Respect to Robert who has kept using this car for so long despite not needing to. This is the direction we all need to take rather than throwing things away unnecessarily when we see the next new shiny thing. We need to take pride in making things last.

@jyrbm

8 ай бұрын

I'll do him one better. I have kept my 2008 Civic since brand new. I've bought another car since but still kept that Civic to lend to friends who wants a car

@edsmale

8 ай бұрын

⁠@@jyrbmI can do you better! I kept a 2001 Civic, until this year. Without buying another. EDIT: without buying another while owning the civic. I sold the civic in Dec 2023 and replaced it with a Bolt. As I’m 59 yo, I fully expect that to be my final car. 5 cars, 2 used 3 new, for a lifetime.

@deathlytree434

4 ай бұрын

I really appreciate you keeping onto this beautiful creation 🤘🤘

Hi, I was in charge of the car first generation Nissan Leaf as chief designer. I just want to say thank you for your love for the car. I already retired Nissan, but still having 2011 Leaf as you do and feel exactly same feeling to it. Thanks again.

@bens2718

22 күн бұрын

Cool! I am the ceo of tesla elon musk, and I just wanna say electric cars are pretty sweet

@katherandefy

14 күн бұрын

Oh hello cheers🎉

What a fantastic overview. As a mechanic of 30 years , I’ve seen a few changes in the industry , and watched Nissan decline from one of the great manufacturers to producing some absolute rubbish . And then the Leaf came along. What they’ve done here is truly remarkable, a full electric vehicle for the masses that is actually incredibly well built . I’m so happy I bought one, every time I drive I smile . Yes the range is limited but it kicks arse in every other way. Future classic? I hope so .

@TheCommandantBob

Жыл бұрын

Looking at vehicle made now, that get heated steering wheel, when the leaf had it 13 years ago... we have to admit it had lots of things before the others, and the Bose audio system is awesome.

@kristoffer3000

Жыл бұрын

Well, the Leaf is also rubbish, the early ones are damn near unusable at this point.

@Reddylion

Жыл бұрын

👍

@oddjobsandrandomprojects

5 ай бұрын

​@@kristoffer3000So I take it you watched the video before commenting that they are unusable? Because he is still using it.

@kristoffer3000

5 ай бұрын

@@oddjobsandrandomprojects I did, it being able to make it around the block once doesn't make it a properly usable car.

My mom is still dailying our old family minivan, and I'm thinking that once the van dies and we get a replacement, I'll look in to an EV. The problem is that it's a Toyota Sienna, so it may never die.

@vijaythampy1480

3 жыл бұрын

Damn Toyotas.

@bigwheelsturning

3 жыл бұрын

Like my 20 year old Tacoma.

@DannyPerski

3 жыл бұрын

I ended up replacing my 04 Camry that had over 200K miles with a Nissan Leaf. A day will come where the maintenance of your car is costing you more each month than a monthly payment on a used Leaf would be. (you're already paying more than the monthly cost of a Leaf in fuel alone). Also just a tip since I did the research on this, Nissan changed the battery chemistry starting with the 2015 models that makes the batteries much more reliable over the long term and starting with the 2016 Leaf they bumped the capacity to 30kwh. It might seem like a deal to get one of the earliest Leaf cars but it isn't, go with 2015 or later.

@agt155

3 жыл бұрын

My Hilux rusted out in 8 years.

@jondoe8889

3 жыл бұрын

My 13yo Lexus finally died. Sort of. 13 years of absolutely no problems - and then it developed a rainwater leak somewhere. The heat/ AC stopped working, and the car smelled. I finally said goodbye. A $44k car, it was still worth $8k. But in the shape it was in, I sold it for $2k. Worse, now I have to replace it... (but not with a new car. We're both retired and rarely drive, but my wife wants a spare car)

My 9 year old leaf (13 plate), has 110000 miles, 11 bars with soh 81%. Range around 80 miles in summer and 65 in winter. Also replaced the unit head with an android head. Well worth the £7000 I paid for it 5 years ago.

I've always been a petrolhead, and first drive the Leaf through Enterprise Car Club. One of the best cars I've ever driven, solidly built, and quietly confident.

I've had a 2011 Blue Leaf since 2014. Bought it on the back of your (and Ian Sampson's) videos. 3 battery bars lost. 2 things have gone wrong: windscreen washer pump and driver door switch unit. Both replaced on the cheap (not at the dealership!). No other problems, no punctures, no lights gone. What a car!

Thank you Robert for providing this long term update. I think it is very important for people to see these kinds of reviews especially for vehicles with such a challenged start. My 2013 Nissan Leaf has been as you stated flawless. I have changed a wiper blade and wiper fluid and that is it. I still have the original tires after 56000 miles and have only recently begun to think about getting a brand new set. It is by far the most reliable vehicle I've ever had. Might 2013 Ford C Max hybrid has been very reliable but has needed work occasionaly, because, you guessed it of the internal combustion engine. Showcasing a car such as this early model is important because we can only go up from here. Stay safe my friend and thank you for the wonderful content over the years and please don't give up any time soon.

Oh my gosh you interviewed Carlos back in the day. So casually. That's huge.

I love your video….I have been driving my 2014 Leaf for 8 yrs now with 112,900 km on it and still in excellent shape and only one bar lost so far…cheers to all Leaf owners!

@BassByTheBay

10 ай бұрын

Only lost 1 bar at nearly 113k miles?! 🤯 Please share your driving/charging habits! What's your average speed? What's the fastest you usually drive? What kind of charging do you normally do? What's the weather like where you live?

Last month I purchased a 2014 Leaf Tekna for just £4000. Battery is tested at 81-82% which is roughly ~75-80 mile range with 64000 miles on the clock. Previous owner had almost from new, full service history shows biggest work was only front brake pads & discs replaced last year, not a scuff anywhere else. Everything works, no faulty lights, buttons, cameras, etc. It's my first EV and although I admit I wasn't originally looking at the Leaf, I've since fallen in love with it and plan to hold on and cherish it for a long time yet. Still zero tax (for now), I'm lucky to have free charging at my work place, so insurance is really the only running cost. I commute 4 days a week and a couple of social visits, all on a single charge... even with a small battery by modern standards, it's suited for average household daily drives perfectly fine. I can charge on a 3 pin if needed, I roughly worked the cost to be around £12 electric to fully charge during off-peak which isn't a lot compared to a few litres of petrol which probably couldn't give you the same mileage. The Fully Charged Show also definitely helped and educated me with sticking to my guns and making the switch to an EV, despite the doubts of friends and family... most now who want to try it having seen or been in it 🙂

I have my 2011 nissan leaf for about a year now. Thought it would be the perfect way to have cheap transportation as a 19 year old. I absolutely love it. And would also love to see a video after the pandemic about the 40kwh battery 😍.

@sanderbrust

4 жыл бұрын

Raf van kerckhoven smart Choice

@domukas00

4 жыл бұрын

Nooo, you are too young for leaf :DDD

@MeowTheCheesepuff

4 жыл бұрын

@@domukas00 how old do you need to be ahah

@That1ufo

4 жыл бұрын

50! i think

@GrahamRead101

3 жыл бұрын

@@That1ufo That's alright for me then! Not had my second hand leaf that long - but really like driving it - even on the 130 (one way) trip I did recently.

I owned a '11 Leaf SV for a short while, absolutely loved it - was the reason why I subscribed to FC, actually! I live in AZ, USA, literally the worst place to own a Leaf due to the lack of active cooling (40c+ summers, throw a quick charge or two into the mix throughout the day and the battery is at the top of the temperature range). It's, in my opinion, the biggest problem with the Leaf; the range is second to the lack of active cooling. If Nissan put active cooling into the Leaf, it was a perfect first-gen EV. Still in AZ today, and I contemplate grabbing another, even knowing the battery will degrade at a ridiculous speed here. I really liked that car; yes its a slow EV and yes if I went anywhere beyond 30 miles I'd have to charge somewhere along the way, but I didn't mind. My employer at the time even let me level 1 charge while I was on the clock, with the Leaf evse and a beefy extension cable - so in the evening I had a full battery instead of half (35ish miles one way + second-hand so battery degradation). My first car was a Mercedes C230K. Great car, but painfully expensive to maintain and run. When I got the Leaf, I was worried I'd have buyers remorse - it's not a luxury car or brand, the battery isn't in great shape, it's not athletic - but that never happened. I absolutely loved that car. Range limitations and all. 🔌🚙

@Prodigious1One

4 жыл бұрын

That's Cool! I had a Mitsubishi iMiEV without quick charge. I had it three years and eight months. I miss it despite it's limitations. Now I have a Leaf with quick charge. I like it. I want to drive long distance with it. I drive from Marietta, GA to Macon, GA. Good trip.

@RandomGuy-nm6bm

4 жыл бұрын

A furry? Are you serious? Bet you are subscribed to that nutjob at transport evolved

@ericcindycrowder7482

4 жыл бұрын

I bought an EV in 2011 too, but I bought a 2011 Chevrolet Volt. I did years of research before buying the Volt. I lived in Dallas at the time, which is almost as hot as AZ in the summer. The fact that the Volt had a liquid cooled battery and an ICE range extender sold the car for me. And guess what.....I still own my 2011 Volt and it’s still my daily driver. Of course since I am staying at home these days I am not driving it every day. It still has it’s original battery, which will be 10 years old this fall. Thanks

@AZsmoothrider

4 жыл бұрын

I live in AZ too, but I bought a first gen Volt. No regrets and pack still at (or above) rated capacity.

@waywardgeologist2520

4 жыл бұрын

I ran into the same problem living in Tucson. The heat kills the battery and Nissan still can't accept the idea that the Leaf's need an active battery heat management system. The car I own now is in Michigan, and someday I am hoping with the solid state batteries, I will be able to replace the current batteries with ones that have a lot more energy and don't mind the heat.

Would never have considered having a Leaf until I saw this.

@spmain97

4 жыл бұрын

vizionthing - now I am planning on first ever car - a second hand leaf with active cooling of some sorts.

@TheGerm24

4 жыл бұрын

I bought a used one as my first EV. I like it. Not fancy or crazy quick, but nice enough for city driving.

@seriouscybernetics

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheGerm24 Same here - I bought a second-hand (ex Japanese dealer display model!) 2014 Leaf as my first EV and I'm loving it, even with the relatively low range. Like Robert, I also have solar panels and here in Australia they're even somewhat useful in winter. It has plenty of cargo space and is way better than all the petrol cars I've ever had.

@d_dave7200

4 жыл бұрын

Most of what we do is within 20 miles radius, so we got one super cheap recently with 9 bars remaining. Love it. It might be degraded, but we use it for most of our driving now. Saved us a fortune already.

@DanT10

4 жыл бұрын

My wife was terrified when I said we were going electric. She now jealously guards HER Leaf.

Keep up the great work and the attitude ! We all need your smiles. Thank you Robert.

Best explanation of charging issues. We got yelled at by Nissan for too much fast charging on lease return (650 times). Our response was: then why is battery state of health 95%?

@HermanWillems

4 жыл бұрын

hahahaah lol. Nissan itself? Then why they don't start cooling their batteries properly. -_- omg they know the problems. Solve them.

@younesrabhi5731

4 жыл бұрын

@@HermanWillems cost

@chrisbellamy7145

4 жыл бұрын

It is true that lithium ion batteries in phones are more susceptible to damage from fast charging. It's possible that the tech in the Nissan has somewhat negated this effect, but it's important to avoid fast charging when it's not necessary.

@markfitzpatrick6692

4 жыл бұрын

Younes Rabhi Chevy did it with a comparable priced car so at least the 40 and 60 should have got it

@Avantime

3 жыл бұрын

@@chrisbellamy7145 The majority of Japanese Leafs are fast charged quite frequently due to the lack of at-home parking, with some people taking advantage of free public fast charging to power their homes. Their older Leafs are now hovering at around 60-70% SOH. It's the heat that fast charging generates that degrades the battery.

I would agree Robert. My Nissan leaf is still going strong and hasn't gone wrong once. We've had ours for like 6 years now. We love it so much. Such an amazing car

Bought a 2nd hand 24kwh leaf 3 years ago because of this channel & still love driving it. Cheers Bobby 👍

I'm watching this as a Leaf owner from hot and humid Sri-Lanka, thanks Robert, great show! Stay safe and I hope the new battery works out superbly!

I bought an '11 used some years ago. It had many miles on it and I put many more. Today it is driven by a young niece with over 100,000 miles on the clock. The heat in Texas did degrade the battery but a new one was supplied under warranty. the build quality of the car is very high, never had a mechanical problem. A used LEAF with a good battery is one of the best bargains today for a city car.

@Miata822

2 жыл бұрын

Update: The 12V battery died and my niece had it towed to the local Nissan dealer for a replacement. When the shop checked the vehicle's serial number they discovered that the main traction battery, now quite degraded, had been recalled for a defect. While they were replacing the 12V battery they gave her a fresh new main battery for free. While I still miss that little car I am glad to see it in a good home being used every day. How on earth Nissan failed to follow up on this success I will never understand. The coming Ariya, now to be 2 years late?, could have been out in 2006-8 with technology that existed at the time, save for the autonomous bits.

Robert I very much and sincerely appreciate the role that you have played in helping to spread the word and reinforce the development of electric cars. Not only were you in the right place at the right time you chose to accept looking further into it. How many people in similar circumstances never did. They were waiting for someone else and still are while the planet's integrity is falling apart and their children's futures are going to be more horrible than it would have otherwise been. Yet and still because of you many other people didn't wait until things were a thousand percent sure and have purchased electric cars. Like myself they probably asked why I did not do it sooner. Ev's are far more sensible than we had been led to believe.

Almost exactly my story and sentiments, down to the sourcing a 40kwh battery!. Mine, ex UK, has lived in Jamaica, so only has 3 bars left (it's still used all the time). Thanks for telling my story so well!

This is the genuine honest enthusiasm you brought to FC that made me subscribe a few years ago!!! Brilliant and thank you for bringing the old Robert back!

THANK YOU for the best review of this car! I was tired watching detailed description of cup holder position on other channels. You have done the best job telling your opinion as a long term car owner.

They are really great overall. Good point regarding the battery management. Glad to see you still have yours! My mom actually bought ours from us. So its still in the family AND she has solar. Good deal all around. Please keep up the great work!

Maybe a show where you investigate 3rd party companies that will refurb batteries rather than just buying a new one? Leaf Spy (app) can show which individual cells have failed and these companies should be able to replace those alone.

@electrichellion5946

4 жыл бұрын

bitman do you like that app. LeafSpy.

Thanks for keeping the channel going in lockdown. I switched my Zoe 22kwh for my 2020 Leaf 40kwh and love it. Viva l'electric

I love the way you can help people feel good. And you called it, when it come to electric cars. the whole family thinks you the tops. you have made a difference in the world for the better. THANK YOU. P.S. we bought a 2019 LEAF after watching you drone on about the Leaf year after year. Colorado USA

hello robert just being cheeky can i buy your old battery off you to enable me to convet my canal boat to electric power even with the depleted capacity it will power my boat for miles and be charged using my panels. its now got a 1956 ruston hornsby diesel a bit smelly and chugs a bit and but never misses a beat well not all the time but it would be great to bring my canal boat into the modern age.

@AndyFletcherX31

4 жыл бұрын

That would be an interesting conversion. Would you fit an inboard electric motor or just hang a couple of electric outboard motors off the back of the boat?

@jarthurs

4 жыл бұрын

I suspect the old battery is retained and good cells repurposed as a way of keeping down the cost.

@amigang

4 жыл бұрын

That would also make a great video on the uses of old car batteries.

@edwyncorteen1527

4 жыл бұрын

No brainer that canal boats should be converted, all marinas have caravan type power now don't they? And Solar power for the times you are out and about, the problem with Robert's Leaf is the cost to get the battery back from Holland! Much better to look for one locally.

@adamlytle2615

4 жыл бұрын

I had suggested a video on re-purposing the batteries for a home storage solution but I like your idea better! Robert already has two powerwalls, so this would maybe be a more useful 2nd life for the pack.

I believe a long run with multiple fat charges improves the state of my 30kwh battery. I'm still 12 bar at 60000 km here in New Zealand.

@PaulFeakins

4 жыл бұрын

Love a good fat charge

@user-kk8do8rg6v

2 жыл бұрын

I’m from nz too and I’m thinking of getting a leaf or Toyota aqua as gas prices are ridiculous rn

Great vid! Your enthusiasm for this technology is addictive and infectious.

So good to hear you’re getting a 40Kw/Hour battery for your Leaf. I look forward to your first ‘range test’ video once it’s done. Once again, hope you are all keeping safe and well. 😊👍🏻

I love my leaf. It’s down to 83%. But is great for the shops and short trips. So cheap to run.

@HermanWillems

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, i have an Opel Ampera with 16kWh battery, and 10.6kWh available. But you can drive a decent ammount on 10kWh. For me 55 to 60kilometer. And it charges up in 5 hours again. I can drive to work and back with it, and for longer trips it does 1 liter 15 kilometers. But the Leaf is a nice second car to have for close by trips.

@RFansler1

4 жыл бұрын

Leased a 2019 Leaf SL pearl white with 64 kw battery! 250 mile range! Leather interior; received $7500 tax credit off MSRP on purchase on my first EV! Just absolutely like this car! Had charger installed in garage and is simple and convenient to charge! One of the coolest cars I have ever owned!

@jasoncooper4202

3 жыл бұрын

What about doing uper east for about 4hrs is it great to use

It's a shame they never added active cooling especially for a "world car" when parts of the world are pigging hot.

@MrMarty77

4 жыл бұрын

Or cold

@danwat1234

4 жыл бұрын

@@MrMarty77 some Leafs do have a heater of some sort 4 the traction battery

@gregandkaruna6674

4 жыл бұрын

Not bad its 10 years old and still going and as he said zero repairs. Nissan Leaf on average have a 97% reliability rating. Know any other cars with that reliability?

@rogercrier

4 жыл бұрын

danwat1234 FYI, the battery heaters do not come into action untill it is Arctic levels of cold! They are to heat the battery cells in these freezing conditions rather than to regulate the temperatures in mild ambient temperatures for best performance. I am told the best temp for the batteries is circa 25 degrees C.

@Chastity_Belt

4 жыл бұрын

@@gregandkaruna6674 well, in EV there's not so many parts to brake, so it's not wondering.

I remember seeing this car at the Winchester Science Festival in 2013, Robert. Glad to see it's still going strong(ish)! I remember having a lovely chat with you there, and you kindly gave me a copy of your book half price because I didn't have enough cash left. You're an absolute gent. Keep up the excellent work!

Bought an ex demo 2014 Leaf, 6 months old for £16,000. Always charged to 100%, still has 12 bars and the same range after 55,000 miles. At one MOT a faulty number plate bulb was spotted! That’s it! Ultra reliable, like a small tank. No rust, excellent paintwork. Only issues are I’d like more regen braking and the steering could have more feel.. At the moment feels like it will last forever...

I love my 2015! It's very encouraging to hear how well the old thing has held up for you. And I'm very interested to hear about the battery upgrade when possible.

Hi Robert, I have a 2013 here in Norway, exactly the same exterior color. After watching your video, I am inspired to keep my leaf for as long as i can :) I have done 100,000 KMS, all 12 bars intact and it gives a range of 120km in summer and 100km in winter, without running the heater/AC. I rarely have a use for running the heater and seat warmers are enough to keep me warm throughout the year. It serves all of our daily needs. We bought an Old petrol Passat for the long drives and vacations

@waywardgeologist2520

4 жыл бұрын

You are lucky, but it is Norway and I don't expect you get 35C temps for days on end. In Tucson, that is another matter...

We had that car here in Oregon, USA. Traded in for a 2016 after extending our lease twice. Just bought a 2020 recently and have loved them all! Test drove most other electric only cars in our market and there is just nothing that competes to this car for us. Comfort, dependability, range...it now has it all as far as we are concerned. Thanks for the show!

@ceylontea5877

6 ай бұрын

I wish Nissan kept the air cooled battery for other products it had enough range 200plus miles that would serve 90 percent of the needs of the people without needing to fast charge often,which it's ache elis heel.

Thank you for share your fantastic love story with this fantastic car. I'm so excited to see your rebuild Leaf with the 40Kwh battery. A new life for this good boy. I usually can see some complaints about the Nissan Leaf batteries for some people. It's normal, the degradation of these packs is insane, especially in the 30Kwh version, but honestly, we should be grateful with the Nissan/Renault Group for creating these pioneers vehicles how much had they done for the electric and sustainable mobility. Thanks for this amazing video.

I just hit 30k on my 2018 Leaf and took it in for maintenance. Full battery capacity, no perceivable wear except for the wipers and a couple scrapes. I hated driving until I got this car.

@mondotv4216

4 жыл бұрын

It all depends on where you live. UK - not a problem, the temp rarely get’s above 35C. Sydney, Australia - forgetaboutit.

@BlatentlyFakeName

4 жыл бұрын

But many of the moving parts are sealed and unserviceable, so they won't be able to tell until it does break. Unlike with an engine you can't just use a bore scope to look inside an electric motor.

@TheGerm24

4 жыл бұрын

@@BlatentlyFakeName There hasn't really been any reports of problems with the electric motors with the Leaf. All the issues are with the batteries.

@BlatentlyFakeName

4 жыл бұрын

Problems with batteries could actually be problems with degraded HV circuitry and not the batteries themselves, which also can't be fixed. But I guess it's up to a dealer to diagnose it so they will blame batteries :P

@reinux

4 жыл бұрын

@@BlatentlyFakeName All the studies I've seen show that the problems with the batteries are consistent with the problems inherent to lithium ion batteries. And the newer models are much better in that regard.

Robert, when you make the battery swap video, would you mind talking a bit about insurance implications of it being a non-standard leaf please? I fear they'll either not insure you or charge you the earth just because they can...

@alexthewheelers

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah this would be really interesting to see how you get on, like with most car modifications a lot of insurers keep their distance and insurers who are comfortable with modified cars I expect won't touch electric cars yet, which is a shame as this surely is a great business for someone to supply upgraded battery packs given most of the cars simply use 18650 or 21650 cells which means adding capacity to an existing shell would be possible for someone.

@CrashUK28

4 жыл бұрын

How much is 40kwh battery

@spmain97

4 жыл бұрын

Sounds about right for the industry industry. Spivs.

@Sasoon2006

4 жыл бұрын

Why would there be insurance implications? It is not like it would have more HP, accelerate faster and similar. It would just have more range

@marcuspotts7221

4 жыл бұрын

That would be like charging extra in an ICE car for filling your tank.......hopefully insurance companies would not be that crazy!

16:11 into the video: 65k miles. Good service. My 2015 Leaf-S went beyond the 100k mark on the odometer early this March. I commute 60-65 miles round trip for my two part-time jobs. My car has also joined your scratched and dented car club. Still, I am proud of its reliability. No body squeaks. My second year in with this car, the 12-volt battery was replaced. Earlier this year, the three windshield wipers were replaced. A few years ago I replaced all four tires due to tread wear. That was around 50-60k miles on the odometer then. This car is owned for keeps. The dealership cautioned about the logged quantity of fast charging, but it still has the full twelve bars. Thanks for the 97% charge tip - do not plug in. I'll remember that.

Thank you so much, Robert, for the tribute to this automotive masterpiece. It was SO ahead of its time! I owned a LEAF from 2016-2019 until my TESLA Model 3 LR 4WD was delivered and I LOVED IT!!! Sven, Hamburg

Would love to know how best to source replacement Leaf batteries. I'm still on 11 bars in my 24kw Leaf, but have no intention of (ever) parting with it........if I can replace the batteries in due course. Any chance of a video on how and where they can be found ?

Very interesting video, thanks. I'm dying to know how much the new/reconditioned battery is going to cost and how it was sourced.

Absolutely love our 2011 leaf, we too really need a longer range battery. Been watching your channel Robert for a while and decided to get the leaf and we agree it's been 100% reliable. Great show keep up the great work👍

Great review! And- I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your pups :(

I also owned a 2011 Japan-built Leaf for 3 years but unfortunately my experience of reliability was very different from yours. I lost my first battery health bar at only 17k miles which started to sound those alarm bells in the back of my mind. Then soon afterwards the car would occasionally refuse to start. It would make a single chime when I pressed the start button but then wouldn't go into drive mode. This became more frequent until I just couldn't use the car any more. It was in and out of two local dealers who were absolutely clueless and completely disinterested. It wasn't until I got Nissan UK involved that things started to improve as they couldn't do enough to try to help. They ended up trailering the car to their experts in Sunderland and they gave me a UK built Leaf Tekna to use as a loaner. The improvements between generations were very obvious! Well after a few weeks they managed to fix my car by replacing all the power relays but I never quite trusted the thing again and I was happy to hand it back at the end of the lease. Such a shame really because when it was working I absolutely loved the car.

@alchemistTi

2 жыл бұрын

You probably just needed a new 12V battery lol.

I’m really interested in knowing, how much will the battery & swap cost.

@krisdphillips

3 жыл бұрын

If you buy a remanned battery or used battery and put it in yourself, probably $3k-4

@maximanmaxitaxi

3 жыл бұрын

Nissan quote £11000 in UK for new battery

I really enjoyed this video. I've just purchased a 21 plate Leaf 10 and this told me so much. Thank you!

I still am using my nearly 10 yr. old Nissan Leaf (#712) on the original battery pack that has lost some range but is still able to do 70 miles on a charge which is plenty for me. In that time I have spent about $500 in total for maintenance including a flat tire. Can't be beat.

go for the new battery it would be a good experiment , i feel that battery upgrades and exchange will be a future common occurance with the developing used car market. Heres a thought for a new busness a specilist battery replacement manufactuer for used electric vechicles. You could produce batterys taking advantage of higher density, and new advances in technology to upgrade exsisting cars . Just as you have to replace glutches , gearboxes, ect in normal cars whynot the same with evs??.

@artkincell

4 жыл бұрын

I found a 2012 Leaf by my house in the US for 3 grand. Two(!) White bars left and the two red of course. It has about a 26 mile range. The Car is great other than that. So I agree, I'd like to buy it and try to locate the larger 40KWH battery as an experiment.

@joshuaknight1748

4 жыл бұрын

I’m in cahoots with a company called EV Parts, who are in the process of type-approving a bolt-in gen1 Leaf battery replacement with their own architecture taking advantage of density and cost improvements. They wouldn’t commit to a price, but were looking around the ‘£8k’ mark, which is eminently reasonable I think.

@orangeblade2

4 жыл бұрын

With the zoe it's almost a drive thru service its so easy. Manufacturers may resist this though as it devalues the newer models.

@DuvJones

4 жыл бұрын

@@orangeblade2 I am not so sure about that, one of the biggest issues EV's get is the simple fact that repair is a... interesting concept that is almost unheard of. The thing is, people get attached to their vehicles... they like them, and expect them to last at least 5 years or more. ICE, Hybrid, EV, it really makes no difference... so at some point, a replaceable battery does seem like a good idea, because I don't think that you want to point at the consumer after 8 years and say "Go get a new one" when you are looking at a cost that is well above $30k on average. I do think that it will be a tightly controlled thing, you know "Dealer repair shops" or "licensed repair shops" only type deal. Which is annoying, but makes sense.

@orangeblade2

4 жыл бұрын

@@DuvJones looking at the zoe as an example the battery tray is likely compatible from the mark one right through to the current ze50. I'm guessing the batteries aren't even made by Renault, continental I 🤔? Cars these days are consumables infuriatingly. If you take the battery away the other tech in the zoe shell is incredibly cheap, albeit pleasingly designed. Apart from a few over engineered follies (ampera volt) manufacturers aren't interested in their vehicles lasting over ten years. We the consumers are programmed to think of cars with over 100,000 miles on the clock as worthless. I'm thinking maybe a better solution for someone wanting value from an ev is to go down the conversion route. A little like updating an old bicycle frame. Find a chassis with the character, looks, style you want, even the functionality say an estate. Then install a motor and aftermarket batteries. As the tech improves it'll be easier to replace the components yourself.

here in america, i've seen alot of leaf taxis. i live in the middle of nowhere in indiana about 5 minutes from a cornfield.

@TheGuruStud

4 жыл бұрын

Maybe they were outfitted with custom battery packs? That would be much cheaper than an aging ICE vehicle for a taxi service. Apparently, you can get nearly 400 mi of range. That's going to rival contending 4 banger shitboxes (bc of their small tanks).

@cageybee7221

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheGuruStud i don't know, but for just moving people around small towns i don't think they would need them.

Hi! Did not realized you managed to interview Carlos. First gen Leaf looked quirky when it first came out and it still looks quirky today! Kudos to their hard plastics and your interior cleaning - Still looks decently fresh even after all these years!

Our 2011 Nissan Leaf, now 12 years old is still going strong. Not a single issue in all that time. Not one! Just tires replaced every 4 years or so and 1 12v battery and one change of brake pads in the rear. It is now at about 70% capacity in the main battery. Not ideal, but still fine for a days worth of errand running around town. I was a reluctant EV owner… from a long line of performance ICE cars… but found I liked its snappy around town performance, quiet grace, wonky good looks, interior comfort, and good handling.

Great video, as ever Robert- thank you :) I am thinking of buying an electric car, but with a view to keeping it a LONG time- as you have with this very cool Leaf. Thing is, I live with a chronic health issue- and so a limited income- hence my wanting to keep the car for ages: the economics of an electric car, as well as the ecological side of things, is important to me. My question then, is simply- if you don't mind me asking- how much is the used battery pack that you have sourced? This will really help me to make a decision. Many thanks.

Can I ask roughly how much the new battery you mentioned would cost? Cheap to install too??

Excellent and thorough review, thank you!

Thanks for the information, very interesting and clear. Based in your experience, real and well explained. Keep it up!

I like how it's possible to install a 60 kilowatt hour pack in a first gen leaf. Here in Portland Oregon a dealer is offering a 2013 leaf with a 60 kilowatt hour battery pack for 13 grand, pretty amazing.

@harvey66616

4 жыл бұрын

Which dealer is that? Our 2013's battery has lost a lot of capacity, would love to see it replaced, but Nissan's price is exorbitant and they're not even offering the 40 kWh battery (they say it's not compatible with the 2013). I'm not far from Portland, would be nice to talk to them about a replacement.

Like your enthusiasm about the car, I remember being amazed by it when I first came across one on the motorway. One point though, you took ownership of the car in 2011, the video says review after 10 years and at the end of the video you mention the car as being 11 years old. If I check my Macs calendar it says we live in 2020. What gives? Can you also do a vid like this on the BMW i3, my personal favourite and albeit from some cosmetic changes and a huge battery upgrade, it's still essentially the same car as it came out 7 years ago. Cheers

@Noukz37

4 жыл бұрын

I also love the i3! The original ones are not cheap on the used market, but I heard they can also get the battery upgrade for some countries.

@PaulFeakins

4 жыл бұрын

He explains all that in the video if you listen carefully - it was on loan as a press car originally etc.

Thank you for taking the time to put this together!

Nice video. Our 2012 just hit 80k miles, 5 bars on a full charge. We used to charge it no more than 80% but in the most recent 4 years or so, we started doing 100%. It's our daily driver, even during shelter in place. It absolutely needed no maintenance except tire changes every 30k. We didn't purchase warranty and in its first year we have ever claimed several rebates from the federal government, the state, local utility company, and our employers! Worth every penny.

Thank you for this review. I have a 2017 1st-gen Leaf that I’m fond of. I would like to pay the car off and replace the battery at least one more time when it degrades enough.

I’d love to see the bigger battery replacement and then compare it to the new shape 40kW model

I know I'm late, but I just purchased a 2011 Leaf with a 50% degraded battery for $3500. Clearly the previous owners didn't take care of it. That said, It still goes 40-45 miles no problem, and that's quite enough for in-town travel. It is the smoothest, most well-designed automotive experience I've ever had. The low power numbers may deceive you, this car is responsive and plenty capable of passing with no shifting or whatever. It just goes -right now- at a moment's notice. We're gonna pop a 40 KWH battery in it when funds allow, and it'll become even more useful. Couldn't be happier with my Leaf.

This is a fun one! I’m looking forward to seeing the video about the new battery! Hoping you’ll make it into a video

Love this video ! Yes please, get a new battery, fix the scratches, do new range tests, and please, let us know about it ! The awesome thing about an old car is that you can tweak it without reducing its value. After a woman backed into my petrol car and I got a Kia Soul loaner when it was repaired, I could see first hand how awesome EVs have become and I now drives a MG ZS EV and is really happy about it even the software could be better.

Lucky for Ghosn that he got out when he did, now would be impossible.

Hi Robert we have a 2015 techna 24kw that's done 22,000 miles in five years we still get the maximum range and regularly travel from the bottom of Cornwall to Derby and Doncaster, We are over the moon with her. But our curiosity is awakened regarding this up and coming battery swop and we look forward to hearing more when your able to do this, many thanks for sharing and I have subscribed to you. 😊

Robert thank you again.👍😎 I got my 2014 Nissan leave Built in Tennessee. Has 65,000 miles on it and I love it I did have to replace the two front control arms about $1500 in United States and then also had brakes Front and rear. I still love it so👍 I have 20 mile round trip commute to work. 😎

I've had my '15 for three years now, still drive it like I stole it. How _did_ you keep your tires going so long with all that torque? I'm on my third set! At 7:45 , that looks suspiciously like a J1772 connector. Frankly, I'm surprised there are two different standards across The Pond (voltage differences notwithstanding).

Interested to see how the battery upgrade goes. I'm sitting on a 2013 Leaf SL at the moment. It was driven regularly to about 60,000 miles and now gets sporadic use since other EV's have been added to the stable. I've struggled on whether to keep or sell, but I'd love to see a viable upgrade path to make it a good mid range EV.

Great video Robert, will be interested to see a video when you get your battery swapped . I quite fancy a Leaf myself.

Thanks Robert, nice work. Down here in Victoria, Australia I purchased an imported 2013 Leaf. No conversion on the dash. It was 46,0000 km and is now 63,000 km. Two bars lost but because of you and other social media people, I now slow charge between 4 bars and 9 bars mostly, (20% - 80%). A 32 km trip to my office (then charge using solar) back home (charge off peak). It is very inexpensive an tax deductible. I also use it on weekends and charge halfway to my girls place. Overall I can do 90 - 100 km but I’ve not seen the turtle. More importantly it’s so nice to drive and is fast when you need it. I love it and don’t regret buying it ever. I bought it because you bought one. Mal :)

Really hope u break down the cost of battery replacement

I'm glad you think that the Leaf will become a 'Classic', I've long thought my 2013 Tekna will be a design Classic, in a similar way to the Citroen 2CV, - so no-one's going to have Posters of it on their wall, but the 'look' is unique, and it works ! And as a Plane Geek, I love the lack of compromises that the designer's made with its Aerodynamics, - love it ! :)

@BlatentlyFakeName

4 жыл бұрын

It won't become a classic, it's just another eco mobile. Collectors and car enthusiasts have no interest in the Leaf at all. It's also nowhere near rare enough to hold any value.

@tanzanable

4 жыл бұрын

@@BlatentlyFakeName - It's a classic in the same way that the VW Beetle is a classic.

@BlatentlyFakeName

4 жыл бұрын

It really isn't lol. It's no more a classic than a Vauxhall Corsa is is.

@rosiehawtrey

2 жыл бұрын

@@tanzanable No it isn't. Beetle for all its faults and the T97 it was based on, it was advanced for its time and reliable. My Wolseley 18/85 is a classic - 3rd UK company fwd car *ever* - ADO9, ADO16 & ADO17 if you're curious. Hydrolastic suspension - setting by computer in the 1960s. You can upgrade to supercharger EFI off the shelf.. The other is a Triumph Vitesse - quite innovative in its own way. These all electric cars are godawful, limited, polluting, dead ends. Not to mention dangerous. Good luck having an accident in the rain, or shorting out the main electrical bus through the body.

@tanzanable

2 жыл бұрын

@@rosiehawtrey EVs don't pollute! They don't burn fuel and have ZERO emissions. They don't need oil either nor do they need tune-ups. They're much safer than gas cars and rain doesn't affect them if there's an accident. They don't short out either. The gas car is an outdated technology. EVs are the future and will replace gas cars in a few years.

I would just like to say that this channel is the reason why I bought my first electric car. It inspired me to look beyond the worries of owning a limited range car. Having bought a BMW i3 rex. I am now confident I made the right choice. I dont think I have needed to use the rex ever so could have saved some money buying just a pure electric i3. Thank you.

Nice to see you both together again. About 6 years ago perhaps longer you came to Winchester to do a talk in the leaf for the Cafe Sci. The leaf was parked outside the venue surrounded by cones so you had to walk by it on the way in. I can imagine it was charging but I can't remember the details. Viewers wont be surprised to hear that it was a great evening, Robert is very entertaining. I went with a group in an electric VW golf belonging to a German engineer and enthusiast which was one of a batch of about 1000 early test vehicles. One of the designers long retired maintains stocks of spare parts and advises on restorations. EV enthusiasm is more contagious than the "thing"

Would love to see a review when you get a new battery fitted. Also how much it costs.

@RedPowerStation

4 жыл бұрын

Yes desperate to know the costs of the new battery - can't wait to see video. Might make the 1st generation Nissan Leaf a good second hand budget option for those of us without the cash for a Tesla ...

@raymondo162

4 жыл бұрын

He saved thousands on the cost of fuel but fails to mention HOW MUCH the replacement battery will cost - surely a major part of the equation??

@josecarranza7555

3 жыл бұрын

Raymond Ashby How much is the battery then?

@jaeggwrapskauai3792

3 жыл бұрын

Try to search it on Google. Its around 2-4k usd

@Brian-om2hh

3 жыл бұрын

@@raymondo162 You need not replace it, you simply have it refurbished, as you would an i.c. engine.......

Got a '13 leaf several months back, it had done over 220k miles (330k km) when i bought it, original battery, vid on channel. Now looking for a 40kwh donor battery too, let me know if you know a good source in EU :) Hope Robert gets his upgrade done soon too! It is even easyer on 13+ leafs, since from that on all the connections are identical, on Roberts '11 car they have to fiddle and change connectors around.

@Macmonkey1000

4 жыл бұрын

Good to know they'll do that sort of mileage ! I thought our 121k 2014 retired taxi leaf was doing well. It's down to the 50 ish mile range Robert talks about having dropped to 10 bars around last summer at 115k miles.

I really like your videos because it's super sensible about the day-to-day of owning an EV, and not about frivolous upgrades

I got mine Gen.1 2.5 years ago. Best car I ever own (had a few). I'm exited that finally battery replacement market is becoming more visible and really looking into battery replacement next year.

I would like to see more manufacturers putting frunks in their EV's. Manufacturers like GM and Nissan are still treating their EV's like they're combustion cars, where the engine bay is completely taken up by drive train components. The beauty of EV's is that you don't need access to all of that stuff. All one really needs is access to the coolant and washer fluid reservoirs. The rest can be safely covered up with storage bins to make more efficient use of free space.

@AdamSmith-gs2dv

3 жыл бұрын

It's cost dude, it's easier to stick all the drive train components under the hood than hide them all and put in a frunk

To be fair, if I was Ghosn, I would have escaped Japan as well. Their judiciary system is terrible. They force you to confess to things you didn't commit through physical and mental abuse. They took him into custody multiple times but never pressed charges against him because they couldn't prove anything but they kept harassing him and they treated him inhumanely. Japan is dead set on jailing him even if they have to break the law themselves. All he wanted is fair process.

Great! Looking forward to the episode covering the upgrade. Also, please tell us about what happens to the old battery.

Definitely do a follow-up video on the battery upgrade. I wonder about any changes in wiring and software that could be necessary to the process and how difficult those issues might prove to overcome.

Still love my 2016 30 kWh LEAF...except for the battery. I'm interested in the battery swap review, but ultimately, it will happen again with the same technology. That's really the Achilles' heel of the vehicle.

@waywardgeologist2520

4 жыл бұрын

I am hoping solid state batteries solves this issue. It is one of the reasons I am hanging onto my 2011 Leaf (its being garaged for right now given my line of work takes me off road most of the time).

@ministe2003

4 жыл бұрын

Solid state batteries will probably cost more than a new car when they first come out!

Hi Robert, How much roughly are you expecting to pay for the battery? TIA.

Ten years, wow! I look forward to seeing how the ownership experience changes what that new-old-stock battery swap. I had a 2012, 2014 and 2016 LEAF. So amazing to see how it changed over that short period of time.

We love our fugly 2012 3rd hand Leaf. Got a new battery under warranty last year as the car wasn't first sold for many years. I think it's towing close to 30 tonnes of waste bread from local bakeries over a year for our farm. Almost replaced it with a Tesla last year, but decided that it was too much of a financial stretch. Plus Tesla don't supply tow bars in Australia. Look forward to the battery upgrade if you decide to go ahead. Has been asuch a pleasure driving and towing with our Leaf.

15:38 The 2011 Nissan Leaf has all the negative aspects of early electric vehicles manifest in it - as EVs go, it's the absolute worst. It's great! :-)

Very interesting and great to hear probably one of the longest term reviews of an EV around. It just shows how reliable this technology is, and the fact that you didn't have to replace the battery 3 times as some would have you believe. Was this not bought with a battery lease? Was there the option to buy outright then? Yes the battery replacement will be very interesting. Whats is the cost? Is any reprogramming needed for the old leaf to accept the "new" 40KWh battery, or is it all handled by the onboard battery management?

@rkan2

4 жыл бұрын

For a production car sure.. But do check out etischer's electric Passat ;)

@davidprescott7463

4 жыл бұрын

There is another video on KZread where someone in Australia (I think) swaps out a heavily degraded 24 kWh battery for a nearly new 30 kWh battery (from a write-off). It’s not just a case of removing the old battery, fitting the new one and drive off. You need to fit a special device to translate the control signals from the new battery to the car, so it can calibrate the battery and estimate the range accurately. Also you need another device to pair the “new” battery to the car, otherwise it will not recognise the battery and only run in turtle mode (low speed).

@simonm1447

4 жыл бұрын

@@davidprescott7463 In my knowledge officially they usually don't upgrade the battery size (even when it makes sense) when they replace it. Was this an original ,,Repair'', or one from a 3rd party workshop?

Thanks for the video, some awesome insight! 👊👍

Thanks for the video Robert! Great recap of your experience. We had a 2011 LEAF but sold it in 2017.. the range had dropped a bit too much for us. But I bought a 2018 LEAF a year ago.. and it's working great! We also lease a Bolt. I'm looking at a used Model S to possibly replace the Bolt when the lease is up. You know about the EV bug just like us. Thanks mate!

3:57: False, Nissan Leaf is not air cooled, it's passively cooled. Big difference.. MiEV is air cooled..

@tanzanable

4 жыл бұрын

The LEAF is passively cooled by the ambient air. The heat is conducted away from the battery pack without the need for any fans or liquids. The battery cells are designed to easily tolerate very high temperatures.

Look forward to the details what the total cost of replacing the battery will be.

@Brian-om2hh

3 жыл бұрын

You don't replace it, you have it refurbished. There is already a video on here of a Leaf having a battery refurb.....it took just a few hours, and the cost was similar to having a new clutch fitted in an i.c. car. God alone knows why so many people seem to think a new battery is needed every few years....

@dominiklyskojc6698

3 жыл бұрын

@@Brian-om2hh Whether you replace only single cells or several cells?

Thanks again for a very interesting and informative review. Stay safe.

Wonderful review looking forward to you battery swappo adventure. My Leaf is a 2017 model and have enjoyed passing every ICE car on the road waiting for a tow to service. Never had a problem but I did spend on some wiper blades. I agree its brilliant even if it was assembled in Tennessee the patron state of shootin' stuff. My electron bullet fires every day!