Nissan LEAF Battery Replacement

Nissan LEAF battery replacement is becoming a standard procedure for these quirky, fun little cars.

The Nissan LEAF was the first mass-produced electric vehicle to gain wide adoption. To date, Nissan has sold more than 650,000 LEAFs worldwide. The unique design, emissions-free driving, and excellent build quality, combined with a relatively low price, made the cars very popular with consumers and purchasers of corporate fleets.

As the owner of a Nissan LEAF, you already know the joy of emission-free driving. However, with time, the battery that powers this fun vehicle may show signs of wear, leading to a diminished range and prolonged charging times. If you face these challenges, consider a Nissan LEAF battery replacement. This article will walk you through valuable details, empowering you to make informed decisions about revitalizing your electric companion.

Understanding the Need:

Like any mechanical component, the lithium-ion battery in your Nissan LEAF undergoes a natural aging and degradation process. This aging is normal and occurs with all lithium-ion batteries, from your mobile phone to your laptop computer. However, the problem was made worse by the fact that Nissan installed an air-cooled battery of a relatively small capacity in the LEAF, probably to keep the overall cost low.

The battery works very well in moderate temperatures and normal driving conditions, but it soon degrades when subjected to heavy use, high ambient temperatures, and rapid charging. Combine all three, and the battery simply cannot cool itself fast enough, and damage to the lithium-ion cells occurs. 

Over time, this reduces the battery’s overall capacity, leading to a noticeable decrease in the vehicle’s range. However, this should not cause panic, as a strategic battery replacement can rejuvenate your LEAF and allow you to continue driving your car sustainably for many more years.

The Nissan LEAF is a reliable little car, and it makes a lot of sense for an urban setting or short commute. They were built well and usually lasted the tests of time and distance very well. It is not uncommon to find a used Nissan LEAF in excellent condition with a degraded battery for a fraction of the cost of a non-EV counterpart. 

As sustainable consumers, we must understand the environmental costs and advantages of a LEAF battery replacement over buying a new car:

Raw Materials: Manufacturing a brand-new EV requires mining and processing virgin resources for the battery, chassis, and other components. A LEAF battery replacement utilizes fewer resources as it primarily focuses on refurbishing or replacing the battery pack, drastically reducing the environmental footprint.

Landfill Avoidance: Scrapping an entire car generates significant waste, sending tonnes of steel, aluminum, plastic, and other materials to landfills. Replacing the battery avoids this by extending the lifespan of the existing car, keeping valuable resources in use.

Energy Savings: Manufacturing a new car demands immense energy, from powering factories to transporting materials. Replacing a battery requires significantly less energy than a new EV’s production process. Scrapping a vehicle and acquiring a new one involves additional transportation emissions, whether during delivery or your dealership trips. Opting for a LEAF battery replacement keeps your existing car on the road, minimizing transportation-related emissions.

Embracing Circularity: Battery Repurposing: Used LEAF batteries often have residual capacity, making them suitable for second-life applications. These batteries can power stationary energy storage systems, backup generators, or even smaller electric vehicles, maximizing lifespan and resource utilization.

Closed-Loop Recycling: As battery recycling technology advances, used battery packs can be dismantled, and their valuable elements, like lithium and cobalt, are recovered and reintroduced into the EV production cycle, promoting a closed-loop system that minimizes resource extraction.

Signs to Watch Out For:

To accurately assess the need for a battery replacement, be vigilant for the following telltale signs:

Decreased Range: If your LEAF, which once effortlessly covered 100 miles on a single charge, now struggles to reach 70 miles, it indicates a compromised battery capacity.

Faster Charging: Quicker charging times, significantly beyond the norm, suggest a decline in the battery’s ability to hold a charge efficiently. The battery charges quicker using the same charger because the effective battery capacity has been decreased.

Warning Lights: Dashboard warnings related to the battery system should not be dismissed, as they can serve as critical indicators of impending issues that require attention.

Battery State of Health (SOH) Indicators In early Nissan LEAF cars up to 2018, a digital SOH gauge was integrated into the dashboard gauge cluster. On a new vehicle with a fresh battery, this indicator shows 12 bars. Over time, the bars will disappear one by one.

Roughly translated:

• 12 bars equals 100-86% of battery capacity
• 11 bars equals 85 to 78.75% capacity
• 10 bars equals 78.75 to 72.5% capacity
• 9 bars equals 72.5 to 66.25% capacity, and so on. 

SOH bars directly correspond to the vehicle range, so you can see that the decreasing SOH bars and range of your Nissan LEAF may cause some anxiety. 

Nissan LEAF Battery Replacement Options:

When considering a Nissan LEAF battery replacement for your car, you have two primary avenues to explore:

Official Nissan Dealership: Opting for the dealership route ensures access to expertise and convenience. Technicians at authorized Nissan dealerships are factory-trained and have direct access to genuine Nissan parts, guaranteeing a replacement aligned with the manufacturer’s standards. However, it is essential to remember that dealership services often have a premium price tag. 

Price aside, the main problem for many people is Nissan’s insistence on only fitting original capacity batteries in the vehicles they repair. For example, first-generation Nissan LEAF vehicles came with a 24kWh battery. Later models came with 30, 40, and even 62kWh batteries. In the early cars, Nissan will only allow 24kWh replacements even though 30kWh and 40kWh are direct replacements with the same physical dimensions. 

Independent Repair Shops: Specialized in electric vehicle (EV) repairs, independent shops may present more cost-competitive options. Nevertheless, choosing a reputable establishment with a proven track record in working specifically with LEAF batteries is imperative to ensure a reliable replacement. 

One such repair facility is Precision Auto Service in Langley, British Columbia. A Nissan LEAF enthusiast since the vehicles first entered the market, owner Scott Waddle has also been an automotive technician with Canadian Red Seal certification since 1993.  

Precision Auto Service is one of the few full-service EV repair shops with deep knowledge of Nissan LEAF battery replacement and the issues that go along with it. They offer the EV owner full service of all components of their vehicles, from brakes to electrical repairs. Still, with dozens of replacements completed,  their knowledge and experience with Nissan LEAF battery replacement is second to none and they commonly have owners ship them their Nissan LEAF for battery replacement.

The company offers Nissan LEAF battery replacements removed from accident-salvaged, low-mileage vehicles where an insurance company wrote the car off. These batteries are still in excellent condition and ready to provide years of additional life to another vehicle. Scott says Precision Auto Service carries used Nissan LEAF replacement batteries in stock and can replace like for like, or in some cases, upgrade a 24 or 30kWh battery to a 40 or 62kWh capacity, providing far greater range than when the vehicle was new.

Battery technology has advanced quickly over the last ten years, and the lithium-ion cells that made up the original Nissan LEAF battery soon became obsolete. Newer generations, starting with the 40kWh version, were built with much more heat-resistant cells and degraded much slower than the 24kWh and even 30kWh battery packs. That is why upgrading your early LEAF with a 40kWh battery from a newer car makes so much sense.

Precision Auto Service is also a distributor of EVs Enhanced, a New Zealand-based company working on a soon-to-be-released liquid-cooled Nissan LEAF replacement battery. This direct replacement battery would have a similar capacity to the standard Nissan 40kWh battery. Still, because it has active liquid cooling, it can withstand extreme use that damages the air-cooled variant. It is designed to handle successive rapid charges, quickly dissipating the heat, even in warmer ambient temperatures and climates.

Weighing the Costs:

Undoubtedly, the decision to replace your LEAF’s battery is a significant financial commitment, typically ranging from several thousand to ten thousand dollars. The ultimate cost is influenced by factors such as the battery size, the model year of your LEAF, and your chosen service provider. It is crucial to view this expense as an investment in extending the overall lifespan of your vehicle, thereby ensuring continued electric adventures for years to come.

Conclusion:

Replacing your Nissan LEAF’s battery doesn’t have to be stressful. By recognizing the signs of battery degradation, exploring your replacement options, and making informed decisions, you can ensure a seamless continuation of your electric journey. Resources abound, with online forums and independent EV specialists like Precision Auto Service available to guide you. 

With the right approach, you and your beloved LEAF can hit the road again, ready for countless more miles of sustainable exploration.