The final detail that everyone has been waiting for about the new and improved 2013 Nissan Leaf electric car is its range.
Nissan estimates a range of 75 miles, but this shouldn’t be contrasted with the 73-mile range of the 2011 and 2012 Leaf models.
This is as a result of the EPA altering the testing procedures it employs to determine the range of electric vehicles for the 2013 model year.
Prior to this year, the range prediction was based on a battery pack that was fully charged.
Many electric vehicles, including the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S, allow owners to restrict charging to 80% of capacity.
While range is decreased, battery life is extended and the process takes disproportionately less time because the final 20% of a battery pack charges more slowly.
The new testing method used by the EPA averages the ranges obtained from charging in the “Long-Life Mode” at 80% and 100%, respectively.
The manufacturer projects their ranges to be 66 miles and 84 miles for the 2013 Nissan Leaf.
The range has increased by 15% from 73 to 84 miles when comparing apples from last year to apples from this year, even though it is not what the window sticker will say.
Nissan claims that improvements to the Leaf’s regenerative braking, decreased aerodynamic drag, and a slightly lighter vehicle are the main causes of the increase in apples-to-apples range.
So, depending on how you charge the vehicle, the 2013 Nissan Leaf’s range can be either 66 miles or 84 miles, or a number in between.
The 2013 Nissan Leaf electric car’s default charging mode is Long-Distance Mode, but owners can easily change it to Long-Life Mode.
No matter the charging method, Nissan states that its battery capacity warranty, which was added in December in response to a few high-mileage Leafs in scorching Phoenix losing noticeable battery capacity, ensures that at least 70% of the battery’s capacity will be present after five years or 60,000 miles.
However, owners may choose to charge the battery only to 80% when they don’t anticipate traveling more than 60 miles in a day, especially in temperate locations where there is no winter weather to lower range below estimates. This will give the battery its best chance for a long lifespan.
The anticipated range rating(s) may be displayed on the window stickers of the 2013 Nissan Leafs, which are now being manufactured in Tennessee and distributed to dealerships around the country.
The base Leaf S model of the 2013 Nissan Leaf costs $28,800, while the SL model costs $34,840. All versions are subject to an obligatory $850 destination tax.
For the purchase of a plug-in vehicle, the Nissan Leaf is eligible for a $7,500 federal income tax credit, in addition to a number of other state, regional, local, and business incentives.
Nissan expects Leaf sales to increase in 2013 from their current levels of between 9,000 and 10,000 a year in 2011 and 2012 thanks to cheaper costs, greater range, performance, and equipment level.
Will we start saying “Your range may vary” now that we’ve been saying “Your mileage may vary” for so long?
How do you feel about the 84-mile (at 100% charging) predicted range for the 2013 Leaf? Was that the rise you anticipated?
In This Article...
Is the Nissan Leaf’s real-world range any greater?
Although it may not have been the desired result, an additional two miles of EPA range for the 2013 Nissan Leaf at 75 miles still constitutes an increase.
This is especially true given that the EPA’s 2013 electric car testing method averages results from 100% and 80% charges rather than merely using 100% of the battery.
But will the 2013 Leaf meet the 84 miles claimed in EPA testing when charged to full capacity? Evidently, no.
The 2013 Leaf actually has a bit less range than the 2012 model before the update, according to a comparison test by Inside EVs.
The 2013 model only accomplished 81.8 miles during testing in southern California, compared to the older model’s 88.7 miles. The actual driving lengths were a little bit less because both of these estimates were error-corrected for odometer inconsistencies as well as for little variances in battery capacity.
Both of those numbers are better than the mid-70s EPA testing results, of course, but drivers hoping to match the 84 miles the EPA recorded for 100 percent capacity may be surprised to learn that the old 73-mile car is capable of traveling longer on a charge.
There are certain variables that could have an impact on the outcomes. One is that the test, which was run as consistently at 62 mph as possible, might not be showcasing all of the advancements made to the new vehicle.
Reduced weight and improved regenerative braking are two 2013 Nissan upgrades that would be more noticeable in stop-and-go traffic and at slower speeds rather than at a constant interstate speed. However, it implies that Nissan’s aerodynamic improvements might be minimal.
The new Leaf’s more effective heater wasn’t turned on during the test either. This would inevitably restrict its range, but the 2013 model would stand a greater chance of traveling further on a chilly day with the heater running because to its lower power draw.
Next, as the owner of the 2013 vehicle notes in the article’s comments, are the bigger wheels and tires on his model. They add weight to the car’s spinning, rolling mass, which is arguably the least ideal place to put it.
Given the official EPA ratings, it’s not awful that either Leaf can travel over 80 miles at moderate highway speeds (even if just barely in the case of the 2013 model), and it’s likely that both will perform better at lower speeds.
Additionally, we’ll have to wait and see how big of a difference the Leaf’s more effective heating makes for drivers in colder locations, as SoCal drivers cannot fully test this. However, it appears that the 2013 Leaf is most effective when driven at slower speeds. Also, stay away from wheel and tire combinations with greater diameters if you want actual efficiency.
Review of the Nissan Leaf from one of our subject matter experts
The Nissan Leaf, a fully battery-electric mass-market vehicle, is now produced in the United States. The Leaf’s range is around 100 miles because it lacks an integrated range-extender generator like the Chevrolet Volt does. The Leaf is a five-seat, four-door, tiny hatchback that qualifies for both federal and state incentives. The Ford Focus Electric and Mitsubishi I are rivals.
updated for 2013 Nissan asserts that upgrades to the 2013 Leaf’s energy management system, regenerative braking system, and aerodynamics allow the vehicle to drive further on a single charge. According to Nissan, a newly available 6.6-kw onboard charger reduces the time needed to charge the battery using a Level 2 setup from seven hours to four.
For 2013, there is a new, less priced entry-level S trim level, and the SV and SL trims’ sticker costs have also decreased.
Other modifications include a charging port door release button on the key fob, an optional hybrid heater system for greater, more effective heating in cold weather, and an optional B driving mode that enables more forceful regenerative braking.
In addition, there are new optional amenities including Bose premium audio, 17-inch alloy wheels, a surround-view camera system, and leather upholstery, as well as a standard leather-wrapped steering wheel, a new interior color scheme of black, increased cargo space, and these features. Exterior The Leaf stands out among high-efficiency four-door vehicles with aerodynamic forms mostly because of its curved rear end and elevated headlights, which are intended to channel incoming air past the side mirrors to lessen drag and noise. features on the outside include:
- coverings for the standard 16-inch steel wheels; options for 16- and 17-inch alloy wheels
- common rear spoiler
- On the car’s nose is a charging port that locks and is illuminated.
- LED taillights come standard; LED headlamps are an option.
- available fog lamps
- SL’s liftgate spoiler has a small solar panel on top of it that slowly recharges the standard 12-volt battery.
Interior The 60/40-split folding backseat of the five-seat Leaf extends the load room forward. Interior characteristics include:
- Standard upholstery is fabric; seats with leather trim are available.
- included heated front and rear seats
- heated steering wheel standard
- Standard CD stereo with an iPod connection and an MP3 jack
- Bluetooth connectivity as is
- The dash screen offers a number of energy-readout panels and a graphical range indicator to assist you assess your battery life and remaining range.
- iPhone connection with Pandora is optional
- A new Eco route feature in the optional navigation system proposes paths that conserve energy.
Within the Hood An electric drive motor with 107 horsepower and 187 pounds-feet of torque drives the front wheels of the Leaf using a 340-volt battery pack. the following mechanical features:
- When using 240 volts, a depleted battery can be recharged in seven hours, or in 21 hours, using 120 volts.
- The optional 6.6-kw onboard charger reduces the 240 volt charging time to four hours.
- Where accessible, a public quick-charge station can replenish a depleted battery to 80% capacity in roughly 30 minutes, but it needs the extra quick-charge port.
A 2013 Nissan LEAF with a range of 380 miles?
Although it is technically conceivable to load more than 100 kWh of batteries into an older LEAF, Fenix Power will be far more cost-effectively replacing the aging and degraded factory packs for the majority of customers with new cooled and monitored batteries of 24–40 kWh.
I thought it was quite ridiculous when I saw my friend Sal Cameli’s graphic of a LEAF guess-o-meter predicting 380 miles of range. A rather large set of batteries would be required for a LEAF to travel more than 300 miles. I was aware that he intended to get the battery pack of his LEAF rebuilt by Fenix Power, but I was unaware of his more radical plans.
I enquired about Sal’s image and the LEAF 380 website with John Bysinger, the proprietor of Fenix Power. Even for first-generation LEAFs from 2011 to 2017 with up to 40 kWh of capacity, Fenix expects to replace packs. Fenix will provide expansion packs to fit in other locations, such as the back trunk space, to acquire even more range. They are going above and above for Sal in order to test his boundaries “We’re investigating how much we can do if we also invade the back seat area as a design exercise. Although it won’t be a production item, we’ll probably sell the parts needed for the daring DIYers who want to attempt.”
John continued by saying that Fenix Power is looking to construct modular battery packs for aging electric vehicles. Fenix intends to provide battery leasing and purchase choices that make it sensible to keep an old and damaged vehicle on the road rather than junking it because battery replacement costs more than the car is worth. This will soon be accessible for many different pre-owned EVs, including some desirable collectable gas cars that individuals desire to convert.
The following prices are anticipated for the LEAF with a battery configuration that restores the original range and possibly a little bit more:
- Purchase your batteries at the following prices: $1,500 for installation, about $6,000 for the battery modules, and a fair maintenance plan.
- Purchase your Batteries over time: $1,500 for installation, $200 or so each month, depending on the length and terms of the payment, and then a considerably more affordable monthly servicing contract.
- Simply Subscribe: $1,500 for installation and LESS THAN $99 per month for service.
They do make clear that this is only a preliminary pricing strategy and that as they go into production, it might alter. For the time being, they are giving the first clients who prepay the service discounts on the installation.
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Real-World Range: 90–190 kilometers
a description of the real-world range in several contexts. Cold weather: “worst-case” depending on use of heating and a temperature of –10°C. Mild weather: “best-case” based on a 23°C temperature with no A/C use. A constant speed of 110 km/h is assumed for “Highway” numbers. The actual range will be influenced by driving style, speed, weather, and road conditions.