Newbie question: 80% overnight vs morning?

[GaryHere]

Check your local Nissan dealers too. In my town, the Nissan plugs are free for 'anyone' but I'm sure that varies from dealer to dealer.

Will do.

Thnx a lot

[Onbypass]

I called Nissan to ask about this. I've heard posts from folks using the 20%-80% rule, others that time is perfectly so that it only stays at 100% for a short while, and other that charge all the time without any regard to anything!!!!

I have a 2018 Leaf, so the battery chemistry is probably different from the 30 kw/h versions.
So....I called Nissan and asked them. They said that high heat is the most important factor when talking about battery longevity. They said that if it's hot out, park in the shade. Also, turn on the A/C in the car 5-10 minutes before you get into the car, when it's outside. It doesn't completely cool the battery, but it helps.

They also said to let it run down to 30-40%, and recharge then. 20%, 30%, 40%.....those levels ( In other words, don't drive to the store and recharge it when it's 90%! Also, don't let it run down to 5% either!!!)
The theory is that it reduces the number of charging cycles.

With all that being said about charging cycles, etc......far and away the most important thing is to try and keep it out of the full sun.

My plan is to follow those instructions, and in 2023, I will let everybody know how this plan worked out!!!! When it's low, I am going to charge it to 100%, and I am not going to time it, unless I switch to a power plan that is less expensive overnight.

THanks!!

Mark

[LeftieBiker]

With all that being said about charging cycles, etc......far and away the most important thing is to try and keep it out of the full sun.

Ambient temps in the shade, if high enough, can also cause problems, so watch the battery temp gauge rather than the sun. It's fine to park for a while in the sun on an 80F day. Just crack at least two of the windows an inch. As for the chemistry, they seem to have changed it for more capacity, not greater heat resistance. Don't assume that your 2018 (or mine) will resist degradation better than a 2017. I'm using a cool garage to try to avoid heat-soaking my car, and it may work because I drive so little these days.

[jusgetalong]

Haven't been on forum in quite awhile. Yall got a great forum here. Just updating my status with my 2018 Leaf SL. We have been using the 20-80 rule on an L2 garage charger with an appx average garage temp of 90 degrees F. Car never sees sun unless we are driving in it. It sits in the garage so no direct sunlight for any long periods of time. 1200 mi at this time and no problems. The odd thing is, we never see any battery heat gauge flunctuation. I is always at the halfway mark even when we charged yesterday with the L2 and garage temp was at 95 degrees. Seems strange to never get any flunctuations. SOH according to GOM showing all bars.

[jusgetalong]

Just an update on temperature gauge. It never changed from the middle point for about 7 months. Well we have had a cold spell here in south florida for the past month and we noticed a real change in the gauge. It is well below the middle now. Maybe Nissan downloaded some software change or it takes a drastic temp variance to cause it to move, I dunno. It just seems that Nissan would download a digital gauge with some numbers on to benefit us mature minded individuals.

[LeftieBiker]

It does take a real change in ambient temps to move the bars. As for numbers, would you want individual sensor readings, or an average of them all?

[cwerdna]

It does take a real change in ambient temps to move the bars. As for numbers, would you want individual sensor readings, or an average of them all?

Yep... normally it can on my '13. However, if one as on the "edge" of when it transitions from the current reading to + or - 1 bar, it doesn't take much. I've seen this many times myself w/average battery temps around mid to low 50 F to maybe low 60 F readings, per Leaf Spy.

jusgetalong needs to get something such as Leaf Spy and compatible OBD2 dongle for the app on their phone/tablet OS to really see what's going on.

[RonDawg]

I called Nissan to ask about this. I've heard posts from folks using the 20%-80% rule, others that time is perfectly so that it only stays at 100% for a short while, and other that charge all the time without any regard to anything!!!!

The first two aren't incompatible. If possible, try to keep the battery between 20-80%, but if your range needs require more than 80%, then minimize how long it stays at a high level by timing the charge to end as close to your departure time as possible. The issue isn't charging to 100%, it's charging to 100% and letting the car sit like that for an extended period. Nissan prior to 2014 had a "Long Life Mode" that automatically shut off charging at 80% but they took it away for the US and Canadian market.

I have a 2018 Leaf, so the battery chemistry is probably different from the 30 kw/h versions.

It may be different, but one important factor is it may not be any better, and could be worse. For example, the 30 kWH batteries seem to degrade faster than the 24 kWH ones used in the 2015's and some 2016's. It's too early to say if the 40 kWH in the 2018's will do better or worse than any previous Leaf battery.

So....I called Nissan and asked them. They said that high heat is the most important factor when talking about battery longevity. They said that if it's hot out, park in the shade. Also, turn on the A/C in the car 5-10 minutes before you get into the car, when it's outside. It doesn't completely cool the battery, but it helps.

As the Leaf doesn't have any kind of active cooling system for the battery, turning on the A/C wouldn't help at all. The Kia Soul EV (at least the original -- don't know about the new model just announced at the LA Auto Show) does direct cabin air to the battery, but from what I've heard it hasn't made the battery last any longer than the Leaf's.

They also said to let it run down to 30-40%, and recharge then. 20%, 30%, 40%.....those levels ( In other words, don't drive to the store and recharge it when it's 90%! Also, don't let it run down to 5% either!!!)
The theory is that it reduces the number of charging cycles.

There's also a theory that frequent but shallow charging cycles are better for your battery, as it heats up the battery less. I do agree with them that you shouldn't "top up" if the battery is already in the 90's % and to not let the battery level drop that low.

When it's low, I am going to charge it to 100%, and I am not going to time it, unless I switch to a power plan that is less expensive overnight.

Well, I hope you don't have a big range need, because constantly charging to 100% and letting it sit for long periods like that is definitely not good for the battery. Even Tesla with their active battery TMS doesn't recommend constantly charging to 100%.

[jusgetalong]

I think a digital read out, like they do with the outside temp, average of all cells would suffice. Too much data tends to confuse more than it communicates, due to biological dead zones.