Capacity Loss on 2011-2012 LEAFs

[arnis]

I hope one day someone opens up the inverter management code and removes that stupid "no regen" sh*t.
It doesn't make any sense as it has little effect for SOH. Especially regen up to 20kW (~1C charge rate).

[cwerdna]

From a post at https://www.facebook.com/groups/BayLeaf ... 4363441202, is this 4 bar remaining '11 Leaf for $1K. It might have other probs if the car's fully booted...

https://offerup.com/item/detail/922130182/
https://web.archive.org/web/20200827181 ... 922130182/
https://web.archive.org/web/20200827181 ... 7a0e4e.jpg - archive of dash pic

[cwerdna]

Ok, this person (initials MT) in Los Angeles has a 3 (!) bar remaining '11 with 115K miles. Pic of dash and bars at https://www.facebook.com/groups/nissan. ... 9481376202. Unfortunately, the group is a private one.

I think this is the worst I've seen of a Leaf in the US.

From https://www.facebook.com/groups/nissan. ... 454424765/, this post from today still shows him at 3 capacity bars remaining and now at 118K miles in Los Angeles.

How can he even use that thing? Is he not replacing the battery just for laughs?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/nissan. ... 7787175696 is another post from him. He's at 119K miles now. I thought he just hit 3 bars left but after finding my previous post (quoted), that's not the case.

[Marktm]

Another update on my replacement (lizard) battery (Nov. 2016):

battery log 9.17.20.jpg

Early degradation varied substantially, however on average was about .4 to .5 Ah/month. Overall average to date is about .3 Ah/month and for the last two years has settled to less than .2 Ah/month.

Even in my hot Texas climate, it seems stabilizing around 50 Ah will give me fairly good range for a couple more years. At least acceptable to my needs.

Note - have not "curve fit" the data, so degradation is an "eye-ball" estimate.

[Stanton]

Another update on my replacement (lizard) battery (Nov. 2016):
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Even in my hot Texas climate, it seems stabilizing around 50 Ah will give me fairly good range for a couple more years. At least acceptable to my needs.

I have stabilized around the same 50 Ahr with a lizard battery dated January 2016. So similar, although I have gone through one more (Texas) summer than you.

[Marktm]

Another update on my replacement (lizard) battery (Nov. 2016):
.
.
.
Even in my hot Texas climate, it seems stabilizing around 50 Ah will give me fairly good range for a couple more years. At least acceptable to my needs.

I have stabilized around the same 50 Ahr with a lizard battery dated January 2016. So similar, although I have gone through one more (Texas) summer than you.

Probably time for a different energy rating system for all EVs - that gives buyers a better idea of energy loss trends. Does seem Nissan's design results in fairly rapid energy loss early, then a stabilization period that many buyers should know about so that they can make a better decision about their use cases.

Now I'm wondering if cramming 40/60 kWh in the same space with essentially very limited, if any cooling, will now get Nissan back in the same problem of continuous degradation in our hot climates of TX, AZ, NM, etc. Lot's of opinions and data on this, but any conclusions?

[Stanton]

Now I'm wondering if cramming 40/60 kWh in the same space with essentially very limited, if any cooling, will now get Nissan back in the same problem of continuous degradation in our hot climates of TX, AZ, NM, etc. Lot's of opinions and data on this, but any conclusions?

Based on conjecture from the 30/40/62 kWh threads, I'm thinking that the 40 kWh pack will do at least as well (degrade at the same rate) as the current lizard pack (the 30 kWh pack was a non-starter).
One of the reasons I'm planning on doing a "retrofit" of a 40 kWh pack (at some point) is that even at half capacity, it would be almost as good as a new 24 kWh pack. In addition, the 40 kWh is a better mechanical fit in a Gen 1 Leaf than the 62 kWh.

[SageBrush]

Note - have not "curve fit" the data, so degradation is an "eye-ball" estimate.

I have also seen a reduction in the annual Ahr loss.

[Marktm]

I have also seen a reduction in the annual Ahr loss.

Just got back from 10 days in Cement Creek area (South of Crested Butte). Like those temperatures!

Was the original battery replaced? Amazing difference if not.

[SageBrush]

Was the original battery replaced? Amazing difference if not.

Original battery, manufactured in 10/2013

The Ahr loss has some context to be aware of. First off, I think I bought a car that had the battery reset. So while my graph starts about 6 months after purchase there still might be some effect at the beginning of the graphed period. Second, I moved from SW Colorado to Albuquerque, NM in early 2019. My home in Albuquerque has a warmer (but in particular longer) summer than SW Colorado. And last, the car has been used very little in 2020 and has sat in the shade.

All in all, the trend has lots of caveats attached, but I obviously would be ecstatic if the low (for a LEAF) Ahr loss of the past year continues. I'm pencilling in another 5 years of use for our modest use of the car. It certainly helps that we can still look forward to using the 80% to 100% SoC that is currently in reserve, and my wife is reasonably compliant with my never ending advice to prolong useful battery life.

Oddly enough, my pre-occupation these days is whether I should sell the car before end of life to minimize depreciation. I'm in the fortunate position (I think) of coming out in good shape either way. Today my wife is going to check out the Bolt just in case it becomes available at dirt cheap prices in the next couple of months (~ $20k) and the LEAF can be sold for ~ $7k. My mental rule of thumb is ~ $80 a month cap cost, which is just amazing, even for a hobbled car.