Ready to learn all about charging the Nissan Leaf the easy way? The learning curve for charging my Nissan Leaf was steep initially but in this blog post, I will simplify all the facts to help you understand the three main ways to charge your Nissan Leaf.
In this blog post, I will be sharing all the dos and don’ts that I have learned so far for charing my Nissan Leaf.
- Table of Contents
Quick Charge
How to Tell if your Nissan leaf has Quick Charge
Why quick charge is important
Level 2 Charge
Trickle Charging Nissan Leaf
Quick Charge
For my lifestyle having the option to quick charge changes everything for the better. In short, the quick charge on the Nissan Leaf is an absolute must. The quick charge is a port next to the standard charge that allows the owner to charge the battery in less than an hour. Typically a quick charge will take anywhere from 30-45 minutes and is done at a quick charge station where you pay by the wattage for the charge to your vehicle.
How to tell if your Nissan Leaf has Quick Charge
I couldn’t believe how challenging it was to identify which cars came quick charge equipped and which ones didn’t. After several visits to the dealership, I learned that the capacity for charging Nissan Leafs can be identified in two ways.
The most obvious way to see if a Nissan Leaf has a quick charge port is to look under the charging hood. See below
Quick Charge (blue cap on the left)
No Quick Charge (nothing on the left)
But the second tell-tale sign is the single tube from the charging area. See below.
This car only has one orange wire/tube at the very bottom of the engine a car with a quick charge will have three.
Why quick charge is important
If you plan to drive further than your car’s battery range then “quick charge” is a must! The range on my Nissan Leaf S Plus is 226 miles per charge. I often travel to San Francisco which is about 200 miles from my doorstep. A car without the quick charge option would require charging the Nissan Leaf for several hours, maybe a few days (see trickle charge,) then travel back home.
Level 2 Charge
A popular at-home option for those who prefer to charge their electric cars overnight is a level two charge. For most electric car brands, a level two charge is a great option for charging your vehicle to a full charge in around 8 hours. Level two charging is a great option for people who need a consistent full charge quickly.
This option requires an electrician to install the 240 wattage plug in your home or garage. The wattage for a level 2 charge is too large for a standard plug when charging a Nissan Leaf. Installation by a professional will cost around $2,000.
Trickle Charging Nissan Leaf
Every electric car has the trickle charge charging option. Charging a Nissan Leaf via trickle charge does take a few days from 0% to 100%. As a result, I get an average of 20% per 24 hours on a trickle charge. The 20% charge includes me taking the Nissan Leaf off the charger for a few hours a day to run my typical daily errands like grocery store runs and drop-offs to dance class.
It’s worth noting, that the trickle charge charging option for the Nissan leaf does not pull a lot from your home’s electricity and shouldn’t change your overall electric bill much at all.
So for I love my Nissan Leaf and charging it has been a fun adventure. It feels like a toy that I get to charge and recharge each day, and best of all! I don’t miss the gas station line even a little bit.
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