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Post by Jim Hare on Sept 1, 2012 16:36:57 GMT 11
Since we got the LEAF I'm been desperate to run it right down, to see just how far we can go on a charge. I know how to subtract the available KMs from the trip odometer but I mean really run it towards 0. I think the lowest we've done is 40KMs available. Had about 110 on the clock so seems like we're doing fine. What's the lowest the rest of you have gone and what has your experience been with range?
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Post by bobherbert on Sept 16, 2012 13:30:21 GMT 11
BOB H. I got down to 27 kms on the clock with no problems on 18/8/12.Av about 90 to 100 kms per trip.
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Post by richardh on Sept 16, 2012 21:00:17 GMT 11
Hi Guys, A few weeks ago I ran down to completely flat and needed a tow. First I had a message saying battery low. This was at about 15 km range left. Later I got the battery very low message and the range showed "---" flashing. Finally the "turtle" warning light came on along with a warning saying the electric motor power was limited - I could only do about 30 km/h. After about 500 metres the car stopped. All the 12 volt electrics still worked. Got the NRMA to tow me (using the supplied towing hook in the tool bag) 100 meters to the charging station at the Rouse Hill shopping centre car park - a Chargepoint level 1. Be warned that the locking ring on the Nissan supplied charging cable's plug prevents connection to a Chargepoint level 1 station - I had to use a screw driver to remove the locking ring. A better solution is to carry a 10 metre, 15 amp extension cord ($19 at Bunnings). I called Chargepoint and they say they will upgrade the station to a Level 2 with its own cable.
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Post by Jim Hare on Sept 17, 2012 16:48:28 GMT 11
Hi Bob, are you saying you went 100Kms and still had 27?
Richard, that must have been frustrating, but it's a pretty funny story!
Interesting about the towing hook, didn't know that existed.
Thanks to both of you for posting, hoping you will stick around the forum as it comes to life. We can be a great resource for each other.
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Post by richardh on Sept 17, 2012 23:11:19 GMT 11
Jim, The level one charging only adds about 10 km of range per hour of charging. To fill in the time I went shopping and watched most of a movie (the latest Batman is excellent).
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Post by Jim Hare on Sept 23, 2012 19:47:44 GMT 11
Thanks Richard, was wondering about that. So 10km per hour. Will definitely get you out of a bind!
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Post by bobherbert on Oct 18, 2012 11:36:35 GMT 11
Bob H,RE HOWLOW CAN YOU GO.sep/16.that as 100 kms down to 27 kms off a 100% charge.
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Post by bobherbert on Oct 25, 2012 18:28:54 GMT 11
I went 100 KMs on 80 percent charge.This was probably only about the 5th time I charged the car.I am charging to 100percent ever couple of weeks and running about 90kms a week.
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Post by David on Oct 31, 2012 8:19:55 GMT 11
I am coming up to 4 weeks ownership of my leaf. I am driving my car a lot and charge it every night to full. I don't have the luxury of not doing so, as what should be a 50km driving day (my daily commute to work and back) can turn into a 120km day with one call for a pick up from the other side of Sydney by one of the kids. I have done up to 120km per day on several occasions now. Early days for battery life, we will see. I have never got home with less than 25km on the estimator. Mind you, I drive my car in eco mode most of the time and have found out that opening the car window instead of turning the AC on is quite nice. We'll see though when the >30C days hit Sydney this summer. I am banking on some major advance in battery technology to save us from range anxiety as our batteries age. Would be worth looking at the Tesla web site, who claim 300km range for their new EV, but a price tag of 100K
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Post by Jim Hare on Oct 31, 2012 9:02:45 GMT 11
Welcome to the group Abihanned! Glad to have you here.
Interesting post. So you have driven 120km with still 25km+ range. That's good to know. When I charge to 100% it comes up as 163km+ but I've never been able to run it down far enough to get a clear indication of how close that is.
If we get to under 80km we always recharge it.
I think we're all driving in eco mode with the windows down. Something about knowing how much energy you are consuming makes you want to do better!
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Post by Phoebe on Jan 4, 2013 15:50:27 GMT 11
On taking delivery of my Leaf in Artarmon Sydney, it was 151.8km to my home in Telarah near Maitland. About a km from home it started telling me I needed a charge but since it still read 15km left I kept going as I knew I was almost home. I drove all the way in eco mode with the air con turned off and the windows open. To get it serviced is a couple of kms further so that will be pushing it and I'll have to wait for the weather to cool down as I wouldn't make it with the air con on.
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Post by Jim Hare on Jan 4, 2013 19:47:30 GMT 11
Wow! That's wild Phoebe. The GPS can plot a course via charging stations if needed. Would slow you down but better than stopping in the middle of the road! Also, these is now a level 3 charger in Strathfield that can charge the entire car in under 20 minutes.
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Post by Phoebe on Jan 4, 2013 20:30:09 GMT 11
Strathfield is entirely the wrong direction. I go on the shortest possible route. The Nissan 1800 number say they have someone with a quick charger who will get me the rest of the way if I don't quite make it. I wouldn't need to stop in the middle of the road, Jim, you know I'll get more warning than that Nissan Head Office say I have gone further on a single charge than anyone else they know of
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Post by leafboi on Jan 4, 2013 21:23:49 GMT 11
Nissan Head Office say I have gone further on a single charge than anyone else they know of Almost sounds like your issuing a challenge!!
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Post by Phoebe on Jan 5, 2013 1:37:01 GMT 11
I did what I did because I had to (see my comment above). It was not intended as a challenge to anyone but if anyone thinks they can do better than 151.8 km with 14 km remaining, well go for it
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Post by Jim Hare on Jan 5, 2013 19:58:44 GMT 11
Don't think I'll be beating that record! If I get home with less than 30kms remaining I get very nervous!
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Post by Brian on Jan 6, 2013 1:19:52 GMT 11
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Post by Phoebe on Jan 6, 2013 3:51:38 GMT 11
Thanks for that Brian. Nobody told me anything about any of that when I bought my LEAF.
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Post by Jim Hare on Jan 6, 2013 18:55:18 GMT 11
Fantastic info, thanks Brian.
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Post by Brian on Jan 7, 2013 0:49:06 GMT 11
Nobody told me when we bought ours, either, Phoebe.
Since I had been watching the LEAF's overseas deployment for very many months, I believe I knew more about electric vehicles than the salesman. But I had been riding ( and still am ) an all electric motorbike for four and a half years.
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Post by David on Jan 14, 2013 7:49:36 GMT 11
Regarding range and driving in eco mode with the windows down, I have a question that I am not sure who to pose to. Those living in Sydney and probably any where in Australia in the last couple of weeks would have found it hard to drive without the AC on due to the heatwave we have had. My question is related more to the not so hot days, when AC is an option or opening the windows. I don't find that the AC reduces the range a whole lot (maybe 5km). Does opening the windows increase the drag on the car and reduce the range and if so, how does it compare to windows up and AC on in terms of range reduction
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Post by Jim Hare on Jan 14, 2013 16:22:48 GMT 11
I had the same thought about drag.
I believe that cooling doesn't reduce the range nearly as much as heating does. It's a percentage so it tends to take 10KMs off when it's full, and only 2KMs off when you're running low.
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Post by Phoebe on Jan 14, 2013 17:05:17 GMT 11
Of course, in perfect weather, I drive with the windows closed and the air con off. I haven't suffocated and it's got to give the best range
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Post by duncan on Feb 7, 2013 21:45:42 GMT 11
7klm is the lowest I've gone....a result of poor planning.
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Post by duncan on Mar 21, 2013 20:54:02 GMT 11
hmm turns out I now know what is below that....after 5klm to go it drops off the last bar and shows 0 range. still drove fine though, no sign of a turtle on the dash BTW, freeway klm at 110 really sucks down the juice....I got about half the normal range. By slowing dow to 7-80 it made an enourmous difference to the available range.
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Post by Brian on Mar 21, 2013 21:26:16 GMT 11
O.K., you've got the record, Duncan I am surprised there was no tortoise / turtle. How many kms did you do after the last bar dropped off ?
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Post by Phoebe on Mar 21, 2013 21:55:20 GMT 11
Duncan, didn't you even have a voice telling you you needed to charge the battery. When I got down to a range of 15kms, I had this constant voice - very annoying. Didn't get down to 5kms so the question of the turtle didn't arise. Yes, I never travelled faster than 80kmh even on the freeway when I was travelling from Artarmon to Maitland, because it just gobbled up the range if I did and I would not have made it home if I had.
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Post by duncan on Mar 22, 2013 7:52:19 GMT 11
I suspect nissan's engineers are being paranoid about the real remaining range, maybe the turtle appears after 0 klm (ie there is at least 1 "hidden" bar of normal power, and then a turtle after that for some distance).
I am pretty sure the display changed to 0 at 5klm because I remember seeing 6 on the dash, and I did about 4klm after it changed to 0 without any change in the car's behaviour. My old 350z had a similar behaviour where distance to empty would change to 0 around 10klm
And yes Pheobe, the car was trying to send my crazy by talking to me for about 20klm....I just tuned it out after a while. There really should be some sort of "acknowledge" button after which that voice hushes down
to be honest, it all feels a bit "american" to me. way over the top warnings making too many efforts to stop me doing what I can choose to. Yes I was low on power, but I made a call between the distance to empty display and the satnav that I could regulate my speed and make it home. I don't need to be continually nagged about it (flashing distance to empty, warning on the LCD that you have to acknowledge, voice over the radio, low battery warning light on the dash and general warning light on the dash). Give me a break! If it runs out of power I don't die on the spot, I just need a tow home!!
It is going to be a hell of a trip for you every service, especially as the range starts to decrease.
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Post by Jim Hare on Mar 22, 2013 8:32:06 GMT 11
It happens in two stages. First you get the warning and the remaining KMs go away, then after a couple of more KMs you go into limited mode, where you can only go slowly and the turtle comes on the display. I ran it all the way down outside of my house once to see what would happen. Had to drive around the block for 1/2 hour to do it! ;D You can see the turtle icon here.
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Post by duncan on Mar 22, 2013 10:25:20 GMT 11
Excellent, thanks Jim I have to admit I was also considering driving aroudn the block for a while Did you get any indication of how far your would be able to drive as a turtle? it is useful to have an indication
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