2018 Leaf: How to Charge to 80% Only?

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lilly

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 25, 2017
Messages
48
On the old Leaf, you could program it to charge to 80% charge only to decrease the wear on the batteries. However, on the new Leaf, I do not see anywhere on the manual how to do so. I only see an option to program the start and end times for charging. Is there an optional program to charge only to 80% full capacity? If so, how do I do so? Thanks.
 
The elimination of the 80% charge option in 2014 left a bad taste in a lot of our mouths. Not only does Nissan not admit that they did it because the EPA range estimate got averaged in 2013, they have doubled down by insisting that there is no need at all to limit charging to less than 100%. This despite everything that is known about lithium batteries suggesting otherwise. If it's any consolation, the actual state of charge (SOC) at 100% indicated is more like 96%.

There IS a wireless, app-controlled timer that plugs in right between the J-1772 plug and the car's charging port, but it isn't rated for outdoor use. If you have your charging station in a garage, that is your best option.
 
lilly said:
On the old Leaf, you could program it to charge to 80% charge only to decrease the wear on the batteries. However, on the new Leaf, I do not see anywhere on the manual how to do so. I only see an option to program the start and end times for charging. Is there an optional program to charge only to 80% full capacity? If so, how do I do so? Thanks.

How far do you drive every day? There is nothing wrong with charging to 100%, as long as you don't leave it sitting at 100% for extended periods (especially in warmer climates). If your initial daily drive is enough to get it down around 80%, then just let it charge every night. Use the timer so it finishes just before you are ready to depart.
 
baustin said:
lilly said:
On the old Leaf, you could program it to charge to 80% charge only to decrease the wear on the batteries. However, on the new Leaf, I do not see anywhere on the manual how to do so. I only see an option to program the start and end times for charging. Is there an optional program to charge only to 80% full capacity? If so, how do I do so? Thanks.

How far do you drive every day? There is nothing wrong with charging to 100%, as long as you don't leave it sitting at 100% for extended periods (especially in warmer climates). If your initial daily drive is enough to get it down around 80%, then just let it charge every night. Use the timer so it finishes just before you are ready to depart.

There actually IS something wrong with charging to 100% if you don't need that much range. No other EV does that by default. In warmer climates, any time at high SOC and moderate temperatures is not good.
 
DaveinOlyWA said:
baustin said:
lilly said:
On the old Leaf, you could program it to charge to 80% charge only to decrease the wear on the batteries. However, on the new Leaf, I do not see anywhere on the manual how to do so. I only see an option to program the start and end times for charging. Is there an optional program to charge only to 80% full capacity? If so, how do I do so? Thanks.

How far do you drive every day? There is nothing wrong with charging to 100%, as long as you don't leave it sitting at 100% for extended periods (especially in warmer climates). If your initial daily drive is enough to get it down around 80%, then just let it charge every night. Use the timer so it finishes just before you are ready to depart.

There actually IS something wrong with charging to 100% if you don't need that much range. No other EV does that by default. In warmer climates, any time at high SOC and moderate temperatures is not good.

I have to admit I agree; I charge to 80% almost every day.
I can't believe Nissan never "restored" the ability to do this...or (better yet) made it programmable (variable %).
 
Stanton said:
DaveinOlyWA said:
baustin said:
How far do you drive every day? There is nothing wrong with charging to 100%, as long as you don't leave it sitting at 100% for extended periods (especially in warmer climates). If your initial daily drive is enough to get it down around 80%, then just let it charge every night. Use the timer so it finishes just before you are ready to depart.

There actually IS something wrong with charging to 100% if you don't need that much range. No other EV does that by default. In warmer climates, any time at high SOC and moderate temperatures is not good.

I have to admit I agree; I charge to 80% almost every day.
I can't believe Nissan never "restored" the ability to do this...or (better yet) made it programmable (variable %).

Agreed. Incredibly stupid. My first full charge indicated DoD of 92% which I thought was great but not to be. My 2nd charge went to 506 GIDs an increase of 15!
 
I think GM’s solution here was brilliant. They made an 87% charge option by labeling it “hilltop reserve” implying it’s to leave space for regen if you live at the top of a giant hill. This keeps the EPA out of it and they get the full 100% SOC range on the Monroney.

I hope Nissan will do something similar in the future
 
I believe the Tesla Model S's have an option where you can choose any SOC you want(within a range) do they still have that option and does the Model 3 have it? If so and Tesla can get away with it, why can't Nissan do something similar :?
 
DaveinOlyWA said:
baustin said:
lilly said:
On the old Leaf, you could program it to charge to 80% charge only to decrease the wear on the batteries. However, on the new Leaf, I do not see anywhere on the manual how to do so. I only see an option to program the start and end times for charging. Is there an optional program to charge only to 80% full capacity? If so, how do I do so? Thanks.

How far do you drive every day? There is nothing wrong with charging to 100%, as long as you don't leave it sitting at 100% for extended periods (especially in warmer climates). If your initial daily drive is enough to get it down around 80%, then just let it charge every night. Use the timer so it finishes just before you are ready to depart.

There actually IS something wrong with charging to 100% if you don't need that much range. No other EV does that by default. In warmer climates, any time at high SOC and moderate temperatures is not good.

While charging under the conditions mentioned is not good for the battery, Nissan did design it so that a 100% charge is needed on a regular basis to keep the cells properly balanced.

I use an early morning timer and the 80% option on my 2013 to hopefully maintain a healthy condition for my new battery. I do charge to 100% every 7 to 14 days, when I know that my initial trip for the day will get the charge level down to 80% or lower.
 
leftiebiker and webeleafowners,

Can you post links to the devices you use to limit charging?

Thanks,

radarguy
 
The post above covers it. We actually own a juicebox that has all the same capability.

If you are just using 120 to charge go to Home Depot and buy a remote control plug thingy. Like you use at Christmas with the lights but for high current.
 
I saw on youtube lately that one guy was test driving the 2018 Leaf from 100% to 0% on a road test. He got the Leaf Spy connected as well. What he found was interesting. At 100% full charge, Leaf Spy showing 38KWh, there is a 2 KWh reserved room for regen. Nissan apparently never charge the battery to full capacity. May be that is why they said 80% option is not needed.

Also interesting is that at 0% dash indication, Leaf Spy still read about 9% power left. Looks like Nissan already designed the charging unit to prolong the battery life under normal use.

Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5DxpaQo7gI
 
Honva said:
I saw on youtube lately that one guy was test driving the 2018 Leaf from 100% to 0% on a road test. He got the Leaf Spy connected as well. What he found was interesting. At 100% full charge, Leaf Spy showing 38KWh, there is a 2 KWh reserved room for regen. Nissan apparently never charge the battery to full capacity. May be that is why they said 80% option is not needed.

Also interesting is that at 0% dash indication, Leaf Spy still read about 9% power left. Looks like Nissan already designed the charging unit to prolong the battery life under normal use.

Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5DxpaQo7gI


OR... the fudge factor was created because the BMS was simply not consistent enough.

My 2018 LEAF has had a relatively large range of "full" in the near 6 weeks I have had it including one time it charged to 506 GIDs, 39.3 kwh available and 99.51% SOC (this is real SOC...)

The real kicker is at 99.1 % SOC, I was able to regen 9 KW in E Pedal and that was low speed, no real slope regen...



date miles miles/kw SOH ahr Hx GIDs kwh avail SOC notes
2/17/2018 42.5 4.3 99.66 115.05 99.86 491 38.1 96.52
2/19/2018 81.4 4.4 99.65 115.04 99.87 506 39.3 99.51
2/20/2018 128.7 4.1 99.63 115.01 101.98 486 37.7 95.69
2/22/2018 183.9 3.9 99.60 114.98 104.24 497 38.5 97.79 2 QC
2/23/2018 78.4 3.6 99.60 114.98 104.95 497 38.5 97.81 no drive 2/24
2/26/2018 61.7 4.3 99.57 114.94 105.32 493 38.2 97.08
2/28/2018 24.6 4.5 99.54 114.91 106.95 493 38.2 97.05
3/1/2018 99.9 4.4 99.53 114.90 107.91 494 38.3 97.27
3/6/2018 46.4 4 99.47 114.83 110.47 488 37.8 96.07
3/16/2018 127.2 4.5 97.02 114.69 113.59 498 38.6 98.13
3/19/2018 50.7 4.3 96.99 114.65 114.18 487 37.7 96.05
3/23/2018 118.4 4.3 99.25 114.57 115.34 494 38.3 97.51 160 miles driven day before
3/29/2018 127.6 4 99.21 114.53 115.56 493 38.2 97.42
 
I saw on youtube lately that one guy was test driving the 2018 Leaf from 100% to 0% on a road test. He got the Leaf Spy connected as well. What he found was interesting. At 100% full charge, Leaf Spy showing 38KWh, there is a 2 KWh reserved room for regen. Nissan apparently never charge the battery to full capacity. May be that is why they said 80% option is not needed.

Also interesting is that at 0% dash indication, Leaf Spy still read about 9% power left. Looks like Nissan already designed the charging unit to prolong the battery life under normal use.

Nissan has always done this, although it used to be about 95% actual SOC at 100% indicated SOC. The batteries still degraded. Let's hope that 91% actual SOC is low enough. If I get one of these Crap-Tastic cars I'll be stopping at roughly 80%.
 
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