2020 Nissan Leaf Plus 62 kWh Range Test - Can it Go 280 Miles?

[@colin.d]

I drive my e+ Leaf (62kWh battery) to enjoy it rather than being specifically range-sensitive when around town and locally. For serious longer drives then I use the various eco features, but with a cheap night-time electricity charging tariff I top up at home and know I have 200 miles or so without any form of range anxiety. This means I seldom exceed about 3.3 miles per kWh but if I want the heater on, or need a sudden burst of acceleration, then I just go for it. My car is for enjoyment, not worry.

[@TheNovakReport]

All fair points. But my job with vehicles like this is to test out some assumptions or to manage misconceptions. There really is no reason to worry any longer, but for some people they still need to see it to believe it.

[@lanceareadbhar]

In my mind, I set the range to 150 miles of no fear range. If I am going any further, I map out the fast charger locations. This should cover me in most weather conditions, but I might lower it if it is super cold outside which I haven't experienced yet.

[@decimal1815]

150 mile range sounds about right for the 62kWh Leaf e+ that seems to have about 51kWh of battery capacity before charge warnings start on the dashboard. This would give just over 150 miles of range @ 3 miles per kWh. In summer dry conditions, without too much AC, or speed, the range should be a bit higher.

[@ArmoredAnubis]

Good video, I bought a leaf plus instead of a standard range model 3. It looks like the leaf has better range because of its larger battery. It also cost 7K less than a Model 3 standard plus here in Colorado. Happy with my decision. Thanks for the video

[@lanceareadbhar]

A Tesla is better for road trips, but this car is batter for staying within 150 miles of your home. I do agree that it is worth the savings if you don't need it for road trips.

[@EsenbekAliev_]

Tesla would be better in every corner. totally worth paying $7k over the price. You bought yours 1 year ago, today your Tesla would cost more than you paid for it a year ago lol

[@ArmoredAnubis]

@@EsenbekAliev_ Not necessarily. It wouldn't make since for me in my old neighborhood. A Tesla would probably get keyed the first week. Not to mention the closest Tesla service center is 100 miles away and they say they are the only ones in the area. According them they are outstretched. I just had my Nissan serviced and it only took a few days to order and replace a part.

[@tenwatts2378]

​@@ArmoredAnubis I have a leaf 40 KWH and I do like it. Still I would have taken a Tesla model 3, if money was no object, over a Leaf simply because of the fast charging on long trips. Also the US price is half what it is here where I live (Sweden). The leases here are much cheaper on the Leaf and it is a no brainer though so I ordered an E+.

[@outsidebrendan]

This was the most Canadian video about a Leaf I've seen yet. Awesome, almost made me miss Ontario.

[@TheNovakReport]

I'm true to where I'm from! Where is home now?

[@13thCP]

Miles per KwH is much more useful. They need to make that the standard. Awesome video!

[@TheNovakReport]

Thanks for the feedback and the comment! I have plans to do something similar but a bit different with the Ariya when it arrives next year. I think any metric can be helpful so long as there is consistency across the board. EVs need to be judged by range and efficiency combined to really gauge how effective they are.

[@ArielBatista]

I just saw your video and I think you are right. I just got the 2021 Leaf S plus and so far I am getting 240 plus miles of range. That is with mixed highway driving 70 mph and some city. I don't use epedle and most of the time I don't use eco mode. Great overall car.

[@TheNovakReport]

I've often said to people it's not always what you drive, but how you drive. EVs have the capabilities to drive a lot further than noted. Enjoy your LEAF and thanks for the comment.

[@marky0071]

Thank you the upload, man. Much appreciated 👍

[@TheNovakReport]

No problem 👍

[@andrewhillman9632]

Well done! I’m shopping Bolt and Leaf Plus so this video was very helpful to learn a bit more about the Nissan.

[@TheNovakReport]

Thanks Andrew! I'm glad it was helpful. I'm already planning out my range test drive for the new Nissan Ariya when it arrives next year.

[@jamesbond2603]

Thanks for the information. I plan to buy one of these cars and will be curious to see how it performs through our harsh winter's. Sometimes -40c.

[@painterboy454]

At that temperature expect no more than 30% of the manufacturers advertised range. Many videos on KZbin regarding range of electric vehicles tested under sub-zero conditions.

[@jamesbond2603]

@@painterboy454 I agree. Can't expect nearly the normal range during our winter's.

[@NHRunDad]

Yep, about a 30% range loss is right for mine in NH

[@Demobot1]

A few questions. When you drove to lake Simcoe, what was your average speed. In your previous video with your kids, how did they find the back seat for comfort? Speaking of comfort, how did you find the ergonomics considering you couldn't adjust the reach of the steering wheel. Did your right knee feel sore hitting the right side of the center console panel?

[@brianmacdonald4332]

Great demo

[@anthonyagovino3532]

Great video and great explanations. If I understood you did not use the e pedal/braking. Do you believe using it may have increased your range? Thanks.

[@TheNovakReport]

Thanks Anthony! I did use ePedal a bit when we did our 1st day longer drive, but for the most part I kept it off and just drove in Eco mode. I don't know if doing so all the time would amount to much extra range, as it's really more of a fun way to drive as opposed to a big range extender. When I did the launch event for this new Leaf back in 2018 I really discovered how fun the ePedal one pedal driving can be when on twisting roads - and that's where it's benefit is greatest. I'll be doing another range test later this year with the new Nissan Ariya so I hope you'll subscribe to be notified when it's done!

[@Toyeboy89]

It would be more practical if not for the cold winters where I live. But of course the brutal cold is usually only end of Dec through end of Feb

[@TheNovakReport]

Not to mention the fact that there are ways to mitigate the impacts that winter conditions have on EV range.

[@abbaby555]

That was awesome 👍

[@TheNovakReport]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mikecoleman7097]

Really well produced video!

[@TheNovakReport]

Thanks Mike! Much appreciated. I'll be doing a similar video later this year with the new Nissan Ariya once it becomes available to me.

[@conogrady9254]

Informative!

[@_cjmccullough]

What is the average speed on the highways you drove on? Or what speed did you average for this trip? I know you said you did the speed limit but what was it for the majority of the time?

[@TheNovakReport]

The main roads leading up to the lake and back down typically have a speed limit of 80 km/h which is 50 mph. We would have likely hit 90 or 95 km/h for stretches to either keep up with traffic or to go around slower traffic. On residential streets the limits are typically 50 km/h or about 25 mph. I'm afraid I don't have my notes from that drive so I wouldn't be able to tell you my average speed on the journey. Sorry about that.

[@jestronixhanderson9898]

I drive my leaf in the city, I drive it like a bat out of hell! And it’s still more economical than every non ev on the road. The power of these things for city driving feels the old day torque monster V8s, perfect city comfort. :) mines an old 24kwh model , does everything I need, for long journeys I have my old Subaru which does about 4 long journeys a year, costs me registration and that’s it! If I keep this second hand leaf for four years it’s paid for itself in savings :) I expect battery kits will come out for the old leafs, active cooling would be easy to fit.

[@TheNovakReport]

Thanks for your comment. I wrote an article for Auto Trader Insights about 18 months ago about the pros and cons of used EVs. You might enjoy reading it. Here's the link: insights.trader.ca/the-pros-and-cons-of-buying-or-selling-a-used-electric-car/

[@jestronixhanderson9898]

great article Eric. My old 2015 EV gets me 4 trips to work if I drive nice :) I could even take a new job on the other side of the city and drive the car till it has about 50% SOH. The only thing that could ruin my plan is a dead cell. It’s only got 20k miles on it and 3 quick charges the battery is usually 8mv difference or less, so all seems well. Any second hand car is a gamble, being the 1.2 version of the leaf with all those fixes and newer chemistry, I hope to make good use of it. I’d hate to chuck it away and not fit a newer battery when it comes time.

[@wajahathaider8419]

U got these numbers with AC on or heater on?

[@TheNovakReport]

No need for a heater in June and it wasn't hot enough to need A.C.

[@frapeyou]

20.8kwh/ 100 miles how does that compare to the model 3 (tesla) ?

[@TheNovakReport]

I haven't taken the Model 3 out for an extended range test like I did here. However the posted efficiency rating of the Model 3 is better than the Leaf Plus. The Model 3 is rated as low as 24 kWh / 100 miles, while this Leaf Plus is rated according to the US EPA at 32 kWh / 100 miles. I achieved better than that of course and I'd assume if I did the same test with the Model 3 I'd get better than posted results as well.

[@patmccccc]

My 2012 Leaf miles avg plummets when I hit the highway, as all Leafs do. These cars are notorious for that. I can only imagine your numbers if you would have been had you driven less highway miles.

[@TheNovakReport]

@@patmccccc I know what you mean but its kinda hard to predict. Most of that recreational drive on the first day was at around highway speeds or close to it. Plus there was a lot of up and down with elevation changes. In some ways it was comparable to more highway driving. I likely would have achieved less but not sure it would have been much less. Thanks for the comment!

[@AmaranthineTech]

@@patmccccc As do all vehicles whether gas or electric, just the laws of physics. You notice it more in your 2012 (just like I do in my 2013) because we have a smaller capacity battery (compared to modern ones now) and thus it takes a larger percent of our power maximum to cruise at highway speeds and this in turn reduces the usable capacity of our battery faster on our 24 kWH battery than it would a 62 kWH in the Plus because of less heat being generated which is basically waste, along with the normal air resistance, etc. Cruising at 70 MPH in our Gen 1 Leaf is harder on our battery even if we are both using the same power as the Gen 2 Leaf at the same speed. So even if we were both getting 4 miles / kilowatt hour of efficiency in Gen 1 vs Gen 2, the Gen 1 is losing overall capacity quicker than the Gen 2 is because of the difference in battery capacity size relative to the load of the battery. I can't believe I just typed all of that here. You'll find forums a better place to discuss all this technical stuff.

[@nosretep1960]

What @115 kmh?

[@TheNovakReport]

Just over 71 mph. Google can help easily with any conversions.