2011 Nissan Leaf modifications (efficiency and utility)

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by ME_Andy

And another thing to consider is that Nissan 'recommends' changing the brake fluid every year. I'm going to try to do it every 3. Upgrading to DOT4 is a nice, simple mod.

What, is Nissan trying to throw a little love back to the stearlerships by way of overprescribed fluid changes?

Why would Leaf brakes require more frequent changes than any other vehicle?

I tend to change brake fluid every decade, whether the vehicle needs it or not.

[Isaac Zackary]

Nissan recommends changing the brake fluid every year or two, depending on how the vehicle is driven. This isn't any different than what I've seen in almost any other owner's manual. But true, most people never change their brake fluid.

[oil pan 4]

If it was able to charge off 6.6kw that's still less than 0.3C, well within what the battery can handle.
I'm going to start setting the charge timer to charge late at night after the battery has had time to cool for several hours.

I try to change the brake fluid every 3 to 5 years.
I'm probably going to put dot 5 in the firebird and suburban.

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

I'm going to start setting the charge timer to charge late at night after the battery has had time to cool for several hours.

That's a good rule of thumb!

If you want your battery to last, try to:

1. Charge in the morning hours, or only when the battery temp bars are 5 or lower. (2 red and 3 blue)
2. Actually, just keeping the temp bars at 5 or below is the best way to extend battery life. (And the easiest way to do that is move to Alaska.)
3. Don't leave the battery at a high or low SOC (state of charge) for long periods of time, especially in the heat.
4. If you need 100% SOC, charge it up to that just before you need to drive. That way your battery doesn't sit at a high state of charge in the heat.
5. If you get home and still have 50% or more SOC, try charging only to 80%. But occasionally charge to 100% to balance the cells.
6. If you get below 20% SOC by the time you get home, immediately charge it up to 30% (when the second blue light starts blinking on the dash.) Then stop charging it until morning once the battery cools off. (With the timer set, use the "off" button to start charging and then unplug and plug back in the J1772 socket to stop charging until the timer wants to.)
7. Park in the shade.
8. Use CHAdeMO charging as little as possible in the heat. If it's cool enough CHAdeMO won't hurt battery health as much.

[oil pan 4]

If I ever use chademo it will buy my own and it will only bw capable of 10 to 12kw max on single phase 240v power.

Need to price some air bag spring helpers.
But I can't find any for a leaf.

[ldjessee00]

Hmm... so the 7kW charger is only when using the CHAdeMO?
I thought it would also be used with the J1772 port...

[NeilBlanchard]

The 6.6kW J1772 is an option on some Leafs. The base model had the 3.3kW standard.

[vskid3]

Originally Posted by ldjessee00

Hmm... so the 7kW charger is only when using the CHAdeMO?
I thought it would also be used with the J1772 port...

Older and base model Leafs came with 3.3kw chargers using the J1772 port. The charger is built into the car and the charging cord is basically a fancy extension cord.
Chademo was an option that uses a completely separate plug. It (and other DC fast charger standards) has the charger built into the charging station and pumps DC power straight into the battery. This page explains the Leaf's options through the years: https://insideevs.com/used-nissan-leaf-buying-guide/

[oil pan 4]

Chardemo charger can put out up to 50kw, but these require 3 phase 480v power. Single phase 240v powered chardemo max out at 12kw.

Mine is clearly not the base model. It also charges at a rate of 3.8kw

[Isaac Zackary]

Yes. All 2011 and 2012 models, regardless of trim package, only came with a "3kW" onboard charger that can charge up to 3.8kW or up to 7 hours from a dead battery to 100%.

It wasn't until the 2013 model Leaf that the "6kW" onboard charger was an option, which can charge twice as fast, reaching 100% from a dead traction battery in 4 hours or less.

Of course all this depends on what the Leaf is plugged in to. If it's a regular household socket and it will charge at a little over 1kW and take up to 21 hours to charge using the same J1772 port.

Same with CHAdeMO. It can charge as fast as 50kW, if the CHAdeMO charger is built for it.