I personally think a new thread should be created, something like: "Nissan's response to premature capacity loss". we need a new thread with a focus on the ongoing response. this thread and others are getting so mammoth I'm sure a bunch of info is falling through the cracks for all but the regulars here.
It's nice to see a response, though they still seem to have their head in the sand as to how extensive this problem is. Their previous response suggested the decline would taper off. we now know that is not the case at least in the extreme cases. It seems quite likely that a bunch of Leaf owners below something like the 33rd parallel are going to be seeing 1 to 2 and in worst case scenarios even 3 and 4 bars lost a year, perhaps every year. Even at 1 bar a year, it's a hard sell, IMHO. The perception is that the battery capacity of the Leaf is barely enough for consumer comfort when it's new. between permanent capacity loss in extreme heat and fluctuating capacity in cold weather combined with the tedium of moderating one's habits to maximize the range, avoiding frequent quick charging, 80% charging, not discharging too low, it's all starting to feel like a bit much to expect the average car buyer to embrace. Just the fluctuations in range from cold that we see up north in the winter in this relatively mild climate are enough to make me want TMS. With the fears about extreme heat, I'm now also worried about taking the car even into Eastern WA in the summer, where it can get quite hot. It's hard to see any other solution than adding TMS, if for no other reason than for peace of mind, and after this current run of premature battery failures, a real capacity warranty is a must. Nissan now has a steeper hill to climb. if they come out with a "new and improved" chemistry, they will have to warranty range in order for us the be willing to take the chance again.
"An open letter to Nissan LEAF owners from Carla Bailo, senior vice president, Research and Development, Nissan Americas:
At Nissan, we consider ourselves fortunate to have such passionate and engaged customers—especially within our LEAF family. Recently, we learned from the Nissan LEAF community—and specifically from some Phoenix-area LEAF owners—of a growing concern about battery capacity loss with their electric vehicles. In fact, the MyNissanLEAF online owners' forum—a resource that allows owners to share their experiences and discuss EVs— helped bring the concern to our attention for which we’re appreciative.
The forum's discussion around battery capacity loss has reached a point where I feel it important to personally address what is being debated, to provide Nissan's viewpoint and, most importantly, to explain the actions we are taking to work with owners.
First, it is important to stress that while battery capacity loss incidents represent only a handful of cases, we are taking them—as well as the concerns of the larger LEAF family— very seriously. Battery capacity loss of the levels reported may be considered normal depending on the method and frequency of charging, the operating environment, the amount of electricity consumed during daily usage and a vehicle's mileage and age. But the only way to know for sure is to examine customer vehicles, perform a thorough diagnostic on the vehicle and battery, and better understand the real-world driving and charging history of the owners. We are now reaching out to individual owners to start this process to ensure that we fully understand these events and all potential causes, and pledge to provide an update as soon as possible.
Battery data collected from Nissan LEAFs to date currently indicates that less than 0.3 percent of Nissan LEAFs in the U.S. (including vehicles in service dating back to December, 2010) have experienced a loss of any battery capacity bars. Overall, this universe of vehicles represents a very small fraction of the more than 13,000 Nissan LEAFs on U.S. roads. Also, data received globally from other LEAF vehicles shows that this condition typically occurs to high-mileage cars or those in unique operating situations.
Second, I want to explain battery capacity, how it is affected by the operating environment and usage patterns and what is considered normal battery health. All lithium-ion batteries lose capacity with use and age. This is normal and expected. In general, lithium-ion batteries exhibit a higher loss of capacity early in life, with the rate of loss decreasing over time. Nissan has projected that LEAF batteries will generally have 80 percent of their capacity under normal use after 5 years, and 70 percent after 10 years.
Are there factors that could negatively affect this performance curve? Yes. A customer's method and frequency of charging, operating environment, the amount of electricity consumed during daily usage and a vehicle's mileage and age can all affect the rate of battery capacity loss. Until we know more about each customer's unique situation, it would be premature to declare what is happening with the Nissan LEAFs in Phoenix, and whether their performance is within the range of expectations or not. Working closely with our owners to get to the bottom of these concerns is exactly what we’re committed to do.
Nissan engineers from our Arizona Testing Center and around the world will study each customer case, work to discover the root cause and will determine next steps to satisfy our customers. While we do this, we pledge to provide an update to our customers as soon as possible.
Together, we are confident that by collaborating with our LEAF community—including the more than 400 owners in Arizona—we will ensure that owners experience many years of enjoyable driving as EV pioneers.
Thank you for your passion for the Nissan LEAF and the electrical vehicle movement. It is only through your dedication and willingness to innovate that we are able to bring zero- emission mobility to the mass market.
Kind regards,
Carla Bailo
Senior Vice President, Research & Development Nissan Americas"
