1200 Mile Trip in the 2018 LEAF

[OrientExpress]

Minority dissent noted.

[GerryAZ]

I just cannot understand why Nissan is not willing to update the software on 2018 Leafs in the USA.

[Lothsahn]

I just cannot understand why Nissan is not willing to update the software on 2018 Leafs in the USA.

My opinion is that it would be completely out of character for them. It's clear they're only interested in new sales and don't understand any link between customer good will and sales.

Here's a few things that would have cost them very little:
1) Sell 40kWh batteries for all existing Leafs
2) Heat switch for 2011/2012 Leafs (AC button?)
3) Remove battery pairing limit
4) Remove data sharing nag screen for 2011/2012 on every startup
5) Fix 12v battery drain when plugged in but not charging.
6) Fix DC to DC converter to property charge the 12v battery, especially while plugged in.
7) Bring back 80% (or configurable!) charge limiting. I'd let the user enter any value 40-100%. Is the EPA going to rate range by 40% when it's a user setting?

All of the above are firmware or business changes. Tesla rolls these out for free. Not surprising they have the fanbase they do as a result.

Ship out a USB stick or package that users can install themselves. Or do OTA. Charge a nominal fee ($49-$99) to cover costs... Make money off owners upgrading batteries.

I may sound bitter. I'm not. I got a very nice young car with low mileage for a good price. I just hate to see Nissan squander an opportunity so badly, especially when it's solving such an important issue (AGW). People are buying these 2011-3/2013 cars and getting burned.

As an software developer and product owner, I would love to work at Nissan and solve these issues. It would make the world better for a number of people.

[LeftieBiker]

I'm fairly certain that Leafs have never been set up for OTA updates. I agree about their crass mentality, though. I was able to get a request for a cloth-upholstered SL passed to Nissan Corporate (USA I assume, but don't know). The response?

'The SL is our top luxury car. If you want cloth seats, get an SV.' This despite the fact that the SL now has features not available on the SV, like Around View and the Bose stereo. No comprehension at all there that there are many people who do not like leather interiors at all, and don't associate them with the peak of luxury. They just don't care anymore (if Corporate ever did) what people 'below them' think.

[SageBrush]

...The only issue here is that the situation that the author dwells on and makes the central thesis of the article (Slow than desired charging) is essentially limited to less than a thousand LEAFs in the US...

Having to charge on road trips may have some something to do with the focus, hmmm ?

As for the number of people affected, that is one of the "advantages" of a market flop I suppose. Very few customers, so few complaints

[SageBrush]

But it doesn’t change the fact that ALL BEVs including Tesla’s are marginal long distance personal transportation.
And that won’t change until a BEV can meet or beat the 80/400/30/30 rule.

Your POV is hobbled by the LEAF; Tesla owners say different.
I can easily travel 600 miles on the Supercharger network in a day with my Tesla Model 3 with no time penalty compared to my old ICE days. Past 600 miles I think there is a small time penalty but that is a distance beyond my desire and ability.

[SageBrush]

But it doesn’t change the fact that ALL BEVs including Tesla’s are marginal long distance personal transportation.
And that won’t change until a BEV can meet or beat the 80/400/30/30 rule.

Your POV is hobbled by the LEAF; Tesla owners say different.
I can easily travel 600 miles on the Supercharger network in a day with my Tesla Model 3 with no time penalty compared to my old ICE days. Past 600 miles I think there is a small time penalty but that is a distance beyond my desire and ability.

I do not own an ICE car and I do not suffer any inconvenience. The Tesla is a full replacement, arguably more than a full replacement since I can always start the day with a full battery.

[powersurge]

The writer was incorrect in writing that they did the trip in the WRONG vehicle. They did the WRONG TRIP and pushed the car to its limits.

I don't think that anyone can complain about how that Leaf performed during that long trip. It was an adventure ride, like hiking the Appalachian trail, or going cross-country on a bicycle.

I think that the new E+ would do the trip wonderfully...

[OrientExpress]

In the 10 plus years that I have been covering this issue of BEVs being universal replacements for ICE vehicles, there is always the edge cases that do not represent the majority. Driving 600 miles in a BEV per day certainly is one of those.

Certainly it can be done, but it is not something that is easily accomplished by the average person, nor is it something that a rational person would even consider. Same as those that boast that they their only vehicle is an electric one, or that they have gone net zero. They are great sideshows, but not ready for primetime, nor something that a rational person would consider. Someday, but today they are still edge cases.

But the original argument still stands, that BEVs are not a reasonable alternative for ICEs or hybrids for long distance travel and that won’t change until a BEV can meet or beat the 80/400/30/30 rule.

[WetEV]

But the original argument still stands, that BEVs are not a reasonable alternative for ICEs or hybrids for long distance travel and that won’t change until a BEV can meet or beat the 80/400/30/30 rule.

What is "the 80/400/30/30 rule"?