Will software update bring 4-bar 2016 SL capacity over 8 bars?

[timgross]

Thanks, I will check the BMS Firmware Version in LSP.

And yes, I meant the apparent capacity (reported capacity), which at least temporarily will be different from the actual capacity. Nissan will want to see the reported capacity at 8 bars or lower in order to replace it under warranty.

I also had a good conversation with the Service Manager from a local dealership and had some info to share/confirm:

1) Some 30KwH batteries are being replaced with 30KwH batteries, and others are being replaced with 40KwH batteries. It really depends on what orders Envision has in the queue. If they have enough orders for 30KwH batteries on order, they will build them as 30KwH. Otherwise, they upgrade them to 40KwH. Has anyone recently had a 30KwH battery replaced with a 30KwH? I thought everybody is getting the upgraded 40KwH battery.

2) You don't need to actually get all the way down to 8 capacity bars to qualify for warranty. Nissan has a predictive algorithm that can project if it is likely that the battery will degrade to 8 bars before the warranty period expires. That is enough to satisfy the requirement. I did not know that. Has anyone used that provision?

3) The manager suggested that Nissan might allow for replacing a 30KwH battery with a 62KwH if you pay the difference in price. He was not sure though, so definitely needs to be verified. Can a 2016 Leaf actually take the 62KwH battery? Has anybody done this? If so, please share your experience.

[LeftieBiker]

I have to say that I don't really believe that service manager. 30kwh batteries being "upgraded" to 40? Unless he meant on the order form, that's not possible, as they use different chemistries. Nissan using a predictive algorithm to replace batteries before they drop to 8 bars??? They have refused to replace batteries when the car was literally just a mile or two over the 60,000 mile limit in the warranty. And last but not least, Nissan has put it in writing that 30kwh packs are now being replaced with 40kwh batteries. No ifs, ands or buts...

[timgross]

When I said "30KwH batteries being upgraded to 40KwH", I was referring to the warranty replacement. You stated that Nissan has put in writing that they only replace 30KwH with 40KwH. That is good to hear! Do you know where I can find the official message from Nissan?

[LeftieBiker]

Thanks again to Cwerdna for finding this. It' a PDF though, and I can't seem to open it online.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/ ... 0-0001.pdf

EDIT: Man, that TSB is resisting being viewed. I think I have it licked, though.

[cwerdna]

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/ ... 0-0001.pdf

[LeftieBiker]

That's the link I had trouble with. Is it working for everyone else, or does it just let you download the file? In any case, that's the document I converted to a JPEG and posted above.

[timgross]

Great, thanks. That is pretty clear. I doubt Nissan would bless the 62 KwH battery for a 2016, even if I paid the difference somehow. I would to hear if anyone has experience with that.

[LeftieBiker]

I think that we can all agree that Nissan would grant that request about 15 minutes after the end of time.

[alozzy]

About the only hope, at this point, of Nissan offering for sale a 62 kWh pack would be when they discontinue the LEAF. That's unlikely though, as LEAF pack production would surely be terminated too, for all but warranty purposes. Maybe a few people will luck out, if they purge some inventory for a short period of time.

[timgross]

I am not sure the 62 would work in a 2016 from a technical standpoint without modification. Does anyone have any info on that? A friend told me that the additional weight of the battery would require suspension changes, but didn't have any specifics. Nissan has obviously blessed the 30 -> 40 upgrade, but I have not seen anything about the 30 -> 62 upgrade.