Will the 2018 Leaf work for me?

[ghudson911]

So my commute to the airport (I’m a pilot) is 50 miles one way, all highway, so a total of 100 miles driven. The car would most likely sit in the parking lot for anywhere to 2-5 days before I need to go home. Would the 2018 work do y’all think? I wouldn’t mind sometimes stopping at a charger on the way but I don’t want it to be a normal occurrence.

[alozzy]

Where do you live and what's your commute like (elevation changes, posted speed limit, etc)?

Right now, the 2018 LEAF is looking like a bad choice for any hot climates, just like earlier model years. Also, the tapering of charging rate during successive DCQC sessions (if so equipped) is annoying many new owners who were expecting the LEAF to be able to travel >300 miles, using back to back charges, without having to wait >1 hr for en-route charging to complete.

[OrientExpress]

I just took a leaf on back to back 250 miles drives from Monterey to Lake Tahoe and back with successive QCs, and experienced none of the charging issues that others are complaining about. Going up to Tahoe, I QC'd 3 times and going home QC's twice. The 2018 LEAF that I drove performed its QCs exactly like my 2014 does.

All QC sessions on ALL BEVs taper their charge rate over the time of the charge. Some do it more aggressively like the Chevy Bolt, and the LEAF tapers it charge rate too, but not unlike earlier versions have always done. Those that are critical of the charge time for the new LEAF are just regurgitating what they have read on the web. I can confirm, that those accusations of slow QC times are inaccurate, misunderstood, or just FUD.

If your commute is 100 miles RT, and you would leave your car at the airport and not charge it there, as long as you left with a full charge you won't have any problem.

The LEAF is a fine car, and the 18 with it's ProPilot features is outstanding. It has the best adaptive cruse control of any car I have driven, and the overall quality of the build is superior to any other BEV with possibly the exception of the e-Golf. I have enough confidence in the 2018 LEAF that I took delivery of a 2018 SL yesterday.

[LeftieBiker]

What were the air temperatures on your little trip?

[ghudson911]

I’m in NJ. Pretty flat. Speed limits are 65

[OrientExpress]

I’m in NJ. Pretty flat. Speed limits are 65

One thing that I did on the trip that had temps between 65 and 88 degrees was I drove the speed limit on all the roads, so there were sections on Interstate 80 and 5 that I drove at 70. I think that you would be fine with the car. If you lived in the Texas Arizona or Florida, I'm not sure I would recommend any EV on the market today, but in NJ, the car will suit you well.

[LeftieBiker]

but in NJ, the car will suit you well.

For nine months of the year, anyway. Hopefully you won't have to park it for the other three.

[alozzy]

Another possibility is that the issue is only with UK Leafs (built in Sunderland). I've seen quite a few YouTube videos and the charging rate seems to drop to below 25 kW, irrespective of the SOC.

This woman claims to have been sent a letter by Nissan that confirms the charging rate tapering:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=660EV142-Io

I haven't personally seen anything official from Nissan, but apparently this is what they stated:

“The 2018 Nissan LEAF has charging safeguards to protect the battery during repeated fast charging sessions in a short period of time. While the safeguards may increase charging times after multiple fast charging sessions, they are important to maintaining battery life over an extended time period.”

[RegGuheert]

I’m in NJ. Pretty flat. Speed limits are 65

When it is 10F out and windy, you likely won't make it.

[OrientExpress]

I've seen quite a few YouTube videos and the charging rate seems to drop to below 25 kW, irrespective of the SOC.

At the end stage of a QC it is quite normal to see the rate drop below 25kW. I've seen that happen all the time with my '11 and '14.