One of the popular questions among aspiring Nissan Leaf owners is “how long does it take to charge a Nissan Leaf.”
The Nissan Leaf is one of the most popularly known and highly purchased electric vehicles across the globe.
Since its launch, it has won the heart of many vehicle owners, especially environment-conscious individuals, selling hundreds of thousands of units in the process.
If you want to get the best out of your Nissan Leaf (becoming a responsible electric car owner), knowing the charging possibilities/choices available to you is critical.
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Exactly How Long Does it Take To Charge A Nissan Leaf?
When you ask most aspiring electric vehicle owners.
The frequently asked question that plays a critical role in their purchase decision is the time it takes to charge the battery (from depletion to max/full charge).
Like other electric vehicles, charging your Nissan Leaf depends on three (3) significant factors.
These include the size of the battery, the battery depletion level, and the equipment used in charging the battery.
On average, the charging time for a Nissan Leaf ranges from as low as forty (40) minutes to about 2-day.
The charging rate plays a vital role in this situation.
The Battery Size
According to the Nissan Leaf (Nissan) manufacturer, this Electric Vehicle comes in various versions.
You can settle for a version that fulfills your driving needs.
If you decide to go for the Nissan Leaf equipped with a 40 kWh lithium-ion battery & 110KW electric motor.
This gives or produces about 147Hp with a range of about 239.79KM or 149 miles when fully charged.
Also, the extended-range LEAF PLUS offers a significant upgrade with an improved capacity of 62 kWh lithium-ion battery & a 160KW electric motor.
It offers 214Hp with a range of about 363.7KM or 226 miles when fully charged.
Available Charger Types
The Nissan Leaf is equipped with a J1772 connector (the industry-approved standard).
This connector is designed/built to accommodate or allow both level 1 & 2 charging using a similar charger port.
Also, the CHAdeMO, a widely-known quick charging port, is compatible with the Nissan Leaf.
This supports an improved or faster-charging rate than what the previous levels (1 & 2) can offer.
The J1772 connector and CHAdeMO are situated or found in the front (at the center) of your Nissan Leaf.
Where To Charge Nissan Leaf
Charging Your Nissan Leaf At Home
Level 1
Usually, the level 1 car charger is provided alongside the purchase.
The cable can be connected directly to the 120V AC outlet around your home and then attached to the vehicle’s charging port.
Although it is the slowest option out of the 3 choices made available to Nissan Leaf owners, it is also the easiest, most available & affordable option or alternative.
The ease of use makes it an essential source.
When it comes to the charging rate level 1 offer, your Nissan Leaf gets between 2 and 5 miles/hr.
If your Nissan Leaf’s battery is fully depleted and you decide to settle for this charging option until it attains a full charge.
It may take about 35 hours for a Nissan Leaf model that runs on the 40 kWh lithium-ion battery and about two (2) days on a model with the 62 kWh battery installed.
Hence, the efficiency when it comes to charging a depleted battery up until 100% is questionable.
As a result, this charging option is not usually considered primary. It is mainly used to top up the range.
Level 2
This charging option is somewhat similar to Level 1.
Both options can be made accessible and available at home.
In this case, the charging cable will be connected to a 240V outlet and then attached to the charging port to achieve your charging needs.
If you have an existing 240V outlet in your home.
You can invest in an ideal or compatible plug for your charging needs/requirements or install the charging station.
However, the performance (attaining maximum charging speed) depends majorly on the outlet’s maximum amperage.
You may need to reach out to an expert to install the 240V outlet (if you do not have an existing outlet) that is compatible with your plug type in your garage or at the desired spot in your home.
The expert also has to ensure the connections are in accordance with the local codes.
Usually, a level 2 charging station is equipped to ensure a depleted 40KWh battery attains a full charge in 8 hours on average, and about 11 hours for a depleted 62KWh battery
The level 2 charging option is suitable for everyday applications.
You can plug your vehicle into this source overnight, ready for your daily operation the following day.
Depending on where you live, the level 2 charging stations are made available in some specific or critical areas, such as the parking lot or other commercial buildings around you.
This allows you to plug your vehicle to charge during working hours or while busy with other things.
In the United States of America, there are over thirty (30) thousand Level 2 public charging stations.
Charging Your Nissan Leaf in Stations (Level 3 Or DC Fast Charging)
A typical Electric Vehicle owner charges in the comfort of their home most of the time.
In that case, the DC fast-charging stations are most visited or used to supplement the existing charge (add more range).
Before you can make use of the DC fast charging whenever you visit any commercial or out-of-home EV charging stations in your region.
Your vehicle must support or have the CHAdeMO fast-charging port.
Although not all EVs are designed to support this charging option.
Good enough, the Nissan Leaf is equipped with this feature/capability.
Popular places where you can find the DC fast charging centers include malls, commercial buildings, grocery stores, parking lots, retail outlets, and more.
The DC fast charging option uses a 480V outlet.
You can charge your depleted 40KWh Nissan Leaf battery to up to 80% battery level in about 40 minutes.
Also, a depleted 62KWh battery can be charged to a similar battery level (80%) in about an hour.
Once the battery level reaches 80%, the DC fast charger lowers the charging speed to the Level 2 charging standard or rate.
This is an approach adopted to ensure your Nissan Leaf’s battery life is preserved.
As a result, the charging process may extend for a few more minutes to attain a maximum charge level.
In the United States of America, there are thousands of commercial DC quick-charging stations.
Factors That Affect Average Charging Time on A Nissan Leaf
01. Weather Conditions
If you use solar energy in your home via the installation of solar panels, the energy derived from this source can be used to charge your Nissan Leaf.
The emission-free nature and the affordable electricity that the solar system offers have made it a top energy choice among Electric Vehicle owners.
A durable and top-performing solar system is expected to deliver efficient electricity for your needs between 20 and 25 years on average.
According to estimates, an individual who invested in a solar system is expected to break even in about 8 years.
However, it has its downsides.
While the solar panel delivers optimally during cooler temperatures (early winter or spring), its efficiency reduces as the temperature increases (summer or very hot periods of the year).
Hence, you may experience a drop in solar system performance during the summer, which may as well affect or disrupt your Nissan Leaf’s charging time.
02. Battery Level
Usually, it takes longer to attain a full charge when charging a depleted Nissan Leaf battery.
For instance, it takes about 8 hours to achieve max charge level when charging a depleted 40KWh battery.
It will take half of this time (4 hours) for a battery level that is about 50%.
03. Battery Life
As your Nissan Leaf continues to get old, the battery life reduces or degrades.
As a result, the battery may deplete faster than usual, decreasing the vehicle’s range.
This is when you start experiencing a rapid loss in miles, resulting in the need for frequent charges and top-ups in the process.
How Much Does it Cost To Charge A Nissan Leaf?
By investing in Nissan Leaf, you won’t have to spend on fuel.
Instead, you will be able to power your vehicle and get it ready for your daily needs with the aid of electricity.
The amount of money you need to budget to attain a full charge on your Nissan Leaf is dependent on where you live.
The cost of electricity is not fixed. It varies from one region to another.
Let consider top locations in the United States of America and compare the cost of charging your Nissan Leaf until it attains max charge at home.
For instance, in Vermont and California, it cost around $6.55 to attain a full charge.
It costs about $3.82 to fill up your Nissan Leaf’s battery in Colorado and Nevada
It costs about $3.20 to attain a full charge in Utah, and it costs about $3.42 in Oregon.
One of the states with the most expensive electricity tariff is Hawaii.
It costs about $10.56 to attain a full charge.
Washington has one of the lowest electricity tariffs in the United States.
The cost of filling up your battery is about $3.02.
Looking at these figures (ranging from the lowest to the highest).
It is evident that the cost of charging your Nissan Leaf until it attains a full charge is considerably lower than it would cost to refill the gas tank.
When & How Do You Charge A Nissan Leaf
Planning Your Trip
To determine how often/frequently you should keep your Nissan Leaf charged, you first need to understand or assess your drive pattern.
If you maintain a regular or consistent drive pattern.
For instance, drive to work and return home later in the evening; you should be able to determine the miles covered to estimate daily energy consumption.
This way, you can easily calculate the energy expended and how many hours it would take to replenish it.
If you use about 30% battery daily (following your regular drive pattern).
This means you can confidently drive for 2 days without the need to charge it.
According to this estimate, you will have about a 40% charge left at the end of the second day.
This may be a great time to charge your Nissan Leaf.
When To Initiate A Charge
Usually, it is recommended that you charge your Nissan Leaf whenever the charge drops to about 40%.
However, the best way to decide how often you need to charge depends mainly on use (the miles or range you cover every day).
Planning For Occasional Long Stints
If you decide to cover a longer distance than your regular miles.
You may plug your vehicle (overnight) the night before.
You can set a timer for days like this to ensure you make the necessary preparation ahead of time.
Terminating The Charge
Whenever the battery attains full/complete charge, your vehicle would disconnect automatically (stops charging).
All you have to do is detach the connector from the port to terminate this operation.
Charging Time Comparison With Competitors
This comparison with be made with another strong and widely known brand, Tesla.
In terms of charging time, Tesla offers a more impressive performance.
For instance, the Tesla 3 (long-range model) is designed/built to deliver a charge that can last up to 180 miles in 15 minutes when charged at 250KW.
On the other hand, it takes the Nissan Leaf Plus about 45 minutes when charged at 100KW to achieve the same result (180 miles).
Common FAQs
When Was The Nissan Leaf Introduced into The Market?
The Nissan Leaf was launched or introduced into the market (mass production/commercials scale) in 2010.
What Are The Basic Charging Tips?
Ensure your vehicle is parked correctly, the brake is activated, and the car is not on before you begin to charge.
When Was The Nissan Leaf Plus Introduced into The Market?
The Nissan Leaf Plus was introduced in 2019 as an upgrade to the standard Nissan Leaf.
It offers a bigger and better battery for an extended range (above 200 miles).
Why Should I Invest in S Nissan Leaf?
Asides from the improved battery life and range that it offers.
The Nissan Leaf is one of the inexpensive or budget-friendly electric vehicles designed or made available for aspiring EV owners.
How Long Can The Nissan Leaf’s Battery Last?
As your Nissan Leaf gets old, just as other EV designs.
The battery life also diminishes or degrades, which is evident in the drop in the vehicle’s range.
On average, the battery is designed to last between 10 and 15 years.
The Final Words
So far, we have answered some of the popularly asked questions raised by people who wish to pick up an EV soon, especially a Nissan Leaf.
Most importantly, the question, “how long does it take to charge a Nissan Leaf?”
We believe the information we have provided is adequate enough to guide your purchase decision.