philkatz
Member
A couple wk ago I posed my question into the Leaf organization; indicating I understood the proprietry issuue, but sought some indication that something was really being done beyond recognizing the prob and calling the solution "improved battery chemistry. Initially got a reply from a "Customer Loyalty Rep" (or similar title) saying that she would pose my question and have some reply in about 5-7 working days. After 5 days I pinged the rep again, and about a day after that got a response that said basically Nissan had nothing they could tell me "at this time". And (unlike the case w/ Volt when there was a heater/cooler issue) no connection "inside" the tech organization was given.
Given that a) we have substantial midsummer days in 90's here; b) there places just over the Cascades we could go (and have to recharge) that have mostly such days, and hotter yet; c) given the past hot-country capacity loss data; and d0 given the $5-6K re-battery cost announced, I conclude that "at this time" we'd better put the proposed Leaf purchase on hold until we see some new hot-weather data that projects 25% capacity loss at ~~5 yr, not 2. The video from Dalhousie indicates that substantial improvement w/ "one more" substance in the electrolyte is not impossible. But in the absence of tech info from Leaf, we've gotta see it for ourselves on these boards (which are in effect a parallel testing organization that can/will report, free of Nissan's corporate legal dept.)
Unlike myself, my wife (the principal driver of proposed Leaf) is not a techie, and emphatically disinclined toward user complexity involving timing to end the charge at 80%, monitoring to avoid holding 100% for an extended time, etc. What she really wants is "fer-sure" 50 mile round-trips, even using the AC, w/o hunting down a open charging station.
With our Volt, we plug into the 240V, look at the hours to a full charge, and forget. And especially w/ prospective two cars to shuttle at our charging station, the intensive "tending" of the Leaf's battery seem over-much. If 80% charges are best to preserve capacity, Leaf has got to give that back as a setting on the user interface. Pretending it doesn't matter to preserve mileage ratings just doesn't inspire confidence; looks like marketing over substance.
Basically my wife was convinced; we'd met neighbors who liked their Leaf's, and this sale was Nissan's to lose. So far, I think their attitude and info release on this hot battery prob, has overweighed their incentives.
My original post that opened this thread:
Model yr 2015 LEAFs are said to have the "hot battery" technology originally promised for the spring of 2014. Buzzwords like "improved battery chemistry" are seen. . . . nowhere have I seen what is improved. I've asked otherwise knowledgeable dealer reps who sell a lot of Leafs. I've queried somewhere in Leaf organization. So far all I'm getting is along the lines of "I'll pass your question along to _____" or "Get back to you in 5-7 business days".
Does anyone have real info that indicates Leaf has actually done something to improve higher temp battery durability. I live in Seattle and while temps are moderate in general, we do have a couple months of 80-90F in Summer, and some days above that. And . . . east over the mountains (not that far),. . . .
Understand Nissan's need to protect proprietary technology, but you'd think corporate and the patent folks could figure out how to say something beyond "new and improved chemistry".
Forgive my skepticism, (re possibility of) . . . . stating the problem and naming a solution, whilst searching for someone or some organization to actually invent that solution.
Given that a) we have substantial midsummer days in 90's here; b) there places just over the Cascades we could go (and have to recharge) that have mostly such days, and hotter yet; c) given the past hot-country capacity loss data; and d0 given the $5-6K re-battery cost announced, I conclude that "at this time" we'd better put the proposed Leaf purchase on hold until we see some new hot-weather data that projects 25% capacity loss at ~~5 yr, not 2. The video from Dalhousie indicates that substantial improvement w/ "one more" substance in the electrolyte is not impossible. But in the absence of tech info from Leaf, we've gotta see it for ourselves on these boards (which are in effect a parallel testing organization that can/will report, free of Nissan's corporate legal dept.)
Unlike myself, my wife (the principal driver of proposed Leaf) is not a techie, and emphatically disinclined toward user complexity involving timing to end the charge at 80%, monitoring to avoid holding 100% for an extended time, etc. What she really wants is "fer-sure" 50 mile round-trips, even using the AC, w/o hunting down a open charging station.
With our Volt, we plug into the 240V, look at the hours to a full charge, and forget. And especially w/ prospective two cars to shuttle at our charging station, the intensive "tending" of the Leaf's battery seem over-much. If 80% charges are best to preserve capacity, Leaf has got to give that back as a setting on the user interface. Pretending it doesn't matter to preserve mileage ratings just doesn't inspire confidence; looks like marketing over substance.
Basically my wife was convinced; we'd met neighbors who liked their Leaf's, and this sale was Nissan's to lose. So far, I think their attitude and info release on this hot battery prob, has overweighed their incentives.
My original post that opened this thread:
Model yr 2015 LEAFs are said to have the "hot battery" technology originally promised for the spring of 2014. Buzzwords like "improved battery chemistry" are seen. . . . nowhere have I seen what is improved. I've asked otherwise knowledgeable dealer reps who sell a lot of Leafs. I've queried somewhere in Leaf organization. So far all I'm getting is along the lines of "I'll pass your question along to _____" or "Get back to you in 5-7 business days".
Does anyone have real info that indicates Leaf has actually done something to improve higher temp battery durability. I live in Seattle and while temps are moderate in general, we do have a couple months of 80-90F in Summer, and some days above that. And . . . east over the mountains (not that far),. . . .
Understand Nissan's need to protect proprietary technology, but you'd think corporate and the patent folks could figure out how to say something beyond "new and improved chemistry".
Forgive my skepticism, (re possibility of) . . . . stating the problem and naming a solution, whilst searching for someone or some organization to actually invent that solution.
