Substandard charge adapter provided with 2013 Leaf

[apacheguy]

I traded in my 2011 Leaf for a new 2013 model. One of the concerns I had was that I would lose my EVSE upgraded 240 volt charger. Not to worry, Nissan assured me, the new charge cable is capable of charging at 240 volts. Well, that's simply not true.

The charge cable that came with the car had a 120 volt head. Indeed, I confirmed with EVSE upgrade that it needs to be modified. So folks please beware that Nissan is still selling a substandard charge cable, despite touting the new 6.6 kw on board charger.

The point is, Nissan should include an upgraded charging adapter by default.

[siai]

I don't think there is any doubt in anybody's mind that the provided EVSE is and always will be a 120 volt unit in the United States. It's not "substandard"---it is what it is. I am also not sure that the EVSE upgrade unit is able to provide enough current through it to provide the full 6.6 KW that the vehicle charger is able to deliver. You need to confirm that with them before proceding.

[DaveinOlyWA]

so you traded in your EVSE upgraded cable? I would have negotiated the option to keep that one and let them take the EVSE from the 2013... at least that is what I hope to do when my lease ends in Jan

[apacheguy]

so you traded in your EVSE upgraded cable? I would have negotiated the option to keep that one and let them take the EVSE from the 2013... at least that is what I hope to do when my lease ends in Jan

Yeah, I would have tried to negotiate it, but I was told point blank by the sales rep that there was no need since the the new cables already provide this capability. In your case, I would not even mention it and see if you can get away with it.

And to clarify for others, it absolutely is substandard IMO. I guess we have to clarify everything with "IMO" on an Internet forum these days.

[smkettner]

The specs are 120v 12a. That is the standard. Substandard would be less than spec and would be repaired under warranty.

If you want 240v 20a charging then you need to upgrade the unit to perform above oem spec.

[cwerdna]

I traded in my 2011 Leaf for a new 2013 model. One of the concerns I had was that I would lose my EVSE upgraded 240 volt charger. Not to worry, Nissan assured me, the new charge cable is capable of charging at 240 volts. Well, that's simply not true.

Yeah, I would have tried to negotiate it, but I was told point blank by the sales rep that there was no need since the the new cables already provide this capability.

I'm confused by your statements. In your first post, you said Nissan (which means Nissan Motor Company). Later, you said sales rep. You mean a sales guy at the dealer? If so, he doesn't work for Nissan Motor Company. He works for the dealer.

In the US, due to franchise laws, automakers can't own dealerships. Google for tesla franchise laws, if you want to read about the mess that Tesla's running into w/their company owned stores/showrooms.

If Nissan Motor Company via their support channels (e.g. Facebook page, calling (877) NOGASEV, etc.) told you that, then it would be Nissan telling you.

The L1 EVSE that ships w/US '11 thru '13 Leafs w/o modification still can only handle 120 volts.

Ingineer himself has asked Nissan (the company) to ship one w/the car that handles 240 volts, even though it would put his evseupgrade.com operation out of business. I was at that meeting along the ~100 other folks there.

OP, is there some way you can get your old upgraded L1 EVSE back and give them instead your new non-upgraded EVSE? Obviously you'd want to confirm that it charges your '13 Leaf properly first at both 120 and 240 volts...

[derkraut]

Well, I must say that one of the best moves I ever made is to send my Nissan charge adapter to Ingineer for upgrade to 240V. I've been playing "taxi" for the past few months, running the grandkids all over the place, sometimes up to 100+ miles a day. Since my daughter has a 240V dryer outled handy, I just plug in over at her house between trips. Works like a charm.

[apacheguy]

Well, I must say that one of the best moves I ever made is to send my Nissan charge adapter to Ingineer for upgrade to 240V.

Agree! Ingineer is great and his modified EVSE worked like a charm for my old Leaf.

To satisfy the grammar police on this forum change substandard -> inferior. That is all I'm going to say and if you have a difference of opion then so be it. Oh well.

[smkettner]

Whoever told you the oem cord came ready to charge at 240v gave substandard and inferior information.
They were flat wrong.

[planet4ever]

To satisfy the grammar police on this forum change substandard -> inferior. That is all I'm going to say and if you have a difference of opinion then so be it. Oh well.

If you want to say that the US standard of supplying wall outlets at only 120v and only 15A is inferior, I could buy that. But the unit Nissan ships with the car is not inferior. It is designed to support the US standard. The very fact that Ingineer is able to upgrade it to 240v, and that many, many, of us are using that upgraded unit daily with no problems says that the unit is of very high quality. High quality and meets the national standard: nothing inferior there at all. Actually, the unit shipped with the 2013 is superior to the one shipped earlier, because it is smaller and lighter without sacrificing quality.

Ray