What four bars down looks like

Battery degradation in a 2012 Nissan LEAF

Battery degradation exists in electric cars, just as it does in mobile phones and laptops, but many people that are not familiar with electric cars have no idea what that is, or what it means. This article will help to fill in that knowledge gap.

First, let’s provide you with some background information. The above image was taken on May 28, 2017. This is a 2012 model Nissan LEAF SV that was sold originally, according to CARFAX, on January 11, 2013 and was built on July 21, 2012. It was sold in Southern California, and seems to have been driven in SoCal during its three year lease. I bought the car from a San Diego Nissan dealership in February of 2016 after it had come off lease. When I bought it, the car had 33,986 miles on it. So with this basic information in hand, you can see that we put under 10,000 miles on it in a fifteen month period. One other bit of important information – when we bought it, after only three years and roughly 34,000 miles it had already lost three bars of battery capacity. So that’s where we started with this car. It lost the fourth bar about fifteen months after we bought it.

If you look at the right side of the image, you will see two small red segments at the bottom right with six white segments above them. These are the battery capacity bars that LEAF drivers talk about. When this car was new, there were ten of those white segments above the red ones for a total of twelve bars. I will talk more about this battery degradation shortly. Just to the left of that, you can count 12 blue and white bars around the big 57 miles indicator. So when the car was new, the little white segments on the right would have matched all of the blue and white bars just to the left of them. These four missing white segments are what LEAF owners talk about when they talk about battery degradation. The longer blue and white bars are like a gas tank indicator on a gas-powered car. When full there are twelve bars, and as you use up the electricity stored in the battery, the blue and white bars start dropping off just like a fuel-tank indicator would. You will also see the big range remaining indicator count down toward empty.

As can be seen from the above image, the vehicle range as reported by the range remaining indicator is 57 miles at this point. The range remaining increases when placed in the Eco mode. Here is what it looks like in Eco.

So in this case, you can see that the Eco mode provides roughly an additional nine percent in range. Often Eco mode will provide about an additional ten percent in range when driving around town. Eco mode doesn’t really add any range when driving on the freeway. This car is still suitable for all of our typical around-town usage, but may not be satisfactory for others. I have written another article (here) that will discuss some of the factors that can impact battery degradation.

When new, the EPA combined range was 84 miles adjusting for their change in measurement parameters that they changed in 2013. As the battery degrades (loses bars) the range diminishes. These images show a full charge (all twelve blue and white bars illuminated) with a range of 57 in Drive mode. This is the mode that EPA measures the driving range. When your cell phone’s battery starts to age, your talk time decreases between charges. When it’s your car, your driving range decreases. That’s what battery degradation is.

Nissan has a battery capacity warranty that will provide a new battery for this LEAF under certain conditions. The capacity warranty says that when four bars are lost within 60 months or 60,000 miles of the original sale, they will restore the car to at least nine bars on these 24 kWh battery cars. On the newer 30 kWh battery cars, the capacity warranty is 96 months or 100,000 miles due to improved chemistry. In practice, Nissan has been replacing the entire battery pack restoring the range to new, which in this case the EPA says would be about 84 miles. Also, the chemistry of the replacement pack is improved over the original so it should degrade at a slower rate than the original and possibly provide slightly improved range over the original. Should you be outside the capacity warranty, the price to replace a battery is currently a little over $6,000. While that is a lot of money, one only need ask themselves this question: Do I want to spend $25,000 to $35,000 in a new car, or would it be better to spend $6,000 on my LEAF and drive it another five years?

Writing this article has created a couple of other areas of interest for me, so I’ll be writing about an easy way to optimize your range as your vehicle ages soon. I’ll also be writing about the possibility of getting a used LEAF or other electric car as your second family vehicle.

This entry was posted in Driving Range, Is the Nissan LEAF right for me?, LEAF 101, LEAF Information, LEAF Ownership. Bookmark the permalink.

51 Responses to What four bars down looks like

  1. Nick Riley says:

    Good article Ernie. As a comparison, I have a 2013 Leaf but it is one of the 2nd generation ones. I have over 44000 miles used over three and a half years and I still have 12 bars (around 92% of original range according to Leaf Spy). I also live in the UK where our ‘less hot’ climate means that less stress is put on the battery chemistry.

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Nick – Welcome to Living LEAF. And thanks for the insight on the 2nd gen battery reliability. It’s important that readers realize that improvements have already been made to reduce this as an issue.

  2. Kiki Jewell says:

    For the hard core geeks here, I found this lecture to be deeply fascinating: https://youtu.be/pxP0Cu00sZs

    Tl;dr, bottom line is that when charging while hot, it causes parasitic side reactions to accelerate, causing rapid degradation of battery recovery. Ironically, fast charging caused less damage than slower charging – because you’re spending less time charging. My supposition is that this is because parasitic side reactions happen while the lithium ion is traveling between the cathode and anode. In other words, this doesn’t happen while the car is idle.

    This is a particular issue with the Leaf due both to chemistry choice (lithium magnesium oxide) and lack of active liquid cooling. There was a class action suit about this.

    In any case, you should watch the whole video, if this topic interests you. (Note: I heard that Jeff Dahn now works at Tesla.)

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Kiki – Welcome to Living LEAF. The video, for those who haven’t watched it, is a little over an hour long with questions at the end, but is very informative. It does appear that the Tesla battery chemistry seems to be of a longer lasting design than that found in the LEAF. I don’t believe professor Dahn has moved to Tesla, but his university has signed a partnership agreement to work with Tesla on battery development.

  3. Lauren says:

    I am in the market for a new car (by this weekend) due to unforeseen circumstance.

    My ideal vehicle is a used 2012 LEAF SL. I am interested in purchasing this vehicle from a dealership with a 90 day warranty.

    Is there anything that would be a red flag to not purchase this particular vehicle? I have been reading your articles and have learned a lot of information regarding battery deterioration and battery warranty.

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Hi Lauren – Welcome to Living LEAF. Your choice of a 2012 LEAF SL is a good one for many reasons. It is well-equipped, yet offers a good value. By now you know to check and see how many bars it has left. Look at the car during daylight hours, and look down the side of the car to make sure that the panels are straight. Body repair work from a previous accident may show up as mis-colored paint panels or waviness in the door or fenders. A Carfax report will show original sale date, maintenance records, and how many previous owners there have been. Best of luck!

  4. Mark Hagel says:

    I purchase a 2013 Certified Pre Owned Leaf SL with 30,000 miles in Dec 2016. I knew that battery capacity was at 9 bars when I purchased the car. I was betting on the car losing the fourth bar before the 5 years 60,000 miles were up. Last week the car finally lost its fourth bar so tomorrow it goes in to the dealer.

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Mark – Welcome to Living LEAF. I too am now the owner of a LEAF that has lost four bars. I’ve yet to take it in for the inspection – probably one day this week.

  5. Morgan Shanahan says:

    But what about the diagnostic fee? Took my 2014 in yesterday and was told it would cost $300 to even check the battery to determine if the problem was under warranty. Has anyone had it come back that their battery degradation isn’t covered under warranty?

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Morgan – Welcome to LivingLEAF. If you have lost 4 battery capacity bars within 5 years and 60000 miles I can think of no reason why it would not be covered under the warranty. The inspection should just confirm that.

      • S Copeland says:

        Just curious bought my 2016 leaf from carvana June 2019 really just because I never had $55 to fill up my 2013 Pilot lol. It had nine bars and 20k, put 30k on it and still have nine bars with topped off charge of 85. Any thoughts, mostly around town driving cause my federal job site doesn’t have a charger and retiring in a year. Been using a good ole Jetta till then. Also was planning to get a refurbish 40KW battery if possible when under 4 bars.

  6. Carol Mitnick says:

    I have 2016. Leaf with 16,200 Miles. The battery is already degrading, last month it lost 1 bar, today it lost another. Pretty soon I won’t be able to take highway to work which is why I leased it in the first place. The dealership has no interest in fixing the problem or replacing the battery. Customer service leaves a lot to be desired. . My next EV will be a Tesla.

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Carol – Welcome to Living LEAF. Nissan’s capacity warranty on the battery doesn’t apply until you lose four bars of battery capacity, which is why the dealership can do nothing for you. All the best.

    • Rick says:

      Carol,
      i heard somewhere that on the 30 Kwatt battery packs, it might be a software issue causing the appearance of degradation. You might check that if you still have the vehicle. good luck.

  7. Dotti Elliott says:

    Hello. Just purchased a beauty of a 2012 Leaf with only 35,000 miles on it. However its a
    bummer that it has only 8 bars and 56 miles max range on it. I am so dismayed that it is
    no longer under warranty because its over 5… hoping to save up and replace it sooner than
    later.

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Dotti – Welcome to Living LEAF. All electric cars experience battery degradation to one degree or another – much like the battery in your cell phone or laptop. You will find that your LEAF will be a great around town car or errand car, but obviously is now less suited to longer drives. Your range remaining indicator will stop showing range remaining and start showing flashing dashes when range gets low. I highly recommend that you read this post – Very low battery warning research. You’ll find that you will be a lot more comfortable with your real range once you’ve done this. All the best!

  8. Frankie Hanson says:

    Hi Ernie,

    I got a 2013 Leaf S about a month ago and absolutely love the car!! I use it to commute to work and it’s mostly freeway driving. My range right now when fully charged shows as around 80 miles (which is much more than the dealer told me it would get). I have tried paying attention to how much it actually gets, and it seems pretty accurate. I usually charge it when it gets to about 20 miles, as that is my one way commute basically. Is that bad for the battery? Should I wait until is lower? I haven’t paid attention to the bars, but will look at it later. Also, the car is over 5 years old, but it’s at only 30,000 miles. Does that mean it is still under the battery warranty? We purchased extended warranty as well, which they say will cover any issues, including the battery. The car had only one owner before us and it’s pristine! I can’t even tell you how much I have been loving my little bug 😀

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Frankie – Welcome to Living LEAF. First off, let me say that I’m glad that you’re enjoying your LEAF. Your battery charging protocol is fine. You don’t need to wait until your range drops to zero prior to charging. The battery capacity warranty coverage was for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever came first. You are beyond the five years, so you no longer have a capacity warranty. Perhaps the dealership was confused about what the extended warranty coverage applies to, but it does not cover capacity loss of your battery. It may cover manufacturer defects, but those are already covered by a 96 month, 100,000 mile warranty from Nissan (from the original sale date). But since your car is providing you with adequate range now, hopefully it will continue to provide needed range in the future. All the best!

  9. Jamie says:

    Hi:
    I have a 2012 Leaf with about 36,000 miles. Bought it used 3 years ago with only 17,000 miles. Still have 10 bars and in warmer weather it charges up to 70+ miles. Cold New England nights and it will only charge up to maybe 64 in ecomode.
    Do you know of any companies that can add more batteries for longer range?
    Thanks,
    Jamie

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Jamie, Welcome to Living LEAF. The only way for you to increase your range would be to replace the battery. A new battery is roughly $6-7,000 installed. If you truly need a longer range vehicle to accomplish your driving needs, you may be better served by selling your car and buying a newer LEAF. The 2016 SV and SL have 30 kWh batteries with a longer range. You may be able to sell your car and buy a newer one for less than the $6-7000 cost of a replacement battery.

  10. Linda Wursten says:

    Hi Ernie,

    Thanks for this website. I keep seeing people talk about the battery degradation, so I read about here and am happy to say that my 2013 LEAF has 11 bars and 24K miles. I love this car and use it as a commuter vehicle for a 26 mile round trip. I love driving by the gas stations, especially when the prices have been around $3. I live in very cold northern Utah so my car is not quite so happy in the winter. I do come home from work every day and plug her in. I am always surprised that there can be such differences in the driving ranges after charging. This morning I had 91, which I haven’t see since last summer. Sometimes I have only 60 something, 70 something, and I think I am doing good if its 80 something in the winter here. We go days and days without getting above freezing, but yesterday we actually warmed up into the high 40’s. But I have noticed that sometimes, obviously depending on my driving, that I will only use up 10 or less miles on my way to work (which is 13 miles one way). Yesterday I only used 5. But this morning, with my 91 mile reading and driving very much the same as yesterday, I used up close to 20. I do have to drive on a highway for a good deal of the time and the speed limit is 60. I try to stay to that when everyone else is doing 5 to 15 over. I also drive in ECO mode, coast when I can to signals and down a few small hills I have. I have hardly used the heater this winter because it seems to suck up the miles. The heated seats and steering wheel are great, and I wear a good jacket and have a blanket on my legs. Can you give me any tips or hints to help me with my driving and to keep my battery in good shape. We typically get 2 to 2 1/2 months of pretty warm weather here in the summer, high 80’s and 90’s and even a few 100 days so I do use the AC. I keep my car in a garage at home but out in the open at work. Sure appreciate your help. Linda

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Linda – welcome to Living LEAF. I apologize for the delayed response. I’m not getting my comment notifications.

      You’ll be pleased to hear that you are doing everything right! The range remaining indicator is only an estimate, and as you’ve discovered, changes can be noticed while driving. Essentially it looks at past driving (and ambient temperature) to predict future driving, so even seemingly small differences can impact your indicated remaining range.

      The only real behavior that seems to impact battery capacity that you may have control over is quick charge sessions. As long as you’re not quick charging multiple times per day, you are doing everything right to optimize your battery longevity. Also, living in a cold climate is helping out.

      All the best!

  11. kevin karikoga says:

    Hi Ernie

    I have been reading your articles with interest. I recently developed an interest in EVs, However I am in Zimbabwe and due to the high fuel costs I am considering importing a pre used Nissan Leaf. However my worry is on the high temperatures in my country wont that reduce the battery lifespan of the car?

    Secondly I need to know about the service intervals for the car as qualified technicians for the might prove to be a challenge to find them. Of course we have a Nissan dealer around but there are just no electric cars that i know of in my country.

    May you please assist with advise and if possible with links to purchasing a good Nissan Leaf car. At the moment my only hope of getting one is through Befoward in Japan, but doing that without professional assistance could be a waste of money.

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Kevin – welcome to Living LEAF. I would discourage you from buying any used EV if there is no support network for you. Even a Nissan dealership that is not LEAF certified may not be able to repair your car. I recommend that you consider an EV once that brand and vehicle are available in your market. All the best.

  12. Ted Johnson says:

    Which year gives the 96 month 100,000 mile warranty???

  13. Ted Johnson says:

    I have a 2013 Leaf with 68000 miles and has lost 3 bars. My question is when will the car stop operating? When it hits the red bars?? Just wondering if I should sell or drive the heck out of it and save gobs of money in fuel costs! The 6k battery replacement cost is a little scary!! It’s currently getting 62 miles on a full charge!! My work is 14 miles one way!

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Ted – Welcome to Living LEAF. Sorry for the delayed response… my comment notification system is malfunctioning. Your LEAF will continue to operate as long as you have battery capacity. Of course, it may not serve your needs by then. I own two older LEAFs, and as long as the range suits your needs, you’re in good shape. Thanks.

  14. Leesun says:

    Hi, I bought a 2012 Leaf in March. I think it had 11 bars when I bought. It now has 10. I almost always fast charge, and as soon as the charge reaches 90% it stops, with the message that the vehicle has stopped the charge. This is usually after about 50 minutes. I don’t know why it does this. All my charging timers are set to “charge to 100%”.

    I have tried starting charging again and it takes about an hour to get that final 10%. And I find I get the same number of miles out of a full charge whether I’ve charged to 100% or 90%.

    I only get about 45 miles on a full charge … or at least I did, until a few weeks ago. All of a sudden I started only getting about 30 miles. And it’s been like that for the past few charge cycles. It’s quite disturbing to suddenly get 33% fewer miles on a full battery after just 6 months of owning the vehicle. I live in the U.K. (not very hot here) and drive every day, but only about 40 miles total per week.

    Any thoughts? Advice? Thanks.

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Leesun – Welcome to Living LEAF. Sorry for the delayed response… my comment notification system is malfunctioning. Many charge stations are programmed to stop at a certain percentage so your setting in the car will not change this bahaviour. Regarding that last 10%, it will charge much more slowly onnnce it reaches about 80%, so you might as well charge on 220v once it reaches about 80% or so, especially if you are paying more at a quick charge station. Many charge stations have a display on the front and you can see what the rate of charge is. If you have the charge cable that came with the car, you can likely charge at home for that last 20%. If you only drive 40 miles per week, this car should manage for you for quite some time, but you should be getting more range if your battery still shows 10 bars. Perhaps you could take it in to your Nissan dealership for them to look at it. Thanks for your question.

  15. Regina says:

    I am thinking about buying a 2012 nissan leaf and it is 4 bars down with 59,000 miles. The dealer is asking $7000. This article helped me to understand battery life questions. Thank you

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Regina – Welcome to Living LEAF. Sorry for the delayed response… my comment notification system is malfunctioning. I’m glad I could be helpful.

  16. Duane Olsen says:

    Hi Ernie. Couple weeks ago I bought a near mint 2013 LEAF SV with less than 22000 miles on it. However it only has 8 Cap bars and a maximum range of around 52 miles fully charged on eco with no Climate control. The 5 year warranty is passed however have you ever heard of a LEAF losing its capacity that much at such a low mileage? Is it possible that the battery is in fact defective? I live a top a hill and gain about 1000 feet of elevation on the way home. The ‘big’ hill itself only takes about 1 minute to get up but I lost over 20% battery just in that 1 minute. Does that seem normal? I think I am going to take it in to get the battery checked to see if it is defective. For 22000 miles it seems to be parched fast no?

    Mahalo,
    Duane

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Duane – Welcome to Living LEAF. Sorry for the delayed response… my comment notification system is malfunctioning. By your signature I would guess you’re in Hawaii. Beautiful place. Many factors go into the battery degradation equation… previous charging and driving behavior, and obviously the heat of the islands. I’ve found often time rather than mileage is a factor, but if that battery was always charged to 100% and then only driven a short distance and charged to 100% again, that could lead to the degeneration that you see. Your dealer will likely say “normal wear and tear”. If your car can get you where you need to go, perhaps you’ll need to plug in every night. Not ideal, but better than going to a gas station everyday. Mahalo

  17. Scott says:

    Hi Ernie!
    I just Bought a 2011 Nissan Leaf SL from Oregon with 33,890 miles on it. I show 9 bars which is giving me about 56 miles per charge. I notice When I drive It though with not pressing the gas so hard and braking I’m getting about 10 more miles per charge. Question is would I be Covered under the extended warranty from. issan to have them replace the battery for extended range?? Scott.

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Scott – Welcome to Living LEAF. Sorry for the delayed response… my comment notification system is malfunctioning. Your improved range based on driving behavior is typical. Your battery capacity warranty expired 5 years after the original sale date, so you are not eligible for a replacement battery. If you have an extended warranty in place, it does not cover the traction battery.

  18. Nathan Gelder says:

    Hi, i just test drove a 2011 leaf with 58k miles. It had 9 of the bars remaining, at full charge it read 70 miles in eco mode. It used 40 miles to go 20miles on the test drive all in eco mode in 40 degree temp with minimal heater/defrost. Is this normal? Thanks in advance.

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Nathan – Welcome to Living LEAF. Sorry for the delayed response… my comment notification system is malfunctioning. Your experience was not atypical. Cold temperatures reduce range, although as the weather warms, your range will increase some. Also, terrain matters, along with driving style. You want to be sure that your LEAF will cover all of your intended daily driving with a cushion to be safe.

  19. Robert Liddon says:

    Hi I have just taken possession of a 2011 Leaf, brilliant condition ,80000 miles. fantastic vehicle. It is however an eight bar leaf. My idea is to upgrade the battery as soon as possible. I do manage 46 miles or so on a single charge which is good enough for now .
    What is in the wind on the UK/ EU area towards this ambition. There seems to be a fair bit of hope in the US but very little this side of the Atlantic.

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Robert – Welcome to Living LEAF. My recommendation is to contact your local Nissan dealership and ask about a replacement. If they have no answer for you, ask to speak to their regional corporate liaison. Nissan does offer a replacement, but you need to be persistent in pursuit. Best of luck.

  20. Nelson says:

    I have a 2015 Nissan LEAF with 24 kWh battery. My battery lost the 9th bar today. It took about 15 months to dropped from the 10th bar.

    My factory warranty is valid until early August this year. Any advice that I could use to get a replacement battery under the warranty?

    Many thanks

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Nelson – Welcome to Living LEAF. Replacing the battery under warranty is a straightforward process. When you’re ready, take your car into the Nissan dealership. They will look at the battery and your purchase date. Once validated, they will order the battery and install it when it comes in. It’s okay if it’s installed after August, what’s important is that you have it validated prior to warranty expiration. If your current battery condition is serving you well, I would wait until June or July so that you get the most use our of your current battery now, and your replacement battery after it is installed. If you have any questions prior to taking your car in, just call your service advisor and tell him of your situation and your plans. He should be able to guide you. All the best with your continued LEAF ownership. Ernie

  21. Teena says:

    Hi Ernie,

    I’ve been Leaf hunting for weeks and am super glad to have found this forum!

    To make sure I am superclear, if I bought a 2016 Leaf with 38k miles and 2 cap bars, I could drive it right over to the Nissan dealership and they would install a new battery?

    Tnx in adv!

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Hi Teena – Welcome to Living LEAF. I would be skeptical of any 2016 LEAF that had only two battery capacity bars with only 38,000 miles. I can think of no conditions that would cause this kind of battery capacity degradation. In fact, I have never seen any LEAF with less than four or five bars, and that includes cars going back to 2011. Most will still have seven or eight left. If you are looking at a car from a reputable source (private or dealer), they should have no problem with you taking the car into the dealership for an inspection (but it would be at your expense). There could be a meter display issue, which (although I’ve never seen it happen) would be significantly more likely than a battery with only two bars left.

      Here is a better indicator of battery condition. With a 100 percent charge, what does the remaining range indicator indicate? If the battery truly has only two capacity bars left (the two red ones at the bottom of the meter), the range remaining will be no more than 15 or 20 miles on a full charge. My guess is that you will see a significantly higher number than that.

      In any case, good luck in your LEAF hunt.

  22. Christine Marks says:

    I have a 2013 Leaf which I love. I bought it used in 2016 with about 8000 miles on it just to go around town. It now has just over 30,000 miles on it. It lives in my garage and has lost just one capacity bar. I typically charge it up to 80% and hardly discharge it below 40%.. Very rarely has it been charged to 100% or discharged below 20%. I charge it using my wall outlet and have the timer set so that it is ready just before I leave my house. I live in the mid-Atlantic region. Do you think the battery will last much longer? Or now that it is getting close to 8 years old that it will rapidly deteriorate and lose more bars quickly? Thanks!

    • Ernie Hernandez says:

      Christine – Welcome to Living LEAF. As you’ve likely read here, experiences vary dramatically based on location and experience. You seem to be living in the sweet spot of both. I currently own three LEAFs, 2011, 2012, and 2013. All have ten bars or more (though the two oldest did previously get their batteries replaced at some point). The 2013 with ten bars remaining on the original battery attains a range of 70+ miles when fully charged, which is more than adequate for our needs. My expectation would be that you still have several years life available to you, especially given your use case and location. All the best with your LEAF.

    • Val says:

      I finally took the plunge although I have kept my gas car for the time being! I purchase a used 2013 Leaf for $5900. and have a couple of questions! It has 40k miles on it and has 11 bars. Very clean no accidents, not even a scratch! My wife and I rarely leave the house except to go to the Pharmacy and or Starbucks! We may drive a total of 80 miles per month! I know I know! Why bother? Not just ready to give up my license yet! my question is how should I charge this car? If I charge it once a week, will it hold the charge? The mileage indicator says it’s good to 72 miles on a full charge. I never drive on the freeway anymore, streets are limited to 35mph! What can I expect from the car in terms of life? Thanks!!

      • Ernie Hernandez says:

        Val, congratulations on your “new” LEAF. It seems you found a great one. Given your driving style (infrequent) and your driving distance (short), I suggest using what Nissan calls the Long Life Mode (80% Charge) when charging. You will find it described starting on Page CH-26 of the Owner’s Manual (if equipped with navigation) or Page CH-28 if not. When charged to 80% of capacity you will still have well over 50 miles of range, which should easily last the week. If you did not get an Owner’s Manual, you can find it here

          . An unused EV will discharge very slowly, so don’t worry about it losing the charge between drives. You just don’t want it to sit with 100% charge for an extended period of time, as that does tend to increase battery degradation.

          Based on your description of the car, and your driving style, you should find that this car will serve you for many, many more years to come. Enjoy your LEAF, and let me know if you have any additional questions.

    • Steve says:

      Great information. I purchased my 2013 Leaf in 2017 (used) with 31,200 miles on it and full 12 (10 bars above red lines). 4 years later I’m at 53,500 miles and I am down 2 bars, so 10 (or 8 bars above red lines). My “distance” at a full charge says 68 miles, however during the cold months in the Mid-Atlantic state of Maryland I find the distances are about 40-50% less, and that is without running the heater (just using heated steering wheel and seat).

      Ever since gas prices started shooting up I’ve had more and more passersby stop to ask me about driving electric. I think those of us that took the “leap” a few years back, before the newer batteries with longer distances, that it is a great around town and short commuting car. My commute prior to getting laid off in October 2020 was 30 miles each way. Most days I could charge for free at the parking garage at the office which was nice, but as more people starting driving electric it was more and more difficult to get a charge at work with the Level 2 chargers. Many times I would find outlets in the garage and use my Level 1 charger which is better than no charge.

      Ultimately I think the best advice is to do the math. If you are a creature of habit with modest driving needs EV is a no brainer. If you may spontaneously decide to drive 500 miles away from home, then perhaps a Hybrid would be better. I know my area pretty well and how far it is in each direction to the furthest points I typically go and know if I have sufficient charge to get there which means I don’t always need to charge to 100% capacity, and often times go with 80%, and typically don’t re-charge until down near 30-40% (and sometimes even under 20%).

      If you can find one, buying a used Leaf is great value. Many can be purchased under $10k, and if you factor in maintenance savings and the rising cost of gasoline it really is a great Life Hack. Good luck and enjoy the quiet and zippy driving.

    • Val says:

      Hi! I’m looking at a 2011 Leaf with 69K miles and 8 bars! Body is perfect! No accidents no previous issues! What would you say to someone buying a 2011! Am I better off looking for a 2012? Need a second car! I drive a Tahoe generally, but need a weekend car for errands, etc.

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