I purchased a salvaged Leaf via Copart for my 40 kWh battery pack upgrade...and I can promise you that the auction did not end @$4400 (I paid over $12k for my 2020 Leaf in early 2021). You are correct that you need a membership (which is <$100 for what we need), but the bigger issue is many states do not allow individuals to bid on salvaged cars (only licensed dealers); Texas is not one of those states, so I was able to buy (and inspect) my car myself. In other words, you need to look for Leafs in auction sites/states that do allow an individual to purchase salvage title cars.goldbrick said:I was following this auction for a totaled 2019 Leaf S as a possible way to get a cheap 40kWh battery. Unfortunately, there are 2 steps to the auction: an preliminary auction that acts like ebay and then a live auction that starts afterwards. I'm not privy to the details of the live auction since I don't have a paid membership so it looks like it is impossible to know how much the car eventually sold for. The first part of the auction ended at $4400, which seems like a great price for a 40kWh battery. Just as well since I don't need a project like that at the moment.
Ran across a U-tube video today for them. Supposedly three different batteries, the largest will be a 74 KWH high current battery, a smaller NMC version and a an LFP version. All based on the Leaf battery pack dimensions with a new BMS and some form of liquid cooling.. Only the largest battery wattage was given. I'd guess around 45-50 KWH for the LFP and 60-65 for the NMC version. Design claims to be chemistry agnostic and appears to use blade style modules. What they actually showed appeared to be mockups or prototypes, not working models. A 45 KWH LFP battery for older Leafs would be a godsend particularly if it were priced under $8K. With the lifespan of LFP batteries, It could make a lot of sense to refurbish an older Leaf. Also they mention bi-directional charging being possible especially with the LFP battery.HomerJSimpson said:I see a teaser came out of NZ just before the holidays which suggests that this company is working on a new liquid-cooled Leaf battery pack that is intended to address the issue of declining range over time. I suspect this is still in their design computers, but maybe 2023 will produce new options?
https://evsenhanced.com/
I see a teaser came out of NZ just before the holidays which suggests that this company is working on a new liquid-cooled Leaf battery pack that is intended to address the issue of declining range over time.
They do mention liquid cooling, but don't show how it would work. Perhaps a small radiator and fan at one end? Did a little more research. Company is Blue Cars LTD. They do apparently have a operating prototype in a Leaf. Last quoted cost was $14K USD ($20K NZD) for 38 KWH battery. No pricing that I could find on the new batteries that the video shows. Unless that cost is much lower for the new batteries, I don't think that there's much chance of seeing them outside New Zealand.goldbrick said:I see a teaser came out of NZ just before the holidays which suggests that this company is working on a new liquid-cooled Leaf battery pack that is intended to address the issue of declining range over time.
I saw that video and remember the cooling aspect of it but I don't remember it being liquid cooled. Was that specifically mentioned in the video? That would require plumbing and controls outside the battery pack itself and that seems like a much move involved project than just a drop-in replacement pack. Maybe I'll watch the video again and pay more attention to the cooling claims.
NZ is a LEAF grey market. No warranty, and no dealership replacement pack option.nlspace said:And priced lower than a replacement pack from the dealership (if that is even possible except under warranty?)
Springs - 2019 on LEAF, part number 55020-5SA2B. There also appears to be a 62kWh specific shock absorber. Does anyone know what the difference is over the 40kWh version?
LeftieBiker said:I'm speculating here, but with more weight on the suspension from the heavier pack, you'd want more aggressive damping - probably larger cylinder bores with different valves. OTOH, if you never carry more than one passenger, then the 200lbs or so of extra weight won't exceed what the car was designed to carry. That would effectively leave the car a two-seater, though, unless you and your wife are light and you carry light children.
Here's a blog/article I did on my upgrade experience from 24 kWh->40 kWh (https://www.myeva.org/blog/keeping-your-nissan-leaf).mwalsh said:So I realize that I'm late to the party here, but I am in the planning process for upgrading my LEAF to 62kWh.
There is no real reason to do it other than I feel the need to have at least one EV and/or hybrid in our fleet that is capable of a 130 mile RT between here in northern Orange County and central Carlsbad (the destination we are most often visiting when traveling) without en-route or destination charging and/or gas.
That said, I would also consider a 40kWh intermediate upgrade as a stop-gap measure, being as those packs are moderately more readily available right now. If I were to do that, I would also invest in a Tesla to J1772 adapter and destination charge some - the current impediment to destination charging is that my source for 240v (directly from the homeowner's service panel) has purchased a Tesla, hard wired the EVSE for it, and also installed solar, using up all the space I would use for my dual pole breaker.
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