How Low Can You Go!

[Jim Hare]

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?

[bobherbert]

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.

[richardh]

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.

[Jim Hare]

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.

[richardh]

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).

[Jim Hare]

Thanks Richard, was wondering about that. So 10km per hour. Will definitely get you out of a bind!

[bobherbert]

Bob H,RE HOWLOW CAN YOU GO.sep/16.that as 100 kms down to 27 kms off a 100% charge.

[bobherbert]

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.

[David]

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

[Jim Hare]

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!

[Phoebe]

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.

[Jim Hare]

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.

[Phoebe]

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

[leafboi]

Jan 4, 2013 20:30:09 GMT 11 Phoebe said:

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!!

[Phoebe]

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

[Jim Hare]

Don't think I'll be beating that record! If I get home with less than 30kms remaining I get very nervous!

[Brian]

Whilst considering a limbo ( how low can you go ) contest, it might be worth bearing in mind these eight tips to extend battery life -

www.plugincars.com/eight-tips-extend-battery-life-your-electric-car-107938.html

Using the phone app to keep the batteries in good order during extended storage when you are away from base seemed a good tip, and yet another benefit of our beautiful LEAF.

[Phoebe]

Thanks for that Brian. Nobody told me anything about any of that when I bought my LEAF.

[Jim Hare]

Fantastic info, thanks Brian.

[Brian]

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.

[David]

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

[Jim Hare]

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.

[Phoebe]

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

[duncan]

7klm is the lowest I've gone....a result of poor planning.

[duncan]

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.

[Brian]

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 ?

[Phoebe]

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.

[duncan]

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.

[Jim Hare]

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.

[duncan]

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