Looking for a LEAF with dead/no battery - how to find one?

My Nissan Leaf Forum

Help Support My Nissan Leaf Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
B

BatteryUpgrader

New member
Joined
Sep 14, 2020
Messages
1
Electrical engineer here.
Li-ion batteries and electric vehicles are new technologies so I don't know all about them, but can understand the workings from technical papers.
I want to learn/experiment by installing a battery pack into an old LEAF.

Battery pack on LEAF expires after roughly how many years?
Say I buy a 2011 LEAF- its battery is past its life or nearing the end.

But advertised old LEAFs are still listed as having a usable battery, even the 2011 ones, thus they don't go for peanuts.
I am keeping my eye out for a totaled late model LEAF, to use its battery as a transplant organ. Since the battery pack in them is still good they fetch high prices, that is why I need the old car to be cheap.

Any suggestions on how to acquire an old LEAF for cheap?
 
BatteryUpgrader said:
Battery pack on LEAF expires after roughly how many years?
Click to expand...
It doesn't work that way. Batteries don't "expire". Effectively, they just hold less charge.

IMHO, if you don't understand something that basic, you might want to reconsider playing with a high-voltage battery system.
 
BatteryUpgrader said:
Electrical engineer here.
Li-ion batteries and electric vehicles are new technologies so I don't know all about them, but can understand the workings from technical papers.
I want to learn/experiment by installing a battery pack into an old LEAF.

Battery pack on LEAF expires after roughly how many years?
Say I buy a 2011 LEAF- its battery is past its life or nearing the end.

But advertised old LEAFs are still listed as having a usable battery, even the 2011 ones, thus they don't go for peanuts.
I am keeping my eye out for a totaled late model LEAF, to use its battery as a transplant organ. Since the battery pack in them is still good they fetch high prices, that is why I need the old car to be cheap.

Any suggestions on how to acquire an old LEAF for cheap?
Click to expand...
You wouldn't learn much about Li-ion batteries by replacing a LEAF battery pack. You would learn about the computer and networking systems of cars, much of which isn't publicly documented by Nissan. If you have a lifestyle where an electric car like the LEAF would work, owning and driving one would teach you more than swapping a battery pack.

https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=27677

And for a used one, Lefty has a guide
 
Agree w/WetEV's sentiments. '11 or '12 Leafs with very worn batteries (down 7+ capacity bars) seem to be maybe $3500 to $4K.

The worst I can recall seeing are 9 bar losers (3 bars left) like https://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=589637#p589637 and some in hot parts of the world.
 
Yep its all computers and proprietary lock downs. Nissan intentionally made it difficult to swap batteries.
I have seen 2011 like mine with a lot less miles with 3 to 5 capacity bars.
They were running $2,500 to $3,600.
 
There's a 2011 with a replacement Lizard battery and 100k miles locally for $4500 at the moment. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the cold weather package so it's no good for me.
 

Similar threads

V
Battery Downgrade - ZE0 Battery installed in AZEO
Replies
0
Views
515
vintagegamingsystems
V
D
Adjunct battery packs?
Replies
8
Views
409
EVPowers
EVPowers
M
Feature requests/input for MUXSAN 45kWh replacement LEAF battery
2
Replies
21
Views
1K
DougWantsALeaf
D
Cara Carabiwditbowdit
...a nice 2017 Leaf SL, if you can keep it.
Replies
1
Views
197
cornbinder89
C
A
Bought a 39K 2012, how is the battery condition?
Replies
7
Views
397
SageBrush
S

Latest posts

Back
Top