Nissan Leaf Owners: Beware of a Required Third Charge and if so, Call Nissan!

Nissan Leaf owners claim charging times and range are misleading, reports BBC.

At the heart of the issue is what is the gasoline mileage equivalent or e-mpg, or BEV battery range in miles for the UK Nissan Leaf and why are some owners having problems charging the car? And what rating standards should apply so that the estimate is as closely accurate to the actual, and not the one presently advertised by Nissan, as some Leaf owners are saying, that they consider is deceitful.

• A Nissan website is claiming the Leaf has a range of 235 miles. Owners say no.
• The EPA and car reviewers rate it at 150 miles.
• Worldwide Harmonized Light vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) reports a 168-mile range.
• Nissan says the 235-mile range was calculated in accordance with the New European Driving Cycle.

Nissan owners across the UK are angrily dissatisfied with the performance of their new Nissan Leafs. Some complain of either long charging times at rapid charger stations or the disappointingly shorter range they’ve been getting in their cars lately. The BBC recently published an expose on the Leaf issue, and CarBuzz.com is reporting that the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority is currently deciding whether or not to launch an investigation.

About the Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf was revolutionary when it was introduced a few years ago to the UK as Nissan’s first full production all-electric BEV. Other than Tesla, no car manufacturer among the legacy groups had such a car. When debuted its battery range was much shorter than the current year’s Nissan Leaf at EPA rated 150 miles, which was considered by some an improvement, there not good enough.

This newer Leaf model is the second generation, and Nissan has so far sold about 2600 units of these cars in the UK. But the customer’s complaining continues to grow as they seek redress for a problem that grows complicated on a trip longer than 250 miles.

There are three issues involved in the UK Leaf matter:

1. The discrepancy of the rapid charge time. CarBuzz: “Nissan ads claimed rapid charging would only require 40 minutes “in moderate driving conditions” for an 80 percent charge. However, that was later changed to between 40 and 60 minutes.”

2. What is the actual range of the Leaf, and says who? From anywhere from 150 miles to 235 miles, Nissan is using different standards and measures from various European sources to rate the BEV range. The apparent universally recognized standard and the one car reviewers use to compare is the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) e-mpg ratings, and they rated the second generation Leaf with a range up to 150 miles on a full charge. Worldwide Harmonized Light vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) reports a 168-mile range.

Nissan says the 235-mile range was calculated in accordance with the New European Driving Cycle. A 235 mile New European Driving Cycle range would seem to put the Leaf above or on par with the EPA ratings of the higher capacity Chevy Bolt or Tesla Model 3, around 220 miles or so.

Regardless of the ratings, that’s not the case, and if not worded carefully could be perceived as deceitful.

3. Long recharge times at rapid charging stations: It’s taking way longer than advertised for the Leaf to recharge. Some owners on long distance trips have been left stranded at rapid charging stations along the highway while the car continues to drip charge. The car usually requires two charges during the course of the day to stay fully charged: the first home overnight charging, and the first rapid charge either at home again, or the office at work, or a rapid charging station on a trip along the highway.

The problem is that some cars are requiring the third charge, most done at a public rapid charging station, and that charge is taking way longer than usual. The car seems to be drip charging to the owners’ annoyance. CarBuzz: “It should be noted that owners are not having issues with the first two charges – one at home and another en route.” Owners should be careful on trips over 250 miles.

Recommendations

I strongly suggest all UK Leaf owners get in contact with their UK dealer to resolve this issue. If I were a UK Leaf owner I’d give myself a little more emergency range cushion until this matter is resolved, and not let the range gauge go further than half way. I’d also reconsider trips over 250 miles unless absolutely necessary. I’d also avoid the third charge unless absolutely necessary, and only at home, not at a public rapid charging station.

For owners elsewhere worldwide including North America, I would monitor this situation for further developments to see if what’s happening to our British cousins, may also be occurring to our Leafs as well.

How about your Leaf? Is charging taking unusually long? Have you been stranded? What’s your take on the UK Leaf crisis? Let us know in the comments section.