Zapmap has got its hands on a Nissan Leaf 40 kWh for three months, with us able to test the EV until the end of March 2019. This extended time with the popular model will let us get to grips with its strengths and weaknesses, so check back for regular updates.
Month 1: Zapmap Nissan Leaf long-term test
Mileage: 2,431 miles
Average energy consumption: 3.4 miles/kWh
The Nissan Leaf is dealing with winter well – though granted we haven’t yet had any truly arctic conditions. Regardless, the Leaf has covered more than 2,400 miles in a month, which isn’t bad going for an EV.
A quiet Christmas break meant that more miles could have been added to that, but even so, an annual mileage of 29,000 miles or more isn’t to be sniffed at for a car with so-called ‘limited range’.
A fair proportion of the distance covered has been on the commute, of which more than 80% of the 90 mile round-trip is covered on dual carriageways and motorways.
It’s not the ideal territory for an EV, which prefers the stop/start nature of urban traffic more, but even so, the calculated real-world range is at least 110 miles – and that’s in a car that hasn’t been pre-conditioned, in sub-zero temperatures in the morning, and driven to the speed limits even on faster roads.
Seeing this very much as a minimum range then is a realistic approach, and other trips that spend less time on motorways have been returning real-world ranges of 130-140 miles, even with the heater on and a car full of people and kit.
Something that has been a priority to test during our time with the Leaf is the issue surrounding multiple rapid charges. Many owners report that a third rapid charge in a day will result in charging speeds around half that of what should be possible.
It’s something hit by us before, when having a Leaf on test for a week in spring last year, so have first-hand experience of it. In winter, the issue doesn’t appear to exist, probably largely down to the lower surrounding temperatures keeping the battery cooler.
We are yet to try a fourth rapid charge or more in a day, but have pushed the car’s range a fair few times in this first month with it. Going forward, we’ll aim for more rapid charges, and in warmer weather, to see how the Leaf continues to perform in terms of charging.
For a full report, including additional details of range and charging testing, features, the NissanConnectEV app, and the Leaf’s driving experience, head to our sister site Next Green Car.
It arrives: Zapmap Nissan Leaf long-term test
Model: Nissan Leaf Tekna
Price: £29,390 – £31,575 inc. options
Battery: 40 kWh
Motor: 110 kW (150 hp) – 320 Nm
Charging: 6.6 kW AC Type 2 / 50 kW DC CHAdeMO
Top speed: 89mph
0-62mph: 7.9 seconds
Driving range: 168 miles (WLTP combined)
Zapmap has been lucky enough to be offered a Nissan Leaf on test from early December to the end of March. We’ve got a Tekna model, featuring e-Pedal and ProPilot systems, a WLTP-range of 168 miles on a single charge, and the standard 6.6 kW Type 2 AC on-board charger, plus 50 kW DC CHAdeMO inlet.
Click below for Zapmap’s Nissan Leaf charging guide.
