Mx5racer said:
Releasing this information and setting a more than fair price on the battery
Helps me to recommend the leaf again.
Before this information I would have warned everyone about the degrading and discouraged them from buying a Leaf.
I think this is the key positive in Nissan's late but very intelligent decision to sell replacement battery at a reasonable price.
I bought the LEAF 37 months ago knowing there were uncertainties.
But Nissan's stated expectations on capacity degradation made it appear that a ten year total cost of ownership at 7,000 miles per year at the government subsidized $24,000 price would be close to total cost of ownersip of my 2009 Altima SL with 4 cylinder engine (cash for clunkers purchase on last day from a great GA dealer). And potentially could be 20% to 30% better.
Prior to offering price I really felt like I had been sold a "pig in a poke".
Many uninformed buyers come to MNL every week considering purchasing new or used LEAFs.
With the defective 2011 to 2014 batteries it was impossible to know the real cost of purchasing a LEAF.
Which I stated more than 18 months back was a disaster for the LEAF program.
So I and many others shared what we knew and recommended against it.
At least now there is something you can evaluate.
Nissan's remaining significant problem and main shortcoming is that the attempt to resolve the 2011 to 2014 battery defect with a warranty will help less than 10% of people. They need to seriously consider a pro-rated capacity warranty that provides some corrective action for 80% of those impacted.
Maybe they will consider that in the class action mediation.
I didn't expect their smart choice of selling battery at a reasonable price.
So you never know.
Without that operating my 2011 LEAF will mean the replacement battery costs roughly what the savings were for not buying gas. And total cost of ownership will be 5% to 10% higher than the 2009 Altima and that with significant government subsidy.
So the story is still a bit of a "pig in a poke".
But at least now I feel better about it. Might be able now to go to third annual plug in America day. Before I don't think I had the heart or enthusiasm for it.