As such nissan leaf not in the list of models offered by domestic dealers Japanese company for our buyers.
All these cars came to us through the efforts of gray dealers and private entrepreneurs.
The overwhelming majority of Ukrainian Leafs were imported from America, and a significant part of them are cars restored after an accident or “drowned” (flood victims) and only a small part of the Leaf are whole cars.
Many Nissan Leafs are bought in a damaged condition at American auctions, delivered by ship to Ukraine, and here they are already shamanized to a marketable condition by local craftsmen and sold to Ukrainian motorists.
Given this trend, when buying this “electric train”, it is imperative to carry out qualified diagnostics in order to determine whether it was drowned or broken and how severe the damage was. Often you come across cars that have been repaired in a hurry, of poor quality, so that you can see the traces of repair yourself even without the help of specialists. "Bitkov" or "drowned" need to beware - during operation, they can cause serious trouble! At the same time, the electric train is distinguished by high safety - according to EuroNCAP crash tests conducted in 2012, this model won the maximum 5 stars.
In general, the corrosion resistance of the Leaf does not cause any comments, and the presence of rust on the body is a clear sign of the emergency past of a particular instance. Please note - the hood of all cars is made of aluminum alloy and is difficult to straighten. The Leaf doors of the first years of production were made of the same material (later they began to be made of metal).
Many owners of these cars complain about the poor light versions of halogen front optics, but the headlights with LED lamps shine noticeably better. Although, in general, the optics of the American versions differ in other settings and, during certification, they need to be replaced with a European one. Since headlights are not cheap, some enterprising Ukrainian businessmen rent out euroheadlights for certification ($50 rent and $500 deposit for optics). Another feature of the "Americans": the absence of repeaters in the wings and the rear "fog", which also will not allow certification, as well as a spherical left exterior mirror, which does not allow you to accurately determine the distance to the object.
Another note on the condition of attachments - on the oldest cars, the fastening of the aerodynamic trunk visor can loosen, which will remind you of itself with an additional knock when the fifth door is closed.
Mounted on the aerodynamic boot lid of the more expensive Leaf versions, a solar panel feeds the car's 12-volt battery.
Well, who draws like that! ..
Against the background of the progressive technological filling of the Leaf, its exterior looks modest and uninteresting, which cools the fuse of many buyers to buy this car. Well, how could you draw such a boring car! The manufacturer took into account public criticism - the second generation of the electric car, which will officially debut at the end of the year at the autumn motor show in Frankfurt, has a bright and expressive design.
Signature Leaf interior features: a blue illuminated gear selector washer, a two-tiered instrument panel, an unusual location for the rear sofa heating button (on the inside of the front passenger seat back) and a parking brake scissor (until 2013 there was an electric handbrake with a control button). Expensive versions are distinguished by the presence of a multimedia system with a touch screen touchscreen on the center console.
/
To match the exterior, the interior is also decorated - quite simply, especially in inexpensive versions, where there is no advanced multimedia system with a touchscreen touchscreen on the center console, bordered by black piano lacquer. Although some design decisions may still surprise. The Leaf cabin is not very spacious and the most comfortable in it will be four crew members (see photo). The driver's side view is eaten up a little by the A-shaped left pillar. The quality of the plastic interior trim is low - it is solid, fortunately, it is not creaky. Interior upholstery comes in dark shades and beige. The last impractical one is very easily soiled. In general, one should also criticize fabric lining- there have been cases when the lateral support of the seat (often the driver's) cracked. In general, the salon equipment is reliable, and only the air conditioning system can be criticized (see photo “Weaknesses”).
The back seat is high. The stock of legroom and headroom is enough even for tall people, but it’s a bit cramped for three adults to sit in width, besides, the massive central floor tunnel interferes with the legs of the average passenger, which is due to the design of the traction battery – a safety check on / off is installed in this place. nutrition.
The most common Leaf has the right to be proud of a fairly roomy trunk compared to many classmates. Its only drawbacks are the high loading opening and the lack of space for a spare tire. Nissan believes that the city “train” does not need it, and a flat bottom significantly improves the aerodynamics of the car. In addition, the functionality of earlier versions before 2013 onwards. limited by a high box-partition between rear arches, which also ate 40 liters of usable volume. During the modernization, the interfering partition was removed.
Compared with the "hatch" classmates and related Nissan Tiida the trunk of the most common Leaf from 2013 onwards. (pictured) is noticeably larger - 370 liters versus 272 liters, respectively, and, for example, 330 liters Renault Megane, 340 liters for Kia Cee'd and 285 liters for Mitsubishi Lancer X. But before the upgrade, the Leaf had a smaller trunk - only 330 liters.
The battery is not disposable!
All Leafs are equipped with a 3-phase AC synchronous electric motor that develops a modest 109 horsepower from 2730-9800 RPM, but still delivers an impressive maximum torque of 280 Nm, available from start to 2730 RPM! In principle, the "engine" does not require any maintenance (it does not even have contact brushes familiar to many electric motors).
This "electric train" does not have a familiar gearbox either - its function is performed by a conventional single-stage gearbox. Inclusion reverse gear is carried out by changing the polarity of the electric motor, as a result of which it begins to spin in reverse side. Unlike an electric motor, the gearbox requires maintenance - the lubricant in it must be changed every 40-50 thousand km. run.
Externally, the Leaf electric motor resembles a conventional internal combustion engine. Power wires with a dangerous voltage of 360 V are highlighted in orange. Most cars on our market are equipped with a 24 kWh battery with a maximum range of 135 km.
The electric motor is powered by a traction lithium-ion battery, which on most Leafs develops 24 kW of power and, under optimal conditions, provides a range of 135 km (EPA). More expensive versions (SV and SL) released since 2016 have received a more powerful 30 kW battery, which is able to provide a range of 172 km (EPA) or 250 km on the European NEDC measurement cycle. Although there are few versions with a reinforced battery in Ukraine.
The manufacturer gives an 8-year warranty on the battery or 160 thousand kilometers. However, one should not think that with such an age or mileage, the Akum will have to be replaced with a new one - domestic craftsmen have already learned how to repair the battery.
You can talk a lot about the electric filling of this car and the features of its operation, and this topic deserves a separate publication. Therefore, in order not to mix together automotive qualities, electric Nissan features We have brought the Leaf into a separate article, which can be read in the next issue of the Avtocenter magazine or on our website.
"Eternal" brake ...
By its nature, the Leaf suspension resembles the Tiida - it is soft and comfortable, and structurally it is similar to the "sister" and the Juke's monodrive "brother": the front is an independent McPherson, and the rear is a semi-independent beam. Ground clearance The “electric train” is 160 mm, but since the battery is located under the bottom of the car, some owners are trying to remove it from road troubles, further increasing the clearance by installing non-standard tires with a large profile 215/60 R16 and replacing standard racks with higher Juke parts.
The weak point of the Leaf front suspension is ball joints, which on average serve about 70 thousand km on our roads. Branded parts are supplied with the lever, but in the non-original - the ball parts can be replaced separately. At the same time, its silent blocks are able to withstand in the region of 100 thousand km. Stabilizer consumables have an acceptable resource: its bushings last 50-60 thousand km, and the struts a little longer - 60-80 thousand km. The front shock absorbers may need to be replaced at runs of about 100 thousand km, but the rear ones can last longer.
On public charges, you can fully recharge the battery of non-basic versions of the Leaf in 3-4 hours, and when using the heavy-duty CHAdeMO port, it gains 80% charge in just 30 minutes!
Intervention in rear suspension it will be required only after 100 thousand km - after such a run, domestic specialists had to change the "gum" of the semi-dependent beam.
The steering of all Leafs is equipped with an electric power steering that changes the amount of power depending on the speed of movement. This unit is quite reliable and serves well: steering tips can withstand about 80 thousand km, and thrust - even longer.
The brake system is equipped with disc mechanisms (front - ventilated) and an electric booster. Thanks to the use of energy recovery by the electric motor when releasing "gas" and thus reducing the speed of movement, brake system Leaf has a much longer resource than cars equipped with a traditional internal combustion engine. According to experts, if the owner of an electric car prefers a calm driving style, then the brake pads and discs of his car can withstand an impressive mileage - up to 100 thousand km!
More expensive versions of the "electric train" are equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system, and if in any of the wheels it falls below required level, then the system intervenes exchange rate stability, actively slowing down the "working" wheels and the car at the same time noticeably drives badly.
In general, the Leaf's corrosion resistance is unremarkable. Although some attachments of the body require special attention.
Summary
We recommend the Nissan Leaf as a second vehicle in the family to be used for daily city commuting. Its owner must have at least a home charging place where he can recharge the battery every night without problems. It is not worth laying the main calculation on public charges, besides, many of them are no longer free. The reliability of the traditional automotive stuffing Leaf does not cause any remarks. You can not be afraid of the electrical part - Ukrainian specialists have already learned how to repair it.
Results of "AC"
Body and interior 2.5 stars
+ High security. Good corrosion resistance. In general, the salon equipment is reliable. The trunk of versions since 2013 is one of the largest among classmates.
– Boring exterior and interior design. Many of the Ukrainian Leafs are rebuilt after foreign accidents or floods. Poor light versions of halogen headlights. Difficulties with certification of American versions. The fastening of the aerodynamic visor of the trunk may become loose and the lateral support of the driver's seat (fabric interior) may crack. In the back seat, three adult passengers will be cramped. The driver's side view is eaten up a little by the A-shaped left pillar. Marked beige finish. Many cars with one key. In winter, the hatch of the charging port freezes over. The functionality of the trunk of versions before modernization is limited by a partition between the rear arches.
Engines 4.5 stars
Trouble-free electric motor. It does not require maintenance and develops maximum torque from the start, providing quite dynamic acceleration. Traction battery not disposable - domestic experts have learned how to repair it.
– The high pressure pipe of the air conditioning system is cracking.
Transmission 5 stars
The single-stage gearbox is reliable and requires only periodic relubrication during operation.
Chassis and steering 4 stars
Soft and comfortable suspension. Running gear similar to Nissan Juke and Tiida. High resource brake pads and disks.
- A small resource of ball bearings. The front shock absorbers last less than the rear ones.
Weaknesses Nissan Leaf
Since there is no usual internal combustion engine in the Leaf, due to the lack of heat in winter, the hatch of the charging port often freezes over and, if necessary, cannot be opened. A preventive measure is the use of “anti-ice” antifreeze agents.
Many used Leafs come to Ukraine with one key, so the owners have to buy a second one and reflash the immobilizer built into it. Important - the second key should only be from the "train" - key fobs from other Nissans will not work.
Leaf ball joints do not have a large resource - on average, on our roads they withstand a mileage of about 70 thousand km.
The weak point of inexpensive versions is the high-pressure pipe of the air conditioning system - it often cracks at the junction, but the design of the pipes of more expensive versions is different and serves without problems.
Specifications |
|
common data |
|
| body type | hatchback |
| doors/seats | 5/5 |
| Dimensions, L/W/H, mm | 4445/1770/1550 |
| Base, mm | 2700 |
| Curb / full weight, kg | 1430/1945 |
| Trunk volume, l | 330370/720 |
Engine |
|
| Electric motor: 80 kW/109 hp | |
| Battery | |
| lithium-ion, 360 V, 24 kW or 30 kW | |
Transmission |
|
| type of drive | anterior |
| KP | 1-st reducer |
Chassis |
|
| Brakes front/rear | disk. vent./disk |
| Suspension front/rear | independent / semi-dependent |
| Tires | 205/55 R16, 215/50 R17 |
Cost in Ukraine, $ from $10.5 thousand to 28.5 thousand |
|
The editors would like to thank the Oxy-Taxi company for their help in preparing the material.
If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.
The owner of the year 2015, who drove the electric car for exactly a year, shared his impressions.
After a year of driving an electric car, I realized that driving it is much more pleasant than driving a gas car. Like most people, before buying an electric car, I had doubts. I thought about battery capacity, range, charging capability, car cost, cold weather, hot weather performance, shock absorption, and other factors.
After a year of riding the Leaf, I had cast aside all my doubts. Every morning I get in my car and drive to work. Every evening I do the same to return home. That's what I've done for years on petrol cars. The only difference is 10 seconds - 5 to unplug the car from charging in the morning and 5 to plug it in in the evening.
In operation, Leaf is much better than Toyota Corolla 2004 which I have ridden before. Of course, many of the advantages have come at the expense of general progress. Back-up camera, center screen with navigation, heated seats and steering wheel, dimming mirrors, Bluetooth and USB connectivity used to be a dream come true. However, the Leaf is also good from a driving point of view.
He is incredibly quiet. You don't hear any starter noise or engine sounds when revving or decelerating. The electric motor produces a pleasant quiet rumble. When accelerating or decelerating, its tone rises or falls slightly, but is much quieter than in gasoline or hybrid cars.
However, there are also disappointments. Even though you are buying a new modern car, you don't get modern helpers like radar cruise control, automatic emergency braking, or lane control.
Difficult to use trunk. At first, in order to remove its cover, I had to take it out through back door. Then I was told that there is a slightly more convenient way, but still using the luggage compartment remains a problem.
You don't even have to turn on the driving app. For example, it takes a whole minute to turn on climate control with it.
However, I am happy with the purchase. I am jealous of my wife who drives her petrol car to the gas station at least once a week, while I just connect the charging station. The ChargePoint Home 25 I bought charges the car for 40 kilometers in an hour, which is enough for a trip to and from work. There are fast charging stations on highways, but after a long drive (1,600 km), I realized that the Nissan Leaf is still better suited for city driving. For long trips you need to choose a hybrid with a good range.
It would be good with its range of 380 kilometers, but there are not enough fast charging stations for it yet.
As regards the energy efficiency of the latter Nissan models Leaf, it ranges from 6.76 kilometers per kilowatt/hour in June to 4.67 kilometers per kilowatt/hour in December. A year of operation has shown that the efficiency is 27% higher than the declared 5.31 kilometers per kilowatt / hour.
An analysis of payments on my card showed that I spent an average of $ 68 per month on fuel on a gasoline car. Electricity bills after buying an electric car increased by $47 per month. So, despite the rather high cost of electricity in our area, there are some savings here, which should be added to the savings on the cost of the car. Thanks to subsidies different levels I bought the car for only $16,000.
And if it weren't for the restrictions!... Due to the lack of charging stations, I still can't drive a Nissan Leaf 2015 to my sister in New Hampshire. The path there must be laid in such a way as to charge at the station that appeared only in the southern part of the state. So for long distances we are forced to travel in the wife's car.
The popularity of electric cars in Ukraine is growing every year and is based mainly on the purchase of used electric cars, since new electric cars are still quite expensive for our consumers and are practically not presented officially.
The 24 kWh electric vehicle battery consists of 192 cells interconnected in pairs, assembled in 48 modules, the state of each pair is subjected to diagnostics, which can be carried out using the program and, in case of damage to individual elements, replace them separately without buying the entire battery.
To assess the degree of battery degradation when choosing an electric vehicle, you should pay attention to the "capacity indicators" located on dashboard. If the electric car has a new battery, it will show 12 bar, if the battery is worn out, the indication will be at the level of 9-10 bar. We note that a used Nissan Leaf can show 12 bar even with a loss of the original 100% volume, that is, for a used electric car with 87% battery capacity, the indication will still be 12 bar, but if you see a mark of 9 bar, this means that the battery retains about 70% capacity.
First generation Nissan Leaf cutaway © newsroom.nissan-europe.com
You should also take into account the features of the operation battery Nissan Leaf in winter, when it loses the most capacity (about 30%) due to its design features. In such conditions, it is important to follow a few simple rules for maintaining the power reserve of an electric vehicle, which will not only help to be on the move longer, but also significantly reduce the rate of battery degradation. You can read in detail about all the nuances of winter operation of batteries.
Nissan Leaf buyers the first generation, it is worth remembering that in addition to the main battery pack that produces a voltage of 400 volts, an electric car also has a small 12-volt battery under the hood of an electric car. This small battery powers the charger, motor and inverter. It also supplies energy to electronics: all electric heating, headlights, multimedia and interior lighting. This feature an electric car should be considered when buying it and especially when transporting it for a long time, since it is impossible to allow this battery to be completely discharged, since without it it is impossible to start the car. Also, the main battery should not be completely discharged - this factor most negatively affects its working qualities.
Charging the battery of the first generation Nissan Leaf
The electric car is equipped with two battery charging ports: SAE J1772 Type 1 for AC and CHAdeMO for DC fast charging. In the first two years of production, the CHAdeMO fast charging charging port was only available in selected versions, since 2013 it was an optional extra or it was the default base depending on the chosen configuration. So if you're interested in early EVs, make sure you have both connectors under the cover on the front bumper.
Early Nissan Leaf models (2010-2013) were equipped with 3.3 kW on-board chargers (charging time 8 hours). For some modifications of this period, more powerful chargers of 6.6 kW (charging time 6 hours) were available, which since 2014 have become basic for all models.
First generation Nissan Leaf charging ports: on the left is CHAdeMO (up to 50 kW), on the right is SAE J1772 Type 1 © site
I must add that with the cable connected to the charging station, even if it is not energized, you will never be able to move, as the car simply will not turn on in the “ready to drive” mode.
The electric vehicle has a charge timer that only works when the electric vehicle is connected to the grid. With its use, you can achieve significant savings, for example, by setting the start of charging at a certain time if your meter is connected to a nightly rate, or setting the timer to constantly charge when connected and before the set shutdown time (upon arrival from work and before 7 am).
Driving modes of the first generation Nissan Leaf
For those who are going to buy a used Nissan Leaf, especially if it will be your first electric car, you need to explain the features of driving an electric car.
The electric car has five modes:
- Parking "P"
- Reverse "R"
- Normal driving "D"
- Mode B on SV/SL or ECO on S
- Neutral "N"
When operating, you need to be careful and remember that in no case should an electric car be pulled, pushed or towed in the off state when its front wheels are spinning - this can lead to a burnout of the inverter.
Turning on ECO mode reduces the intensity of heating and ventilation, the responsiveness of the accelerator pedal becomes less harsh.
The "B" mode enhances the regenerative capabilities of the electric car, when the accelerator pedal is released, the electric car gradually reduces speed until it comes to a complete stop. We note that in models after 2013, the “B” and ECO modes work separately.
The nuances of servicing Nissan Leaf 2010-2017
The first generation Nissan Leaf, like most electric vehicles, does not require a traditional fuel car. Maintenance(oil change, consumables, etc.). However, there are a number of details that periodically need to be replaced or checked, and the person who decides to buy a used Leaf should be aware of and consider them. Replacement or condition monitoring will sooner or later require:
- wiper blades;
- power windows;
- air conditioning system;
- tires;
- engine coolant;
- console buttons and touchpads;
- electric parking brake (on early 2011-12 models).
Differences of the first generation Nissan Leaf lineup
Concerning model range of the first generation, then over the course of 7 years of production, visually the Nissan Leaf practically did not change externally, but inside it had quite a few changes that would help its potential buyer better understand what year of manufacture the electric car is dealing with.
The model range of the first generation Nissan Leaf looks the same © newsroom.nissan-europe.com
The first thing you need to know when buying a used electric car is that the 2011-2012 Nissan Leaf was produced in Japan and differed from the 2013-2017 American and English-made Leaf. For the first two years it had a charging port built in between the two rear wheels, the location of which reduced the volume of the cargo compartment. Subsequently, it was moved under the hood, significantly and for the better changing the layout of the trunk.
Nissan Leaf 2010-12
Electric vehicles of this period have the following equipment:
- Synchronous Electrical engine alternating current of the EM61 series, located on the front axle with a power of 107 hp. and a torque of 280 Nm.
- A block of lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 24 kWh placed in the floor of the car. The battery consists of 48 modules and is the heaviest part of the car. Its low location gives the electric car better handling. The manufacturer guarantees the preservation of battery capacity at the level of 70-80% for 8 years of operation.
- Two battery charging ports: SAE J1772 for AC and CHAdeMO for DC fast charging (optional on selected versions).
- airborne Charger power of 3.3 kW, which charges the battery from a domestic household network in approximately 8 hours.
- Front airbags for the driver, front passenger and side airbags. There are also airbags built into the roof.
- System of course stability ABS.
- Pedestrian warning system VSP (working at low speeds up to 30 km / h).
- A solar battery on the spoiler to power some elements of the on-board electronics (it migrated to all subsequent modifications of the model).
- The range of the Nissan Leaf of this production period is 175 km on the European NEDC cycle or 117 km on the US EPA cycle, which is noticeably reduced depending on driving style, ambient temperature and the use of climate systems.
- The interior of the car is designed for five passengers, the trunk volume is 330 liters and can be increased to 680, but its shape will not allow you to carry large items.
Nissan Leaf 2013-2015
Updated version of the first Nissan generations The Leaf came out in 2013, the car got cheaper and got a few evolutionary changes.
- A fully integrated power drive that combined the EM57 series charging module, inverter and electric motor for the first time. Since 2013 model year all this is in a single block. The engine did not change the power figures, but reduced the peak torque slightly for a smoother start.
- The charger was moved from the rear of the car, which significantly increased the volume of the trunk to 370 liters. In addition, the car has become more practical, now in the center of the floor luggage compartment there is no more obstacle that prevents folding rear seats, which have also changed the shape of the pillows and now the feet can be under the front seats.
- New i-Key smart key that opens and closes the charging module and charging cable lock.
- The front seats are height adjustable.
- 4.3" display on S package and 7" monitor on SL/SV versions.
- The new bio-fabric for all seats is made entirely from sugarcane, making it even more sustainable and more recyclable. Optionally, there was a leather trim and a more practical dark version of the fabric trim.
- Appeared LED lights in the charger connection area.
- In the heating and ventilation system, the ceramic heater was replaced with a heat gun. This reduced energy consumption and significantly increased the range in real-life conditions.
- In order to reduce rolls and increase maneuverability, the stiffness of the shock absorbers has increased.
- The transmission settings have been changed, which made it possible to increase the amount of recuperated energy.
- There is a new BOSE stereo system - more efficient in terms of energy consumption.
- An updated package of the Nissan Carwings navigation system with expanded functionality and the ability to remote control individual functions of the electric car using mobile applications.
- A surround view system has appeared, which, using several cameras, generates a “top view” of an electric car and displays it on the central display, making it easier to park traffic in limited conditions.
- New wheel disks: 16″ steel with full-length decorative caps in the basic version and alloys in the SL package. In the maximum version of the SV, disks of the 17th radius became available.
The electric car received three trim levels: S, SL and SV. The only change in appearance was a redesign of the front air intake grille, which reduced the drag coefficient to 0.28 and improved the range, which for cars of this production period is certified 200 km on the NEDC cycle and 135 km on the EPA cycle.
Nissan Leaf 2016-2017
In 2016, the last update of the first generation Nissan Leaf lineup took place. Key change was the installation on models in the SL and SV trim levels of a new battery with a capacity of 30 kWh, in basic models the S version left the battery at 24 kWh. All Nissan Leaf 30 kWh were produced at the Nissan plant in Sunderland, England.
The new 30 kWh battery has the same dimensions as the 24 kWh battery and a slightly larger (21 kg) weight. The increase in capacity was achieved thanks to an innovative design and optimization of chemical reactions. With the new 30 kWh battery, the range of the electric vehicle has increased to 250 km on the NEDC cycle or 172 km on the EPA cycle.
Other important changes in the equipment of the electric car include:
- The Nissan Connect EV navigation system replaced the previous Carwings.
- There are maps of the location of charging stations.
- Maintenance warning function.
- Electric vehicle search function.
- 7-inch display with the ability to change the size of the map and scroll through the menu with a touch.
- New roof antenna design, new headlight and taillight pattern.
- Additional body color - Bronze.
Salon Nissan Leaf first generation
We buy a used Nissan Leaf of the first generation!
Buying a used electric car is always associated with certain problems, but in the case of the first generation Nissan Leaf, everything is less transparent, and if you carry out a technical inspection of the car correctly, you can buy a reliable, economical and practical electric car for everyday use in the city.
The main thing at buying a used Leaf find out how its current value was formed (what factors influenced the too low or high price), what condition it is in and under what conditions it was used, where you will charge it and whether you can change or repair the battery in case of its significant degradation according to the possible salon or even manufacturer warranties.
Right now, when these lines are being written, the electric Nissan Leaf, standing on recharging, consumes two hundred rubles an hour! Why so much? Because you have to pay for everything in this life, especially when an acute desire to save on gasoline stumbles over the reality of operating an electric car in Russia. We talk about all the nuances of owning the most ordinary golf-class hatchback, but with an unusual engine, from our own experience.
Despite the fact that the hero of our test was brought to Russia by the new Nissan company itself, in domestic dealer centers Japanese brand you will not see the car - we do not officially sell an electric car.
The electric Leaf was brought, as they say, to study demand, features of operation and analyze the prospects for its sales with an eye on corporate parks. So the car falls into the hands of not only journalists, but also representatives of potential buyer companies.
The latter can individually purchase the car they like.
At the heart of the Leaf is Nissan's versatile V platform, which powers half of the company's current passenger car lineup, from the Micra to the Juke. So in terms of overall technical features and functionality, the electric car is in many ways comparable to the Nissan Pulsar / Tiida - that is, the usual C-class hatchback.
However, the body of the car is completely original and, as befits a car with a bit of futurism, a little strange. In front, the car stands out with the absence of the usual radiator grille and huge headlight caps, inside which LEDs burn with a blue flame, and in the back - a very powerful relief of the wings and ... a duck tail of the trunk, bordered along the entire height of the fifth door with two boomerang lights. Not to say that the car stands out in the stream, but the owners of other Nissans periodically poke their fingers - it means they know. But the rest of the motorists can guess that the car is not moving on gasoline, except perhaps by the Zero Emission nameplate and the blue Nissan logos.
The Nissan Leaf was introduced in 2010 and almost immediately received the titles of first European Car of the Year and then World Car of the Year. In addition, the electric car has become quite successful commercially in the US and Europe (Leaf is one of the best-selling class in many countries), primarily because it almost did not differ in ride comfort from its traditional competitors.
The gloomy interior of the electric car does not betray its non-standard essence. At least until you start it, that is, activate it. And this is one of the main advantages - everything is absolutely the same as in any other car. There is not a drop of economy, as in the same i-MiEV, nor amazing eco-aesthetics on the verge of kitsch, as in the BMW i3.
An absolutely civilian interior stands out, first of all, with a dashboard - it is a two-story digital one. True after Honda Civic and this detail no longer seems special. The upper line screen shows mainly speed, as well as an indicator of a kind of eco-game where you need to collect trees for economical driving. The lower sectional display shows the most important - all the parameters of the battery, its charge and service messages.
From the point of view of ergonomics, there is only one question - surprisingly there is no steering wheel adjustment for reach. Otherwise, the location and purpose of the rich optional functionality is standard, and therefore convenient. The front seats in the American style are wide and soft. The rear sofa is distinguished by the presence of heating and the absence of an armrest. The trunk of an average volume of 370 liters is devoid of a spare wheel, but it has an optional Bose acoustics subwoofer and a backpack with a charging cable from a household network.
Lyrical digression. Multimedia Nissan Connect The European version of the Nissan Leaf is moving in the wake of the current European policy. The navigator is loaded with maps of exclusively European countries, among which Ukraine is listed, but there are no neighboring Belarus and the European part of Russia. Moreover, Crimea on the Leaf map is still Ukrainian. Even more interesting is that the location of the nearest charging stations is still loaded into the car’s navigator, including in Russia, but it’s impossible to pave the way to them.
So, it's time to go. Pressing the start button, and the instrument panel lights up with a dozen flashing colors, bulbs and displays, like on some spaceship from a mid-nineties sci-fi movie, by the way, under the same 16-bit musical space accompaniment.
Under the right hand is a plump and elegant neon puck that controls the modes of the adapted variator. Easy sliding kruglyasha to itself and back - Drive turns on. In absolute silence, the car starts to move - a very unusual and very unusual feeling. Then everything is as usual - a turn signal, exit to the avenue, gas and ... And complete silence. The number 60 is already lit on the speedometer, but there is no sound. Silent engine, no sound exhaust system, even the eco-tires Dunlop Enasave ec300 with maximum low resistance rolling keep silence to the last. Only the oncoming air currents create a slight noise background at the level of the mirrors. Here it is the magic of eco-transport, devoid of the usual internal combustion engine.
At the same time, the dynamics of the Nissan Leaf is the envy of a good half of its gasoline and diesel competitors, despite the rather modest official acceleration rate of 11.5 seconds. Under the hatchback hood is an 80-kilowatt electric motor with a return of no less than 254 Nm of thrust, available ... right away. There are no revolutions in the electric motor. And this is an indicator of the torque of some 1.6 Turbo, so the reaction to the accelerator in the car is almost instantaneous from any typed speed.
The Leaf is controlled calmly, which is traditional for Nissans. The steering wheel, which is soft in turns, reacts smoothly to deviations and does not cause a desire to take turns at the limit, just like the suspension, designed primarily for comfort, copes with most of our potholes with commendable calm, despite the fact that it has not adapted specifically for Russia.
A very nice feature of the electric car is that it does not need to be heated, as well as to wait for heat to enter the passenger compartment. The car's stove is autonomous, immediately supplying heated air, which in the middle of the cold autumn in St. Petersburg is perceived as a great blessing.
Now the most important thing is how much it all travels. Let's say right away that we were not going to give any Nissan Leaf discounts, operating the car in exactly the same way as any other - that is, with a constantly working stove, radio, shooting on the highway and downtime in traffic jams at an outside temperature of +5 to +10 degrees. Let's be honest, there are a lot of nuances.
The declared power reserve of a car with a lithium-ion battery of 30 kW / h - up to 250 km - immediately crashed into Russian autumn realities. 100% fully charged on-board computer machine gave the rest of the course at the level of 112 km. Well, in general, this is also not bad: for example, the distance from my house to the editorial office is about 20 km, so a full charge should be enough for at least 2.5 round trips. In reality, of course, everything turned out differently.
The mileage reserve of the rest of the course is a kind of deposit. Each action either adds, but more often takes away a certain number of kilometers. Turned on the stove - minus one or two kilometers, turned on the radio and heated seats - another minus one or two kilometers. As a result, I started not from 112 km, but already from 108 km of the rest of the course.
In a real urban rhythm, by the way, precious kilometers do not evaporate as quickly as it might seem. Moreover, regular accelerations do not particularly affect the sharp drop in charge. It's all about the energy recovery system during braking - each press on the brake pedal replenishes the battery. And there is also next to the Drive position and driving mode B, in which the system works most efficiently. That is why urban traffic and traffic jams are a boon for an electric car.
But long backache along the highway is highly undesirable. Departure to the ring road - and the power reserve of the battery began to disappear before our eyes. Moreover, the activation of the cruise control for a more uniform movement exacerbated the situation - the Leaf immediately took another 3 km from the reserve. The fact is that when the cruise is activated, the car understands that braking is not expected in the near future, which means that regenerative energy, too, and, making sure, takes away a small supply of charge.
Along with the "washer" position of CVT B, the only magic button that adds range is the Eco mode. True, Nissan immediately turns into a “vegetable”, almost ceasing to respond to the accelerator, but the power reserve jumps by 2-3 km, providing an additional chance to reach the destination. As a result, from a full charge after twenty kilometers, I drove up to the house with the rest of the course not 92 km, as one might assume, but 72 km. Moreover, having stood overnight on a street with a temperature of +5 degrees, in the morning the Nissan Leaf gave out the rest of 66 km, having sat down, apparently due to the cold.
The remaining kilometers were enough for another two and a half hours of active photography, after which the question of recharging arose. With this, as it seemed initially, I was lucky twice.
Firstly, I live on the first floor of an apartment “anthill”, so by parking next to the windows, through an extension cord, I can easily reach my home outlet, which means I can use household electricity every day without any problems. Secondly, in St. Petersburg there are only two official charging terminals for the whole city: one in the very center of the city in the parking lot of the shopping center, and the second one in the parking lot of Pulkovo airport, which is only three stops away from me by public transport.
From the first option, alas, almost immediately had to be abandoned. The fact is that to charge an electric car, the current strength is preferably not lower than 30A, while in a conventional network it is 16A, so it will take almost twice as long to charge the Leaf from home. In addition, standing next to the windows of a 600-apartment building is an absolutely hopeless task, even on weekends. Hope only for a happy accident, but not for everyday practice. Well, fingers crossed, I had to go to the terminal, since it is nearby.
Charging at the public terminal of St. Petersburg is free - you only need to take a key card from the guard to open the socket cover. The problem is different: the terminal is located in the paid parking of the airport, where every hour costs 200 rubles. True, there is a tariff of 800 rubles per night, but in our case there was nowhere to go on an empty battery.
Opening a small hood under the Nissan front emblem, we find two connectors for regular and express charging. We leave the express right away, since there was still no plug for it in the kit. The connected connector can be locked with a button in the passenger compartment to prevent the wire from being stolen. Under the windshield there is a charge indication in the form of three cells, as on mobile phone. The Nissan Leaf is charging, alas, slowly - the on-board computer gave a message that it takes 12 hours to reach 100% charge.
In general, in almost 6 hours of charging, the on-board computer raised the rest of the course from 15 to 68 km, which was enough to go around a couple more places on business within the district and return back to the outlet.
What is the bottom line?
Three days with an electric car in the role of its owner, that is, an ordinary resident of the Russian metropolis, revealed a lot of nuances and additional conclusions.
Nissan Leaf by driving and consumer qualities is no different from an ordinary golf-class car, and in terms of speed it even surpasses most classmates with a conventional internal combustion engine.
The real mileage on a full charge, taking into account all the nuances of our road and weather ups and downs, is about 100 km. In a metropolis, this is one day's drive in the home-work-gym-shop-home mode.
And this means that in the conditions of St. Petersburg or Moscow, the Nissan Leaf immediately teaches strict discipline and planning your daily schedule - leaving in the morning for work, you must clearly understand where you will go today and how many kilometers to your destination. A wife who calls in the middle of the day with a request to call, for example, to her mother, will have to immediately refuse. Any entry into the schedule of an unplanned destination can lead to the fact that you simply will not reach it, as well as then home.
An electric car is a purely urban transport. Due to the limited mileage, any trips out of town by car, in general, are ordered. In addition, when building a traffic route, you will have to ignore ring roads and long avenues as much as possible, which save a lot of time, but diligently consume battery power.
For two uses of a public charging station, which in St. Petersburg are located exclusively in paid parking lots, we spent almost two thousand rubles. In St. Petersburg, theoretically, this is the monthly rate of spending on charging at the night rate or 50 liters (that is, full tank) AI-95 gasoline, which can be enough for any golf-class car with an internal combustion engine under the same conditions for a week. Hence the conclusion: an electric car justifies its fuel savings only if there are free sockets.
Based on the foregoing, the owner of an electric car should always have an outlet near the house, and ideally also near work. In fact, this means the presence of a private house, its own parking lot, or at least a garage, but not a crowded street parking lot next to an apartment building or business center.
And last, of course, the cost. Retail Nissan price Leaf in Europe without any state benefits and compensation is about 30,000 Euros. Even taking into account zero duties in Russia, a Japanese electric car turns out to be more expensive than two million rubles, to which all the above-described nuances are added. Which, to be honest, put an end to the meaning of buying such a car.
Why is the notorious Tesla, which is three times more expensive, for example, enjoying success?
Omitting the arguments about the trend and fashion for the popularity of Elon Musk's products, the answer is simple. Firstly, Tesla's power reserve is three times higher even in our conditions. Secondly, the power of Tesla's electric motor provides her with the dynamics of a sports car at an equivalent cost with any of the traditional competitors. And thirdly, Tesla buyers are wealthy people who just live in their own homes, work in their own companies, which means they can secure not only the purchase of the electric machine itself, but also the construction of infrastructure for it both at home and at work.
But the project of a mass electric car, which the Nissan Leaf claims, alas, has not yet been justified. The high cost of the car itself interferes, and in our country there is also a complete lack of infrastructure for it.
So, electric cars are not applicable in Russia today?
By no means! Exploring all the features operating Nissan Leaf, one can draw a paradoxical conclusion: to get rid of almost all the shortcomings of an electric car, you just need to leave the metropolis for which it was largely created. Indeed, in a small provincial town, there are minimum distances from home to work, there are no traffic jams, no long avenues and ring roads, clogged parking lots and yards, low-rise construction, and even the private sector - that is, direct access to sockets. Dachas and country houses are located within 15-30 km from the district center, which means that it is possible to go out of town. In fact, there is only one problem - the high cost of the car itself.
It is when an electric car becomes comparable in price to a conventional car of the same class that some kind of revolution will take place in this segment. In the meantime, the destiny of such cars is to be interesting toys in the hands of the rich and environmentally-minded Europeans or Americans.
