LeftieBiker said:
I'm not really expecting a 60kwh battery in the early 2018 SL either, but I see problems with both of your points. First, the SL is priced about $7k more than the SV, and comparing price differentials with the previous generation has limitations on utility. $6k should be able to buy another 20kwh of capacity with no problem, because it would just be a question of adding to the 40kwh pack, not adding a second whole pack. As for the space issue, there is room under there for a spare tire in the Gen 1 Leaf! Some of that space has to be reserved for crumple zone use, but not, I suspect, all of it. In short, I think the 60kwh pack won't be here until 2018, but not because it's too expensive or won't fit. I'm guessing that it didn't perform well enough in early field testing.
First, the price differential from S to SL is for feature content currently, and will continue to be for feature content in 2018 and beyond. You pay more money, you get more stuff. It doesn't matter if it's electric or gas, this has always been true. For example, the BMW 320i starts at $33,450. The 330i has the same drivetrain yet starts at $38,750. More features cost money. That's not to say that if and when they do come out with a larger battery, you won't be able to buy an S trim level for the same money but it won't have all the SL goodies.
Your second point is more interesting. Yes, there is some room under the cargo area. I don't know that it's enough for an extra 20 kWh of capacity, but there's some. Interestingly enough, this would also go toward improving the overall weight balance of the car, as the current bias is front-heavy. They would need to increase the rear spring rates and probably make other minor suspension mods, but this redesign could have taken those ideas into consideration. This could also actually improve handling characteristics by improving weight balance. There are rumors of a 60 kWh design making a late entry but I am reluctant to buy into rumors. This idea, however, does have merit.
