Nissan Leaf home charge only

Smoggy

I may have misunderstood this, but is it possible to have Nissan Leafs that only have the home charge only options ? That they don't have the ability to charge from public points ?

slave1

No, you may have read about early basic models where public rapid DC charge functionality was optional.
Your house and public fast chargers are all AC electric and all Leaf's can use these (with the appropriate cable)

KCross

Yes, some of the entry level models(XE) had no rapid charging a while back. They would still be able to use the public slow chargers though (the green icons on the eCars map)

I think rapid charging is standard on the XE now though.

peposhi

Smoggy wrote: »

I may have misunderstood this, but is it possible to have Nissan Leafs that only have the home charge only options ? That they don't have the ability to charge from public points ?

There is no such thing.
Even if you do not have a DC option to charge your car (a very early Leaf) the AC is there to be used either at home or on a public charge point

macnab

Smoggy wrote: »

I may have misunderstood this, but is it possible to have Nissan Leafs that only have the home charge only options ? That they don't have the ability to charge from public points ?

Thats not the case.
The Leaf has 2 onboard charging ports.
The larger one connects to a public tethered DC fast charger called CHAdeMO.
The smaller port connects to a slow charger by means of a cable which you will have in your boot.
Some Leafs come with 2 cables, that may be where you are getting confused.
Cable one will connect to the Leafs small port on one end and connect to a slow AC charger at the other end, the slow charger might be a public charger or your own domestic charger if fitted.
Cable 2 will connect to the leafs small port on one end and connect to a domestic 3 pin plug at the other end. Cable 2 (my designation for this explanation) is known as a Granny Cable and is the slowest means of charging a Nissan Leaf.

KCross

macnab wrote: »

Thats not the case.
The Leaf has 2 onboard charging ports.

Not always. Some XE's dont have the ChaDeMo.


OP, as you can see from the posts the answer is yes and no!

There is "standard charging" and "rapid charging". A separate port for each on the Leaf.

All home charging is "standard charging" and every Leaf has that.

Public charging has two options:
- Rapid charging. Some XE Leaf's dont have this. Rare, but possible.
- Standard charging. Every Leaf has this

Not every XE model has the rapid capability and thats usually what people are looking for when they talk about "public charging" as it charges the car in 20-30mins. The standard charging takes hours(4-8) depending on the car.

Smoggy

I didn't get a chance to see the car myself, My dad did, as it's in the UK.
But the dealer (not main) assured him that it was home charge only and even went to the trouble of showing him the ONE port. He said how if need be he can flat bed the car to Bootle where it can be put on the ferry. The dealer seems to specialise in electrics as he had a good few leafs and also other makes and models such as Renault.
It's a 2013 Visia.
This needs more investigation, as something doesn't stack up.
Thanks

KCross

Smoggy wrote: »

I didn't get a chance to see the car myself, My dad did, as it's in the UK.
But the dealer (not main) assured him that it was home charge only and even went to the trouble of showing him the ONE port. He said how if need be he can flat bed the car to Bootle where it can be put on the ferry. The dealer seems to specialise in electrics as he had a good few leafs and also other makes and models such as Renault.
It's a 2013 Visia.
This needs more investigation, as something doesn't stack up.
Thanks

That makes sense. Nothing to investigate really.
The UK version of the XE is the Visia and some of those dont have the rapid port. Realistically the car would have to be flatbedded to get it home as you could not rapid charge it and so if you could not make it to the ferry in one charge you would have to use a standard charge and wait upto 8hrs to charge it.... hence the need for the flatbed.

Unless that car is super cheap I'd walk away.

Smoggy

"Not every XE model has the rapid capability and thats usually what people are looking for when they talk about "public charging" as it charges the car in 20-30mins. The standard charging takes hours(4-8) depending on the car."

OK - Now we are getting closer. I think this 2013 Visia may not have rapid charge ! This is why it was being called "home charge only" as who has 4-8 hours to spend topping up at a public point ?

Thanks KCross (and everyone else).

p.s the car is quite cheap at £6k, 28k miles. But I have to agree, it seems too limiting to have no rapid charge as it affectively becomes local use only.

cros13

Yep, don't touch it unless you fully understand the consequences and get the price down a little more.

There's a reason the Visia without rapid charging is practically unsaleable. Like the Fluence they are an ideal car for an existing EV owner as a 2nd car, not for new EV drivers.

Smoggy

cros13 wrote: »

Yep, don't touch it unless you fully understand the consequences and get the price down a little more.

There's a reason the Visia without rapid charging is practically unsaleable. Like the Fluence they are an ideal car for an existing EV owner as a 2nd car, not for new EV drivers.

It's a walk away. He won't drop as he just dropped today to 6k from 6.5k. Plus it will be another £180 to Bootle on the flatbed and €700-800 for an external charge point to the house. Only to be limited in usage.

Edit : Sorry - the car is £7k !! from 7.5k.

KCross

Smoggy wrote: »

It's a walk away. He won't drop as he just dropped today to 6k from 6.5k. Plus it will be another £180 to Bootle on the flatbed and €700-800 for an external charge point to the house. Only to be limited in usage.

If you get an EV you will need a home charge point anyway. Dont buy an EV and depend on the public charge system for daily use.

Unless you buy new in which case you get a free home charge point(for now).

But I agree... walk away at that price.

slave1

Run, it's likely the only purchaser here will be someone who get's caught out

Calahonda52

macnab wrote: »

Cable 2 will connect to the Leafs small port on one end and connect to a domestic 3 pin plug at the other end. Cable 2 (my designation for this explanation) is known as a Granny Cable and is the slowest means of charging a Nissan Leaf.

Did someone say slow!
Just grannied it up now: 46% left so 54% to charge on a 30kWh battery.
ETF: 12:30 hours

isnottheword

Smoggy wrote: »

Edit : Sorry - the car is £7k !! from 7.5k.

Are you serious? That's a ridiculous price. Don't believe for a second that there's not a few thousand to come off that car! It's a door stop. Granted, somebody somewhere potentially may be able to justify it based on their particular needs - but could only justify it for small money.

I hope somebody doesn't sleepwalk their way into it...

Smoggy

isnottheword wrote: »

Smoggy wrote: »

Edit : Sorry - the car is £7k !! from 7.5k.

Are you serious?  That's a ridiculous price.  Don't believe for a second that there's not a few thousand to come off that car!  It's a door stop.  Granted, somebody somewhere potentially may be able to justify it based on their particular needs - but could only justify it for small money.

I hope somebody doesn't sleepwalk their way into it...

Here she is back at 7.5k

http://www.jdcleveltd.co.uk/used-cars/nissan-leaf-e-24kwh-visia-5dr-80kw-grimsby-201612070400810

He said the price is the price.

KCross

Smoggy wrote: »

Here she is back at 7.5k

http://www.jdcleveltd.co.uk/used-cars/nissan-leaf-e-24kwh-visia-5dr-80kw-grimsby-201612070400810

He said the price is the price.

His ad made more noise about vat qualifying than it did about the lack of rapid charging!

He is dillusional and/or waiting for the right mug to come along.

isnottheword

Smoggy wrote: »

Here she is back at 7.5k

http://www.jdcleveltd.co.uk/used-cars/nissan-leaf-e-24kwh-visia-5dr-80kw-grimsby-201612070400810

He said the price is the price.

A couple of things...:D

1. That guy ( Jason Cleve ) is a knob! I asked him to confirm back if the Leaf I inquired about had 6.6kW charging and he gave me Nissan UK's EV customer support number. I asked him again - to go and check the dash display and confirm back if it had this feature but he wouldnt do it. Made excuses about them being 'an internet based company'.
I already felt the list price was off - but was tracking down all 6.6kW options (there are not many available at any given time - on the market) - and making an offer. When I said that the list price is way off, he came back with some cheek about not understanding why I was inquiring in the first place - and how they were doing quite well (business wise).
I came to the logical conclusion (i.e. I'm not dealing with a tool - who can't be bothered to make an effort and won't be reasonable on price). I took my $ elsewhere and had a deposit down within 2 weeks elsewhere.

2. You need to be very clear as to what represents good value - and walk immediately when 'the price is the price' - yet the price is not competitive. Nothing wrong with fixed pricing if it's set correctly.

Some poor unfortunate who hasn't an understanding of what's in front of them is going to end up driving off in that thing. It was ridiculous of Nissan to build without Rapid charging in any event.

Smoggy

isnottheword wrote: »

A couple of things...:D
Some poor unfortunate who hasn't an understanding of what's in front of them is going to end up driving off in that thing. It was ridiculous of Nissan to build without Rapid charging in any event.

That's why I was so shocked, I couldn't believe that the car would come without a rapid charge !

slave1

Smoggy wrote: »

Here she is back at 7.5k

http://www.jdcleveltd.co.uk/used-cars/nissan-leaf-e-24kwh-visia-5dr-80kw-grimsby-201612070400810

He said the price is the price.

Jesus, that ad is brutal, the car is manky inside and out, the camera was not focused correctly, that looks like an amateur Done Deal lad selling a €500 POS rather than a retailer wanting to be taken seriously.

Calahonda52

Sticking this in here as its a home charge related question.

The night rate starts at 23:00 in winter time and midnight for summer time.
As I am well tucked up by these times,with an 05:00 wake up time, the question of timing the charging to start has arisen.

The cell phone signal is crap here so even if I ever get the Nissan (won't) Connect EV to work, I can't rely on it.

So my plan is to install a normal central heating type time clock, and wire it through a 40A or larger relay and just plug car in when I get home. and set the time to start and finish to match the Night rate times.

Any thoughts?

ps Have just read the manual section on the inbuilt charger timers options.
I know there is an economic cost to my timer/relay idea but it just seems simpler.

slave1

Can you not use your house Wi-Fi to contact the Leaf?

KCross

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Sticking this in here as its a home charge related question.

The night rate starts at 23:00 in winter time and midnight for summer time.
As I am well tucked up by these times,with an 05:00 wake up time, the question of timing the charging to start has arisen.

The cell phone signal is crap here so even if I ever get the Nissan (won't) Connect EV to work, I can't rely on it.

So my plan is to install a normal central heating type time clock, and wire it through a 40A or larger relay and just plug car in when I get home. and set the time to start and finish to match the Night rate times.

Any thoughts?

ps Have just read the manual section on the inbuilt charger timers options.
I know there is an economic cost to my timer/relay idea but it just seems simpler.

What's wrong with just using the timer in the car? It doesn't require any mobile signal.

Calahonda52

slave1 wrote: »

Can you not use your house Wi-Fi to contact the Leaf?

My understanding is that the car has a SIM for comms, so needs GSM coverage and is not Wifi enabled.

KCross wrote: »

What's wrong with just using the timer in the car? It doesn't require any mobile signal.

Not a thing:
however, I have the elec infrastructure that will allow me put the dishwasher and the clothes washer on a timer at the Consumer unit so am looking at the clock and relay idea for these anyway.

KCross

Calahonda52 wrote: »

My understanding is that the car has a SIM for comms, so needs GSM coverage and is not Wifi enabled.



Not a thing:
however, I have the elec infrastructure that will allow me put the dishwasher and the clothes washer on a timer at the Consumer unit so am looking at the clock and relay idea for these anyway.

Correct, the car relies on GSM for remote comms. Have you confirmed that the car has zero signal where you will have it plugged in?


I don't see any advantage to your timer/relay idea even if you are doing it anyway for other devices. I can see downside though. What's the process when you decide you want a charge outside the set hours?

In normal circumstances you just press the override button in the car and it charges immediately whereas now you will have to go to your CU and "do something" to override the timer. It sounds like extra hassle to me with no gain. I'd recommend just using the cars inbuilt timer. It's simple and works, why complicate it.

slave1

Calahonda52 wrote: »

My understanding is that the car has a SIM for comms, so needs GSM coverage and is not Wifi enabled

I meant you could use the WiFi in your house from your phone to connect to the car, I thought you had bad GSM coverage in the house and that the car GSM on the driveway would be grand.
I insulated the house a few years back with foil backed insulation and GSM coverage now poor but the driveway is grand...

KCross

I'd also add that the time the car needs each day to charge will vary. You won't just start it at 11pm and then maybe have it sitting at 100% for hours on end every day.

It's considered better to have the car at 100% for as little time as possible and the inbuilt timers allow you to set the time you want the car to be ready for you and it will start the charge at the right time to ensure it is ready including preheating. You timer/relay idea will remove that capability.

Calahonda52

Comms.
Tried it in car park this am with 5 bars on the phone, beside a GSM tower and no joy.


Elec.
Agreed re the extra step and, as always, I appreciate your insights/inputs.

KCross wrote: »

I'd also add that the time the car needs each day to charge will vary. You won't just start it at 11pm and then maybe have it sitting at 100% for hours on end every day.

It's considered better to have the car at 100% for as little time as possible and the inbuilt timers allow you to set the time you want the car to be ready for you and it will start the charge at the right time to ensure it is ready including preheating. You timer/relay idea will remove that capability.

Okay, the "100% charge better to shut off juice" point is a reason for not doing it, time to read the manual!

n97 mini

Is the app ever able to contact the car? (Ruling out a fault or misconfiguration with the car)

The Leaf uses 2G (some speculate it actually uses SMS messages) and it's not fast to respond to requests from the app. Telenor made big noise about the Leaf using their Connexion product, but I don't know if it still does or what network in Ireland they'd be using.

cros13

slave1 wrote: »

Can you not use your house Wi-Fi to contact the Leaf?

The Leaf doesn't have a WiFi radio. Telsa allow connection to your home wifi as a client and BMW has a WiFi radio in the i3 (though it's disabled (except for the 94Ah with the wifi hotspot option enabled)).

n97 mini wrote: »

The Leaf uses 2G (some speculate it actually uses SMS messages) and it's not fast to respond to requests from the app. Telenor made big noise about the Leaf using their Connexion product, but I don't know if it still does or what network in Ireland they'd be using.

My Mk1.5 used a telenor SIM on EDGE and then an IPSec tunnel to Japan over that connection.... you can see why carwings was unreliable.

The Mk1.75 has a UMTS telematics unit (and these are supposed to be retrofitted to the MK1 & mk1.5 I think). Depending on the sales numbers in country Nissan are deciding whether a local SIM or a Telenor is used. The new Nissanconnect platform is on microsoft's Azure cloud and uses TLS.

Calahonda52

n97 mini wrote: »

Is the app ever able to contact the car? (Ruling out a fault or misconfiguration with the car)

Nothing at all