sgoyal said:
My car is 2012 and has about 12K miles. All software updates have been done by the dealer, and tires are at 40 psi. In the recent cold weather (mornings have been 25-30 F), the range on my Nissan Leaf has dropped from 70 to about 45 miles. This is all non-freeway stop and go driving under 50 mph. I am barely getting 45 miles without using heat or the front defroster. When I use those features, the range drops to around 35-40. This makes the car practically unusable as I can't drop the kids to school, commute to work and back (47 mile RT) .
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How are you determining "the range on my Nissan Leaf has dropped from 70 to about 45 miles"? Ditto about the other numbers of "45" and "35-40"? Are you depending on the useless GOM (aka guess-o-meter aka "distance to empty" in Nissan parlance_? How low is the battery getting in terms of the "fuel bars" before you're calling it "done"? Are you hitting either the LBW or VLBW warnings? What about turtle?
I'm getting my range numbers straight off the dashboard. Again, I feel that the average consumer isn't going to spend the time to figure out what the charging bars mean. Do they represent a linear or non-linear battery capacity etc. We can not dismiss the range on the dashboard as a guess-o-meter and let Nissan off the hook. Having said that I do pay attention to the bars, and on at least 3 occasions, I started out with 100% charge (all bars) and about 80 miles range showing, drove the car in conditions mentioned earlier and only had 5-6 bars left. Since I wrote my post, the dealer drove my car with 80% charge, drove the car 14 miles, and only had 5 bars left. Nissan still won't admit there is a problem.
Are you charging to 100% or 80% or something else? Have you let the batteries balance?
I always charge my car 100% every night, no exceptions. I don't know what 'batteries balance' means.
I live in San Jose as well but my commute's short (12 miles each way) and I have free L2 charging at work, which is my primary place to charge. I also have a '13 w/the more efficient heat pump heater.
I also have free L2 charging at work, but there aren't enough stations, so people are sort of fighting over them. I don't like to depend on the work chargers to make it back home. I bought the Leaf, thinking my 40-50 mile daily commute would be without any range anxiety what so ever, Its clearly not the case
As for "without using heat or the front defroster", you might be using it w/o realizing it due to the HVAC quirks on the pre-MY13 Leafs (see http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=6751" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false
. On the '13, besides me having the more efficient heater, they added a dedicated heater on/off button.
Hmm… not sure about that, the car has been at the dealer twice for the range problem, they've never detected any problems with the HVAC system. There is a clear on/off button, so I'm certain it was off, not sure why Nissan would need another button. Again, Nissan can't expect people to think twice before using the heater to defrost the windshield etc. if the range drops significantly with heater usage, these issues need to be clearly explained to the consumer at the time of purchase.
And, I noticed in your earlier posts, you changed your tires. I wouldn't be surprised if they have higher rolling resistance and are cutting into your range.
Not sure where you saw that, but I'm using original stock tires. I didn't go back and check all my older posts however, its possible I may have written something confusing to make it look like I changed my tires.
I suggest you switch to LRR tires, get your alignment checked and pre-heat your car when plugged in AND use the heated seats and steering wheel to reduce demands from your power hungry heater. And, we REALLY need to know how you're determining range. Since you have no % SoC meter, you should get one of the "gid" meters out there or one of the Bluetooth dongles out there to use w/software that runs on Android. See below for examples of what I'm talking about:
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=8527" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=14285" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=14284" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The 12 fuel bars don't give you enough granularity and the GOM is crap. Using gids out of how many gids at 100% charge is a decent proxy for % SoC. Gids at 100% charge is a decent indicator of how much available capacity you have/have lost.
As mentioned earlier, I'm looking at my range on the dash. I have not taken the time yet to use any other methods you mention. I find it surprising that we're putting bandaids on a bad design and covering it up for Nissan by inventing creative ways to measure the range.. If their range meter is crap, then shouldn't we get together and complain to Nissan? For the average non-tech user, this car does not deliver. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the helpful links, but I look at the Leaf as a half baked car that was pushed to consumers without any transparency or responsibility from Nissan, and they shouldn't get away with it. I've worked for Toyota for 6 years and a major Bay Area networking company for another 14, all on the New product development manufacturing groups, and can't imagine a product like this making it out the door.
Also, can you charge at work? Even charging at 120 volts at 8 or 9 hours should give you a decent amount of extra range.
Besides you changing the tires, have you made any other changes from stock (e.g. roof rack, flags, bike rack, etc.)? What is your m/kWh reading on the dash? (on the black and white display) Is it reset for every trip? If not, please do so. It put together a questionnaire long ago at http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=275421#p275421" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and now that I FINALLY have a Leaf.... maybe I'll go and revise it again.
(From http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=101293" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and watching http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hJudzKQftv4&noredirect=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, I believe LBW warning will sound somewhere at 1 fuel bar left. I've seen LBW sound at % SoC 17 or 18 per the % SoC meter that's new to '13+ Leafs (you don't have it) and VLBW sound at 7 or 8 % SoC. Sorry, I wasn't watching the fuel bars and didn't care about the GOM but recall it changing to ---, I think at VLBW. I never took mine to turtle though.)
