Great job on the couple of DRL threads here already, but this post is about utilizing the OEM equipment on our vehicles and "activating the existing DRLs" for U.S. model LEAFs.
BACKGROUND
This is important to me because my insurance company offers a discount (later learned that may be for USAA only & even that's not verified) for adding DRLs to my LEAF AND because I live near the border and may want to sell my LEAF to a Canadian at some point. Canada has a strict mandate that vehicles newer that 15 years old must have DRLs to pass inspection. And for cars "equipped" with OEM DRLs, those must be utilized. If your factory vehicle is NOT equipped with DRLs, then aftermarket lights can be added (this would include the externally-mounted LED strip lights covered in previous MNL posts).
Our LEAFs, according to a few articles I've read, supposedly already have DRLs, but they're "not activated."
For the reasons stated in the previous paragraph, this "U.S. LEAFs have DRLs, they're just not activated" statement is an important distinction. If our LEAFs are equipped with DRLs, they must be activated for import to Canada, which means the other MNL threads adding externally-mounted DRLs are not germane to this discussion.
THEREFORE
1) Can anyone clarify/confirm that we need to "activate" our existing DRLs for Canadian compliance?
2) I've spoken with several Canadian shops that will make the U.S. LEAF's "existing" DRLs compliant. Canadian Tire locations around Vancouver want approx. $200-$350C (don't ask why such a disparity in cost, but they both state it's "about 2-3 hours in labour alone") to "activate" via adding a "module & fuse," while a Victoria EV Dealer can get the job done in five minutes with a "kit" (one for LED headlight-equipped U.S. LEAFs, and a different kit for non-LED) for about $120C installed.
NOTE: the Victoria solution also runs the existing lights at a percentage of power, meaning their install saves energy, too!
Can anyone explain how the Victoria dealer might be accomplishing this for 1/2 the price, with what seems to be a better and FAR easier solution?
3) A viable DRL solution without adding external lights could be great for 10s of thousands of U.S. LEAF owners, because there's no denying that DRLs are a practical safety feature that could literally save your life by avoiding an accident. Plus, installing them just might make you eligible for a discount under your existing auto insurance policy.
BACKGROUND
This is important to me because my insurance company offers a discount (later learned that may be for USAA only & even that's not verified) for adding DRLs to my LEAF AND because I live near the border and may want to sell my LEAF to a Canadian at some point. Canada has a strict mandate that vehicles newer that 15 years old must have DRLs to pass inspection. And for cars "equipped" with OEM DRLs, those must be utilized. If your factory vehicle is NOT equipped with DRLs, then aftermarket lights can be added (this would include the externally-mounted LED strip lights covered in previous MNL posts).
Our LEAFs, according to a few articles I've read, supposedly already have DRLs, but they're "not activated."
For the reasons stated in the previous paragraph, this "U.S. LEAFs have DRLs, they're just not activated" statement is an important distinction. If our LEAFs are equipped with DRLs, they must be activated for import to Canada, which means the other MNL threads adding externally-mounted DRLs are not germane to this discussion.
THEREFORE
1) Can anyone clarify/confirm that we need to "activate" our existing DRLs for Canadian compliance?
2) I've spoken with several Canadian shops that will make the U.S. LEAF's "existing" DRLs compliant. Canadian Tire locations around Vancouver want approx. $200-$350C (don't ask why such a disparity in cost, but they both state it's "about 2-3 hours in labour alone") to "activate" via adding a "module & fuse," while a Victoria EV Dealer can get the job done in five minutes with a "kit" (one for LED headlight-equipped U.S. LEAFs, and a different kit for non-LED) for about $120C installed.
NOTE: the Victoria solution also runs the existing lights at a percentage of power, meaning their install saves energy, too!
Can anyone explain how the Victoria dealer might be accomplishing this for 1/2 the price, with what seems to be a better and FAR easier solution?
3) A viable DRL solution without adding external lights could be great for 10s of thousands of U.S. LEAF owners, because there's no denying that DRLs are a practical safety feature that could literally save your life by avoiding an accident. Plus, installing them just might make you eligible for a discount under your existing auto insurance policy.