2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - more range, efficiency, and a lower entry price

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reikiman
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2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - more range, efficiency, and a lower entry price

2013LEAF_018-web.jpg

Some high points

U.S. based production is now underway in Smyrna TN. Nissan says one advantage is this gives them a better currency exchange rate position, though they haven't said whether this will mean a lower price in the U.S. It also means potentially higher production volume, which could also mean a lower price.

The drive train is largely the same (24 kilowatt-hour) but they've done some efficiency improvements. They expect the EPA range certification to be higher. The Japanese 2013 Leaf had a 14% range jump, and if that same range increase holds in the American model it'll mean 82 mile EPA range up from 73 miles.

The on-board charger is 6.6 kilowatts meaning faster recharge for longer effective range.

There's a new model .. the S grade .. which will be cheaper but again they haven't announced prices.

http://www.torquenews.com/1075/2013-us-leaf-has-improved-range-charging-speed-and-lower-price

Press kit

http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/channels/us-united-states-nissan-models-leaf/presskits/us-2013-nissan-leaf-press-kit

Warren
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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

OK. The prices, and specs are now available. Interestingly, the cheapest version should have the best range.

2012 Cd =.29, 2013 Cd =.28 = 3.5% savings highway

2012 SL = 3375 lbs, 2013 S = 3256 lbs = 3.5% savings city

My guess for EPA mileage is 1.035 x 73 = 76 miles for the cheapest one!!

warren

reikiman
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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

Yes, I wrote up the Leaf prices here
http://www.torquenews.com/1075/2013-leaf-price-falls-29k-almost-low-hybrids

The lowest price is $28,800 MSRP, and the highly recommended charger upgrade (6.6 kilowatt plus CHADEMO) adds another $1,300 for a $30,100 total MSRP from which you subtract out tax incentives. In California the final price would be $20,100 for a great electric car.

The other interesting piece of news is that Nissan is planning to build a network of CHADEMO quick charge stations at their dealerships.

http://www.torquenews.com/1075/nissan-build-dealership-based-chademo-quick-charging-network

MEroller
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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

The other interesting piece of news is that Nissan is planning to build a network of CHADEMO quick charge stations at their dealerships.

Interesting that it took Nissan sooo long to make such a step - first Tesla had to take the lead in beginning to install quick-charging stations in strategic locations :-)

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Warren
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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

MEroller,

"Interesting that it took Nissan sooo long to make such a step"

Yes! I was amazed they didn't put them in at Leaf dealers. They all have level 2 chargers. Whos going to hang out on "car dealer row" for hours? Nissan has level 3 chargers they retail for $10K. They were beaten over the head with "range anxiety" for two years! Its like selling a car in a town with no gas stations. Sure, most people charge at home. But if there was a fast charger in our town, they would have sold a lot more than two in the last two years, if people who live in the area could get an extra 25 miles range in ten minutes!

warren

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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

Given that the Leaf is exhibiting battery capacity drops associated with packs being overheated by both hot weather and quick charging, it appears that they are actually digging this car's looming grave a bit deeper. Maybe if they put warnings on the fast chargers not to use them on hot packs or in hot weather it would be a good idea, but as it is they are just going to get flooded with complaints about range drops and with failing packs from overheating. They should have used the upgrade period to install cooling fans and air scoops or coolant loops.

Warren
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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

LeftieBiker'

"Given that the Leaf is exhibiting battery capacity drops associated with packs being overheated by both hot weather and quick charging, it appears that they are actually digging this car's looming grave a bit deeper."

This piece would suggest otherwise.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1081662_despite-az-woes-most-nissan-leaf-batteries-fine-survey-shows

But I am still skeptical. I think GM is going to have a winner on their hands with the liquid cooled, A123, LiFePO4 pack in the Spark. They are offering a great warranty, and unlimited fast charging. I am betting better range than the new Leaf, and way sportier performance.

warren

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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

I don't know: when you combine fast charging with a passive battery cooling system, you're asking for trouble. I'm sure that the problem will be mainly limited to fast charging packs that are already hot, but that isn't such a rare scenario: a Summer's day, a car just run down to near the low limit of capacity, then an immediate fast charge...let's see what's happening after three or four years of fast charging immediately after use.

LeftieBiker
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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

Having expressed doubts about the latest fast-chargers being used with the Leaf, I nonetheless just leased one! I'm "trickle charging" it with a 15 amp 120 volt outlet, though, so I don't think I'm in danger of overheating the pack. In fact, the first two days I have "owned" it have both been over 90 degrees F and the battery pack has barely noticed it. Still, Nissan has (see my old post above!) both suggested that fast-charging be minimized, and has added an 80% maximum charge option to the charge settings, with the suggestion that using it will extend battery life. I just switched to that, but I'm not at all sure I need to, using 120 volts. What do you folks think? Most days I won't be getting to 100% (in fact, it seems to stop just short of that, saying there is 40 minutes left to full charge, ad infinitum) but it would happen a couple of days a week if I let it. Oh, and it's a 2013 silver SV model, with the heatpump replacing the old power-sucking resistance heater still residing in the entry-level "S" model - and with no Quick Charge (or "QC") option. I had been promised an SV with no other options, but they didn't have one, and I ended up getting the Bose high-efficiency sound system and 360 degree view camera system at no charge. So far I really like the car.

Also, does the Leaf really use "lithium ion" cells as I always read, or is this just press shorthand? What exactly is the chemistry here?

davew
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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

We have owned a 2012 Leaf for 16 months now. We charge it to 80% using a standard 220V charger. In answer to your easiest question: Yes, all Leafs use Lithium Ion. I don't know more details about the chemistry than this. I think it is fairly standard.

I don't know about the trickle charger. We have never used it. The 220v charger comes on until the car tells it a sufficient charge has been reached and then turns it off. We set the timer for midnight or 2 am to make sure the battery pack is reasonably cool when charging.

I don't have any experience with the fast charging systems. I haven't seen one yet in Colorado.

"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"

Warren
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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

192, 3.80 Volt, Lithium-Ion
192 Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC), The battery pack is made up of 192 cells grouped into modules of 4 cells each (48 modules). Here are the cell specifications from AESC:

General specifications

Cell type: Laminate type
Cathode material: LiMn2O4 with LiNiO2
Anode material: Graphite
Rated capacity (0.3C): 33.1 Ah
Average voltage: 3.8 V

You will never hurt those cells charging on 120 volts. Go for 100%. My neighbor is leasing and goes to 100%, every day, on 240 volt, 3.3 kW, on their 2012 Leaf. His wife has a long commute, and needs every watt hour.

My other friend owns his outright, and only charges to 80%. But he has a short commute, and plans to keep it a decade!

warren

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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

I was told by someone in another forum that the main issue is the cells swelling if the car is stored with the pack at 100%, with heat being a secondary issue. I don't know about that latter part, but if I'm going to need all the capacity i'll set it for 100%, and when I don't I'll reset it to 80%.

pcarlson1979
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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

Well today I bought an OBD2 Scantool bluetooth adapter so I can monitor my battery cell voltages in realtime.
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=278726

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdEyjjt52kU

p1010121rm.jpg
leafbat025a.png
cell voltage.png

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LeftieBiker
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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

Just a heads-up for owners of pre-2013 Leafs: Nissan has concluded that always charging to 100% SOC is not good for battery pack life. So the 2013 Leafs, at least, have a "battery saver" option in the settings menu that stops the charge at 80%. I (and many others) then often bring it up further to about 90%, ending the charge manually. During my three day work "week" the car is never on the charger long enough to get above 94% on 120 volt charging, so I turn off the battery saver on the weekends and switch it back on for the four days I don't work. I doubt I really need to do this for a car I'm only leasing for two years, but I figure that even if I don't come into money and buy it off lease, it's still a good thing to preserve the pack for the next owner. I also try not to go below 20% SOC, thus keeping the pack in the 'Golden Range' pretty much all the time...

I got a double post even though I only clicked once...

LeftieBiker
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Re: 2013 US Nissan Leaf announced and begins production - ...

Double post.

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