My neighbor's Leaf needs a battery

[wdb]

I'm posting this to help a friend find out what the value of her 2011 Nissan Leaf might be. The valuation tools I looked at don't ask about battery condition, kind of dumb if you ask me. I suspect I know the answer anyway, but thought I'd try to find some folks with more EV experience. She's used it for short drives and errands for years but now the range is so bad she can't even do that. It's time for registration renewal and state inspection and she doesn't want to spend the money if it's not worth it.

Here is her description.

• 2011 Nissan Leaf
• 94,350 miles
• range ~15 miles
• nice seat covers!
• driver's window does not operate
• "car warning light is on" (not sure which)
• weathertech floor and trunk mats!
• drives fine!

[oil pan 4]

The used car industry still hasn't figured out that battery life matters on electric cars. Intelligent buyers won't even be looking at a leaf with 15 miles of range unless they already have a battery to put in it, then they will try to get it for $2,500 or less.
Best bet is try to sell it to someone who doesn't know any better for $3,500.

[R.W.Dale]

Just wait until the lending industry starts to figure out this kind of stuff.

It'll be like the 70's again where banks won't loan on a 5yo ev and absolutely killing the resale values in the process

[redpoint5]

Hmm, tricky situation. I'm sure plenty of used up Leafs are sold to uninformed buyers for nearly the full value of a healthy battery. Savvy buyers know what the "bars" mean with regards to degradation. The very savvy buyers use LeafSpy to get the exact percent.

I'd advertise the car and state the battery bars remaining, and leave it up to buyers to know what that means. It's honest since you're bringing up an important piece of information, and it's on the buyer to know what that important information means.

[rmay635703]

Get offers from the various carmax like online services and see what the offers are

[redpoint5]

No way. Put it for sale private party to maximize profits. Even in you list for just 10% above a resellers best offer, you'll get high quality buyers willing to purchase with no hassles.

[Drifter]

EV Rides in Portland, Oregon charges the following to replace/upgrade 2011-12 Leaf batteries with newer (but still used) batteries:

2011-2012 Leaf battery upgrade options:

1. 24kWh battery, 80-85 mile range, cost starting from $5000 (Gen2 battery from 2013-2015 Leafs, battery health >=75%)

2. 30kWh battery, 105-110 mile range, cost starting from $7500 (battery health >=75%)

3. 40kWh battery, 150-160 mile range, cost starting from $11000 (battery health >=85%)

4. 62kWh battery, 230-240 mile range, cost starting from $16500 (battery health >=90%)

Used Leafs seem like fantastic values for someone who doesn't drive long distances and is willing to plunk down $5,000+ every 8 years or so...

[redpoint5]

My parent's decade old Leaf is down to about 2/3rd of the original battery capacity. That means a winter range of about 35 miles.

[oil pan 4]

My leaf battery is 8 yesrs old and still has over 80% capacity.
For $16,500 I would want the 62kwh battery and the 180kw motor/inverter from the leaf plus in my car.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

My leaf battery is 8 yesrs old and still has over 80% capacity.
For $16,500 I would want the 62kwh battery and the 180kw motor/inverter from the leaf plus in my car.

For $16,500 I'd have purchased a 2017 Chevy Bolt with 250 miles of range and had two grand in change... back in 2020.

Those prices suggest the car is disposable.