user546379
New member
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2023
- Messages
- 2
Hello Leaf drivers,
BACKGROUND INFO:
I am the original owner of a 2020 Leaf S with 40 kWh battery. No prior issues with the car. I almost always charge at home using 30 amps at 240 volts with the original charger supplied by Nissan. Have never charged at a faster rate than that. Default driving mode is ECO, with frequent use of the "B" gear for extra regen braking, as well as cruise control. I live on Oahu in Hawaii, so the ambient temperature is almost always between 70 and 85 degrees F. The terrain is mountainous, and my daily commute includes an 800 ft elevation gain and drop at a speed of 55 mph each way. I've generally ignored the "range" estimate shown on the dash display as I assume it doesn't "learn" that I drive over a mountain every day. Rather, I monitor the % charge. I aim to charge when the charge level is 30 to 40%, and I use a timer to limit the charge level to 94% or less so that I don't lose regen braking. On September 7, 2023 a dealership installed the NTB23-057 recall software update. They also did a battery health check which showed "perfect" results on the same day.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:
Today I was driving uphill at 55 mph, when the % charge instantaneously dropped from 18 to 5%. The warning light also came on. I was not using the A/C at the time. Over the next 30 seconds or so, the gauge quickly went from 5...4...3...2....1. By dumb luck, as the gauge hit 1%, I hit peak elevation on the mountain pass, and was able to coast in neutral until the freeway starts going downhill. I then coasted in D-ECO, and the charge level eventually went up to 12% (though not smoothly 1,2,3,4,5...12). This was sufficient to get me home.
QUESTIONS:
Does this story indicate a faulty battery, or just a bad estimate by the battery management system of the battery capacity? Will a 2020 Leaf automatically "learn" that the 18% estimate was way off, and recalibrate it's percentage scale after such an incident? If so, does that imply that overall battery capacity has degraded significantly (even enough to trigger a warranty claim)? Is there any recommended action on my part (e.g. fully charge to 100%, buy a LeafSpy device).
Thanks to anyone who can advise.
BACKGROUND INFO:
I am the original owner of a 2020 Leaf S with 40 kWh battery. No prior issues with the car. I almost always charge at home using 30 amps at 240 volts with the original charger supplied by Nissan. Have never charged at a faster rate than that. Default driving mode is ECO, with frequent use of the "B" gear for extra regen braking, as well as cruise control. I live on Oahu in Hawaii, so the ambient temperature is almost always between 70 and 85 degrees F. The terrain is mountainous, and my daily commute includes an 800 ft elevation gain and drop at a speed of 55 mph each way. I've generally ignored the "range" estimate shown on the dash display as I assume it doesn't "learn" that I drive over a mountain every day. Rather, I monitor the % charge. I aim to charge when the charge level is 30 to 40%, and I use a timer to limit the charge level to 94% or less so that I don't lose regen braking. On September 7, 2023 a dealership installed the NTB23-057 recall software update. They also did a battery health check which showed "perfect" results on the same day.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:
Today I was driving uphill at 55 mph, when the % charge instantaneously dropped from 18 to 5%. The warning light also came on. I was not using the A/C at the time. Over the next 30 seconds or so, the gauge quickly went from 5...4...3...2....1. By dumb luck, as the gauge hit 1%, I hit peak elevation on the mountain pass, and was able to coast in neutral until the freeway starts going downhill. I then coasted in D-ECO, and the charge level eventually went up to 12% (though not smoothly 1,2,3,4,5...12). This was sufficient to get me home.
QUESTIONS:
Does this story indicate a faulty battery, or just a bad estimate by the battery management system of the battery capacity? Will a 2020 Leaf automatically "learn" that the 18% estimate was way off, and recalibrate it's percentage scale after such an incident? If so, does that imply that overall battery capacity has degraded significantly (even enough to trigger a warranty claim)? Is there any recommended action on my part (e.g. fully charge to 100%, buy a LeafSpy device).
Thanks to anyone who can advise.