What is the Leaf range drop in the winter?

[LucJHN2022]

Hi!
I don't have a heat pump on my Leaf (I was cheap when I bought it).
I got used to this. Anyway, I am interested in learning about others' stories related to range drop in the winter (I am yet to drive it through winter). Is it really that significant as I heard? I am more into city driving, so not so manny road trips. I can preheat the car every morning while it is charging, and when it is cold I can park it in the garage. So, any stories/thoughts, pls?

 

[cornbinder89]

There is no set amount. there are many factors, each has an effect on range. A good guess-ta- ment is between 10% and 20% reduction in range.

 

[BillAinCT]

Great answer and adding to this: If you need cabin heating, to minimize the range reduction, start with the heat on low and increase it slowly keeping the resistive heater off. On a plus, I do this watching the Energy screen. You could do it in Leaf Spy too I suppose. I normally see 2 to 4 climate energy bars. Using resistive heat jumps that to 5 to 10 in which case I lower the heat again and let it gradually increase using the heat pump. This keeps the reduction closer to the 10% value than the 20% value.

 

[frontrangeleaf]

Interesting. I hadn't thought of that, Bill.

It can change a lot depending on conditions. If it's really bitter cold outside, I'm talking well below zero Fahrenheit, expect a very large hit - 50% isn't unheard of. We don't drive our Leaf in that kind of weather. Fortunately, it's also quite rare where we live. Now back in the day, in the mid-West, that was a different time and place...

Keep your tire pressures up. They drop off about 1psi for every 10 degrees of cold. That can add up and further impact your range.

 

[Toby]

Keep your tire pressures up. They drop off about 1psi for every 10 degrees of cold. That can add up and further impact your range.

Good point.

It helps to set the cabin heater warmer than outside but less than in your home. If you are dressed for winter you don't need much extra heat.

BTW, make sure to direct some warmish air to the windshield.

 

[MikeinPA]

In fresh snow our Leafs seem to use a more energy. Never measured it precisely. But if you hear snow crunching under the front wheels--its doing extra work and the range drops faster.

 

[frontrangeleaf]

In fresh snow our Leafs seem to use a more energy. Never measured it precisely. But if you hear snow crunching under the front wheels--its doing extra work and the range drops faster.

Agree! Even driving in the rain has surprising effects. I'm unclear why, actually, but I've experienced it.

 

[Chad E. Mo]

Same here with the rain. 5% - 10% loss. Gotta be reduced traction. (IMO)

My experience as a SV+ daily 100 mile highway commuter shows a 20% - 25% drop in range. 150 -160 mile winter range is common. I love when the weather warms up and my range goes back up over 200 miles.

 

[Gerhard]

In the winter I always drive with the heat on but it is set to the minimum setting and it seems comfortable to me since I dress for the weather. In Canada the minimum setting is 18°C so it isn’t shirtsleeve comfortable but with a sweater on long drives or the winter coat for short trips. In the summer I start thinking about charging around 200km, in the winter it drops to 140 km before I start looking for a charging opportunity.

 

[Jeffrey Stumpf]

There is no set amount. there are many factors, each has an effect on range. A good guess-ta- ment is between 10% and 20% reduction in range.

So far, with multiple Leaf’s under my belt each having about 30,000 miles on them when I traded them in. Long Range road trips ( 460 miles ) seem to have about the same range, once the battery is heated up after the first DC Quick Charge. On short trips, where I charge overnight, the range goes down about 20%. But that means if I charge to 100% overnight, which I always do in the winter, everything I do is within range. I love skipping gas stations, and just charge at home. Since 2019 I have had the Plus model ( 60+ kWh HV Battery) only the 2018 was an SL ( 40 kWh HV battery). I currently have a 2024 SV Plus with 8,900 miles on it. It is my post retirement EV, so the mileage is low.

 

[Jerther]

On my previous 2018 40kWh, on cold -20C days of winter, freeway 115km/h, toasty inside, heated seats and steering wheel, dubious traction battery, I've experienced -50% in range. That's really the worst I've seen.

 

[Fersigo]

Great answer and adding to this: If you need cabin heating, to minimize the range reduction, start with the heat on low and increase it slowly keeping the resistive heater off. On a plus, I do this watching the Energy screen. You could do it in Leaf Spy too I suppose. I normally see 2 to 4 climate energy bars. Using resistive heat jumps that to 5 to 10 in which case I lower the heat again and let it gradually increase using the heat pump. This keeps the reduction closer to the 10% value than the 20% value.

Thank you for this! I've been blithely driving around in my 2020 Leaf Tekna without being aware that the car even had a heat pump, far less trying to use a "heating profile" that would maximise its benefit. D'oh! Every day is a school day, as they say...

 

[Caliwish]

Today I drove my 2019 SV 40kw full bars with a heat pump. My state of charge dropped 40 % to drive 40 miles or 2.5miles per kw if all 40 kw working. 14F, snow tires at 45 psi. Only turned on climate to defog the windows. Speeds of 30 to 60mph. In ideal temps, I get 120 miles on the highway 65 to 70 mph and 150 in city 35 to 45 mph.