Gonna buy a Leaf questions

[rowdyflat]

Long time lurker finally decided to contribute .

Thinking of buying a slightly used 2019 Leaf from Melbourne or ACT when Corona allows us to travel there, although I do like the quirky appearance of the older model but a smaller battery.

questions

1. Anyone know if the charging can be throttled back to say 8 amps not 15 using some software ,as we live off grid and our current inverter wont do 3.3 Kw continually .

           

2. Can an EV be charged directly from solar panels via an inverter so that it just takes what is available ?

        

3. our 2 km driveway has some waterbars which may scrape the underneath of the car and we drive rural dirt roads which cause punctures , so thinking of changing to higher profile tyres instead   of 17 x 215 /50 going 60-70 whatever I can get .

I realise that the increased rolling resistance and the speedo will be affected .

Anyone tried this for better clearance ?

     

4.Anyone using vehicle to home technology so the car battery is the house storage ?.

Thanks in anticipation.

[tomkauf]

Hi rowdyflat, good luck with the possible purchase.

1. Yes, if you get an EVSE (Charging Cable/'brick') that is adjustable. We have a similar one to this one, and the lowest setting is 6 Amps (1.44kW). It also does 10Amp (2.4kW).

This one below should fit the 2019. Ours is the next model up, which also does 15Amp.
www.evolutionaustralia.com.au/product-page/nissan-leaf-gen-2-portable-evse-ev-electric-car-charger

2. Yes, with a device like this popular Zappi. That would be instead of the EVSE, unless you need something portable when charging away from home.
www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/zappi-ev-charger-review/

I'm not sure what the charge speeds are that it can do, but it can definitely be set to 'Solar Only' charging. It'll just stop at some point if the solar gets too low.

3. The diameter can't legally be more than 15mm larger than stock, which is barely any extra sidewall. I wouldn't change more than that, otherwise if there's an accident, the insurance company will be quick to deny a claim. You can increase the tyre sidewall, but the rim size has to decrease. Eg. an going from 17" wheels to 16" but getting an extra inch of sidewall to keep the rolling diameter about the same. You'll also have issues with rubbing the wheel arches if the tyres are much bigger than stock.

Look at replacing springs instead, to increase road clearance. That way everything incl Speedo is still legal and works. There's a picture floating around, of a Leaf with 'offroad springs' that has quite a bit of extra ground clearance 😁.

4. Not sure. Should definitely be possible though with CHAdeMO. Apart from a few downsides (faster degradation of the battery, and it not being available when the car is away from home), I would love to do that. It's a much bigger battery than even several Powerwalls, and the car is basically free.

[jeffthewalker]

Jul 16, 2020 12:33:21 GMT 11 rowdyflat said:

1. Anyone know if the charging can be throttled back to say 8 amps not 15 using some software ,as we live off grid and our current inverter wont do 3.3 Kw continually .

 

Been there. I acquired a 24V DC to 110V AC 2500W with a 6A EVSE that would run on 110V input. This reduced the draw to 700W then minimum I could get it down to within the J1772 specs. I had other inverter(s) for the rest of the household needs.

My intention was to automatically monitor (house) battery volts and turn on the inverter when there was "excess" solar. I build my own micro-processor controller devices but didn't get around to completing this project:-). I still have the 24VDC to 110VAC inverter (now unused in Sapphire Queensland).

I only got as far as "human in the loop" control before I moved off from off-grid.

[rowdyflat]

Great thanks for your replies.
1. and 2. both devices could be useful.
I have 2.5 KW solar panels on my work office which is connected to the grid and would like to just to use the sun.
At home we have microhydro + panels + LA batteries but dont want to overcome the system or the inverter.

[moyanous]

1 & 2. I use an Openevse with WiFi module which lets you adjust the current from 6A up in 1A steps.
You can also set the charging rate based on your solar output but I didn't install the smart meter option with my inverter.

[tomkauf]

For Q3, I found that forum thread I was talking about. Screenshot attached. Looks like a good amount of extra clearance.

Attachments:

[rowdyflat]

Well I bought my 2019 Leaf recently , its a very nice car and am charging it successfully at 6 A using a standard Evolution variable charger using our solar panels and hydro and leaving a buffer for other low drain uses.
Need to get a 4KW inverter ideally so we can use the microwave or kettle at the same time.

[rowdyflat]

It came with 17inch wheels and am thinking of changing to 16 inch + 60 profile tyres so there is a bit more air in the tyres for our rough gravel roads.

[tomkauf]

That's great to hear!

[rowdyflat]

Changed 17 ins wheels to 16 and got 215x 60 x 16 tyres for more clearance and softer ride on rough roads .

[rowdyflat]

This week an expert welder friend and I fabricated a custom made tow bar holder only to use with a bike rack on EV I just bought .
We made it with a 40mm receiver and slightly lighter materials than the only one available for about $1400 + , but used the 4 tow hook + 2 chassis bolt holes + 3 x 14g .sideways screws.
Materials were scrap including 50x50 3mm RHS so no cost , welding cost about $ 250 .
I intend to use the car forever + may remove it after that.
Bikes exert bouncy dead weight , towing more linear.
We have 3 other cars for towing.

[rowdyflat]

Forgotten how to start a new thread so will try here .
Can you use only one side at a time either CCS or Chademo on NRMA chargers ?
They have a good coverage thru country NSW just wondered ?

[coulomb]

Jan 13, 2022 8:35:57 GMT 11 rowdyflat said:

Can you use only one side at a time either CCS or Chademo on NRMA chargers ?

The 50 kW Tritium Vfills: one side at a time only.
75 kW and higher Tritiums: possible to use 2 cables, needs recent firmware. Actually, I'm not sure about the 350 kW models, it may be only the latest models that can power two cables.
Other manufacturers: unlikely to power more than one cable at a time.

As far as I know. I've never seen more than one cable in use, but I haven't been about much lately.

[rowdyflat]

Thanks coulomb yeah most are 50 kW .

[EVangelist]

Jan 13, 2022 13:03:20 GMT 11 coulomb said:

The 50 kW Tritium Vfills: one side at a time only.
75 kW and higher Tritiums: possible to use 2 cables, needs recent firmware. Actually, I'm not sure about the 350 kW models, it may be only the latest models that can power two cables.
Other manufacturers: unlikely to power more than one cable at a time.

As far as I know. I've never seen more than one cable in use, but I haven't been about much lately.

350 kW units have only one CCS2 cable on them.  CHAdeMO only supports 50 kW, so you’ll never see a CHAdeMO plug on an ultrafast DCFC.

[coulomb]

Jan 13, 2022 16:37:38 GMT 11 rowdyflat said:

Thanks coulomb yeah most are 50 kW .

So then it depends on whether they are 50 kW only RT models (original, more curved chassis, no graphics, only 7-segment LEDs) or up-to-75 kW RTM modular models, with only 2 of a possible 3 modules installed (so also 50 kW, but could be expanded to 75 kW later. These have a graphics display in the middle.)

You didn't say what area you are in. I checked some random fast chargers in rural NSW and indeed most were Tritium RTs, which can't charge through both cables. But at Coonamble, there were RTMs installed, both 75 kW according to the first checkin (may not be accurate), and (he says) they share 75 kW between the two units. So it's possible that that location might charge 4 vehicles, at about 19 kW each. You can actually park behind these ones, so the cables should actually reach to 4 vehicles if needed.

[rowdyflat]

I was using the charger at Albury on the top of the carpark in Kiewa st .
Are people somehow locked out from creating a new thread on this forum because I have no way to do it ?
I was looking at the Tesla supercharger at Ovens Vic and it seems to have a separate cable with a type 2 plug is this possible to use for a non Tesla ?

[brunohill]

Jan 18, 2022 19:26:31 GMT 11 rowdyflat said:

I was looking at the Tesla supercharger at Ovens Vic and it seems to have a separate cable with a type 2 plug is this possible to use for a non Tesla ?

Nope, Teslas only but maybe available in the future as Tesla are doing some trials in the Netherlands. Is the end Supercharger still missing and the wires poking out ? They had a bit of a woopsy with a fire truck. I thought about connecting a 3 phase power point to the wires for non Teslas, but that may be a bit cheeky.

[coulomb]

Jan 18, 2022 19:26:31 GMT 11 rowdyflat said:

Are people somehow locked out from creating a new thread on this forum because I have no way to do it ?

No, just a little obscure. Go to forum home, choose a forum (possibly the step you're missing), then use Create Thread at the top right.

I was looking at the Tesla supercharger at Ovens Vic and it seems to have a separate cable with a type 2 plug is this possible to use for a non Tesla ?

I think it might be non-Tesla compatible. BrunoHill has possibly not noticed the outlets you mean; I only happened to notice them recently. I assume you mean ones like the below, taken from Toomoomba super charger, Queensland (sorry for the image sizes):