaf was produced with two types of batteries: 24 kW/h and 30 kW/h. Since 2016, the company began equipping all electric cars with 30 kW/h batteries. The manufacturer guarantees that the battery in first-generation cars will last 8 years or 160 thousand kilometers.
The second generation Nissan Leaf is produced with 40 kWh batteries. These batteries are more durable. Their work is guaranteed for 22 years.
When buying a used Nissan Leaf, it is worth considering that all batteries are subject to degradation. This is an inevitable process that reduces the amount of energy that the battery can store and output.
Battery performance is determined by the SOH (State of Health) parameter. It shows how much energy the battery can produce. The new electric car will have an SOH of 100%. After five years of use, this figure will decrease by about 25-30%. The percentage of decrease in performance depends on the operating conditions of the electric vehicle.
1. Do not charge the battery to 100% and do not allow the battery to completely discharge
A fully charged battery will keep you on the go for as long as possible, but the life of a lithium-ion battery is greatly reduced if you charge it to 100% and discharge it to 0%.
The Nissan Leaf has a “Charge to 80” function that stops the charging process when it reaches 80%. This level of charge leaves room for energy to be recovered through regenerative braking. If the battery is fully charged, this function is disabled to prevent overcharging the battery.
A charge below 30% is considered low. The manufacturer recommends connecting the electric car to a charger whenever possible. It is most convenient to follow these instructions with a portable charging station.
2. Do not leave the battery fully charged or discharged for a long time
Never allow the battery to be charged at 100% for more than 8 hours. Also, do not allow the charge level to drop to 0%. Leaving a battery at these levels of charge reduces its performance faster than intensive use of the Leaf. In the worst case, the battery will simply stop working.
When idle, an electric car consumes 1% of its charge daily. Therefore, if you leave the car for a long period of time, it is better to connect it to a network with a charge level of at least 30%. If it is not possible to connect to a charger, leave the car with a battery level of at least 90%.
3. Don't drive too fast
Sudden starts and braking are not favorable operating conditions for the Nissan Leaf. Aggressive driving causes the battery to overheat. Slow acceleration and gentle braking will save battery power in your electric car, meaning you can stay on the road longer.
4. Do not expose the battery to sudden temperature changes
Lithium-ion batteries do not tolerate frost and heat well. Low and high temperatures contribute to increased degradation of batteries and reduced mileage.
On a hot summer day, try to protect your electric car from direct sunlight - park it in the shade. In winter, it is recommended to leave the car overnight in the garage with it connected to the charger. It is more convenient and safer to do this with an installed wall charging station.
At temperatures above 49℃, it is not recommended to use the electric car for more than 24 hours. Parking an electric car at −25℃ for more than seven days will also shorten the battery life.
5. Limit the number of fast charges
It is very convenient to charge your Nissan Leaf at fast charging stations: in 30 minutes the battery will be “filled” up to 80%. But frequent replenishment of energy in this way shortens the battery life.
Electric car batteries are designed to be charged daily using a low-voltage charger. It reduces the load on the battery.
If you regularly use fast charging stations, the manufacturer recommends feeding the battery with slow charging once a week to calibrate it.
The long-term performance of an electric vehicle directly depends on how well you take care of its battery. With your own charging station, you will secure and improve the quality of charging your Nissan Leaf battery, and by following our tips, you can extend its service life by years.