Australian release of Nissan LEAF

[DownUnderLeaf]

Also, for 2013 the cabin is heated by a heat pump which saves a good deal of energy over the resistance heating the older models have.

Only the 2013 SV and 2013 SL. The 2013S has the same power hungry heating that the 2011 and 2012 LEAF have.

Keep in mind that specs and equipment may be different for other markets, especially when that other market sources their cars from a different factory as is the case for MY 2013.

A quick check over at Nissan.com.au doesn't even show different trim levels for the Leaf like we get here in North America. When you try to "Build Your Own" you only get a choice of colors.

This is true. We basically have the Japan spec model. However we do not have heated seats or steering wheel.

Nor is a 2013 model available to us yet until the 2012 stock allocation has cleared. That's why we are seeing great price reductions at the moment.

 

[Feng]

G'day all,

Any Sydneysiders among us? I took a LEAF for a test drive a few weeks ago and I'm interested in buying one after we sell our Golf. After calling two dealers I was told the specialist at one doesn't work on weekends and the other only just got accredited to sell the LEAF and didn't have any available to test. It doesn't inspire confidence when they almost sound surprised on the phone when I mentioned interest in seeing the LEAF! We ended up going to Steve Jarvin Nissan in Burwood. Anyone had dealings with them? They seemed alright. The fact that they have a free public Chargepoint on the side of the building shows commitment!

I've done my homework and the LEAF seems well suited for our needs. I just have this niggling doubt that if the LEAF doesn't sell well in Australia, we will end up high and dry with no place qualified to service or repair them and no public charging infrastructure. Am I being way too pessimistic about it?

We were originally looking at a Lexus CT200h but the smoothness and simplicity of the LEAF makes the Lexus feel a generation behind. It does feel like the safe bet though! Things like resale value and 8 year 160,000km battery warranty. I wish Nissan Australia followed America's example and gave an extended warranty for the battery!

 

[DownUnderLeaf]

G'day all,

Any Sydneysiders among us? I took a LEAF for a test drive a few weeks ago and I'm interested in buying one after we sell our Golf. After calling two dealers I was told the specialist at one doesn't work on weekends and the other only just got accredited to sell the LEAF and didn't have any available to test. It doesn't inspire confidence when they almost sound surprised on the phone when I mentioned interest in seeing the LEAF! We ended up going to Steve Jarvin Nissan in Burwood. Anyone had dealings with them? They seemed alright. The fact that they have a free public Chargepoint on the side of the building shows commitment!

I've done my homework and the LEAF seems well suited for our needs. I just have this niggling doubt that if the LEAF doesn't sell well in Australia, we will end up high and dry with no place qualified to service or repair them and no public charging infrastructure. Am I being way too pessimistic about it?

We were originally looking at a Lexus CT200h but the smoothness and simplicity of the LEAF makes the Lexus feel a generation behind. It does feel like the safe bet though! Things like resale value and 8 year 160,000km battery warranty. I wish Nissan Australia followed America's example and gave an extended warranty for the battery!

Ev's are here to stay. Maybe slow on the uptake here in OZ but it will happen.

I'm in Melbourne myself and love being able to tell pele about the car. They are all quite surprised at just how much car it really is.

As for your infrastructure concerns I too had them before I purchased mine. But since having the LEAF 6 months now I have only ever charged in public at the very few available stations simply so the car would save the chargers location.

I did however stumble across the location of Melbourns first fast charger to be debuted in a few weeks time. When I got there to my surprise a couple of guys from ChargePoint were there commissioning the unit and let me use it. Very exciting. But I digress, the point is they are also passionate about EVs and the required infrastructure and they assured me more is coming, even a second fast charger!!

So you have nothing to lose. And the car has come down in price so much now it's amazing.

 

[leighf]

Melbourne's first fast charger... I'm intrigued. I'll have to wait for its public debut.

The only public charging station I've used is at the airport, and I only go there about 5 times a year.

It hasn't really been an issue for me as my daily commute is 70-80km which is fine even with 80% charging.

Leigh

 

[Feng]

Another thing I noticed yesterday after looking up the VINs of new LEAFs for sale on carsales.com.au: They all decode to 2010 year build dates, even though they're being sold as 2012/2013 year models. Another poster elsewhere says the same thing about his 2012 LEAF, even though his rego says it was a July 2012 build his VIN decodes to December 2010 build. Does anyone know what the deal is? Something about build date and compliance date? I had this fear that the slow sales meant there was a backlog of LEAFs in a car yard somewhere, waiting to be sold. Not sure what 2-3 years of storage would do to the batteries!

 

[DownUnderLeaf]

Melbourne's first fast charger... I'm intrigued. I'll have to wait for its public debut.

The only public charging station I've used is at the airport, and I only go there about 5 times a year.

It hasn't really been an issue for me as my daily commute is 70-80km which is fine even with 80% charging.

Leigh

It's in Moreland.

I regularly check my ChargePoint app and it was sheer coincidence the day I checked it they were commissioning the unit and it was listed online. I'm sure you can imagine my excitement at seeing a fast charger, I was in the car like a shot on my way to check it out lol.

Once it's launched it will be back on the app they assured me. And it will be free for the time being.

 

[DownUnderLeaf]

Another thing I noticed yesterday after looking up the VINs of new LEAFs for sale on carsales.com.au: They all decode to 2010 year build dates, even though they're being sold as 2012/2013 year models. Another poster elsewhere says the same thing about his 2012 LEAF, even though his rego says it was a July 2012 build his VIN decodes to December 2010 build. Does anyone know what the deal is? Something about build date and compliance date? I had this fear that the slow sales meant there was a backlog of LEAFs in a car yard somewhere, waiting to be sold. Not sure what 2-3 years of storage would do to the batteries!

How do you come to decode the bin to a 2010 build?

 

[RonDawg]

The first year's production sold out quickly in order to fulfill advance orders, so I doubt the cars sat for 2 or so years. There is a video on YouTube showing the first Leafs being offloaded at a UK port and all 500 were already spoken for.

 

[leighf]

It's in Moreland.

I regularly check my ChargePoint app and it was sheer coincidence the day I checked it they were commissioning the unit and it was listed online. I'm sure you can imagine my excitement at seeing a fast charger, I was in the car like a shot on my way to check it out lol.

Once it's launched it will be back on the app they assured me. And it will be free for the time being.

That's interesting. I've seen a white LEAF with signwriting for something in Moreland (library?) driving around Eltham a couple of times. Maybe a coincidence?

Leigh

 

[DownUnderLeaf]

It's in Moreland.

I regularly check my ChargePoint app and it was sheer coincidence the day I checked it they were commissioning the unit and it was listed online. I'm sure you can imagine my excitement at seeing a fast charger, I was in the car like a shot on my way to check it out lol.

Once it's launched it will be back on the app they assured me. And it will be free for the time being.

That's interesting. I've seen a white LEAF with signwriting for something in Moreland (library?) driving around Eltham a couple of times. Maybe a coincidence?

Leigh

No no, that's Moreland City Councils car. The guy behind the ev movement there, Stuart, I also met when I got to use the charger. He is as excited as us about the car and what makes it better is he is in a position to promote infrastructure because of his position in the council.

Moreland is a certified carbon neutral council, one of round five in australia. So them having a LEAF is no coincidence.

 

[Feng]

Another thing I noticed yesterday after looking up the VINs of new LEAFs for sale on carsales.com.au: They all decode to 2010 year build dates, even though they're being sold as 2012/2013 year models. Another poster elsewhere says the same thing about his 2012 LEAF, even though his rego says it was a July 2012 build his VIN decodes to December 2010 build. Does anyone know what the deal is? Something about build date and compliance date? I had this fear that the slow sales meant there was a backlog of LEAFs in a car yard somewhere, waiting to be sold. Not sure what 2-3 years of storage would do to the batteries!

How do you come to decode the bin to a 2010 build?

I searched on Google for "VIN decoder" and found a few free services. Eg http://www.vindecoder.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - It might be a non-issue and I might be interpreting the results wrong, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask!

Edit: I just checked the VIN for a few different Nissan models and all decode to 2010 on various VIN decoding websites. According to the VIN spec if the 10th digit is 'A' then it's either 1980 or 2010 and all the Nissan VINs I looked at have this. It's odd but I'm just glad it's not a LEAF specific problem! I can now buy with confidence! I just wish the updated model made it to our shores sooner but I can't wait that long!

 

[DownUnderLeaf]

Maybe the vin decodes are US specific that's why they are throwing up theses dates.

Anyway on to your purchase!!!

Since we currently only have one model available here in Australia I'm guessing if we are lucky we may see the introduction of the lower spec model only.

And then I'd still want the higher spec on which may cost more than the current prices.

That said I don't feel that the few minor improvements would have delayed my purchase. The few extra kilometers that seem to be eeked out of the same battery wouldn't affect or increase the ability of my car and how I drive it. If an extra 10km or 15km was a real deal breaker then maybe the car isn't suited to that person in the first place.

I know the charger comes as a 6.6kw option now in the overseas models but I really only see that as a bonus if opportunistic charging is part of your daily routine. Australia may not even have that as an option, who knows...

I'm sure you won't have any regrets taking the plunge now on the current model at its new low price.

Think of it like this, if the second model update can have these few little extras what will the possible fourth update have that would be available right about the times a 5 year car loan is due to be paid off.

Be sure to let up know when you have brought it!

Chris,

 

[Feng]

Yeah I've done my homework and watched a ton of reviews on Youtube. I'm okay with not getting the new model, the current one suits us just fine. Some of the convenience features would have been nice but I can work around all that. The current $39,990 price is valid till October and I'm okay with that too. I'd be interested to see if the price will continue to go down because of improved manufacturing and to appeal to more customers or if it will go back up again because the current price isn't sustainable. We're planning to keep the LEAF for the long haul so resale value doesn't matter much to us.

I can't wait to do my grand tour around Sydney to show it off to my friends!

 

[g4qber]

Nissan Australia / Global please read this post.

Please sponsor Chademo DC fast chargers in Mandurah, Bunbury, Perth, Yanchep, Bindoon, Guilderton, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Geraldton.
Northam, York, New Norcia.

also all the way to Margaret River.
http://therevproject.com/trials/highway.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

as you have done in the Netherlands, Sweden, France,
Thanks.

if you are feeling generous please install SAE Combo, J1772, & Chademo units.
EV drivers in Perth will be eternally grateful.

generally 100km spots away from Perth city.
Perhaps along the main highways
at BP service stations.

 

[Feng]

Heard an interesting fib from a sales rep yesterday: When asked why the car yard was full of new stock of other Nissan cars but no LEAFs, his excuse was they don't leave them sitting in the yard in case the batteries run flat. That's interesting since they're supposed to last for months without noticeable discharge!

 

[RonDawg]

Heard an interesting fib from a sales rep yesterday: When asked why the car yard was full of new stock of other Nissan cars but no LEAFs, his excuse was they don't leave them sitting in the yard in case the batteries run flat. That's interesting since they're supposed to last for months without noticeable discharge!

The dealership could have a legitimate excuse: by keeping them under a roof of some sort, it keeps the batteries cooler and thus less likely to suffer premature capacity degradation before the car is actually sold to the consumer.

Then again, they may have no Leafs to sell at all.

 

[DownUnderLeaf]

Heard an interesting fib from a sales rep yesterday: When asked why the car yard was full of new stock of other Nissan cars but no LEAFs, his excuse was they don't leave them sitting in the yard in case the batteries run flat. That's interesting since they're supposed to last for months without noticeable discharge!

Yeah part true, but by flat I'm sure he meant to say degrade. The same for a layman but very different for an ev driver.

And Nissan AU seems to be keeping the inventory tight and only delivering cars to dealers once the one or two they have in stock are gone...

 

[Feng]

Yeah part true, but by flat I'm sure he meant to say degrade. The same for a layman but very different for an ev driver.

And Nissan AU seems to be keeping the inventory tight and only delivering cars to dealers once the one or two they have in stock are gone...

The problem with that is it makes it look like they're being half-hearted about selling it! I called another dealer about it and they had two there, one new one and the other is a demo which the LEAF specialist is also using for his company car.

I hope to see more LEAFs on the street so I won't feel like an oddity when driving one! What sort of reactions do owners usually get in public?

 

[DownUnderLeaf]

What sort of reactions do owners usually get in public?

Funny you pose that question...

I feel hardly anyone know there is anything different about the LEAF, until they talk to me about my 'new car' and I have to tell them it's electric. Not that I mind promoting it at all!

But on my regular commute to work Westgate... Kingsway... Dandynong road... A few weeks ago I was in the traffic with another leaf. A white one. Private plates so not part of the governement EV trial but could have been company owned though. It had plastered all over it that is was 'electric' 'zero emissions' 'plug in' 'green power' etc... Well I was excited, so was everyone else it would seem. You could see everyone checking it out as they were driving by. But no one noticed mine and we were side by side. Funny how people's minds work.

 

[Feng]

What sort of reactions do owners usually get in public?

Funny you pose that question...

I feel hardly anyone know there is anything different about the LEAF, until they talk to me about my 'new car' and I have to tell them it's electric. Not that I mind promoting it at all!

But on my regular commute to work Westgate... Kingsway... Dandynong road... A few weeks ago I was in the traffic with another leaf. A white one. Private plates so not part of the governement EV trial but could have been company owned though. It had plastered all over it that is was 'electric' 'zero emissions' 'plug in' 'green power' etc... Well I was excited, so was everyone else it would seem. You could see everyone checking it out as they were driving by. But no one noticed mine and we were side by side. Funny how people's minds work.

I'd wear the biggest cheesy grin if I ever saw another LEAF owner on the road and wave a bit too enthusiastically. There ought to be a secret handshake gesture. (j/k)