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Charging the LEAF

36K views 3 replies 1 participant last post by  andrew*debbie 
#1 · (Edited)
A Leaf will charge at several rates.

3-pin domestic plug
  • 10Amps / ~2.2kW
  • 10 to 12 hours (24kWh) / 12 to 15 hours (30kWh)
  • Requires EVSE Lead
Type 1 or Type 2 16A / 3.6kW
  • 6 to 8 Hours (24kWh) / 9.5 hours (30kWh)
Type 1 or Type 2 30A / 6.6kW
  • 3 to 4 Hours (24kWh) / 5.5 hours (30kWh) / 7.5 hours (40kWh)
  • Requires a both a 32A / 7kw post AND optional 6.6kW charger
  • £1150 option on Gen 2 LEAF
  • Standard on LEAF 2.ZERO and LEAF 40.

CHAdeMO Rapid 100A / 50kW
  • 30 minutes to 80% for both 24 and 30kWh battery. 40 to 60 minutes for 40kWh.
  • Was optional on some Visia cars. Now standard on all models.

Charge Connectors and Leads


Leaf has two charge ports at the front of the car. The SAE J1772 Type 1 connector is for AC charging. From 2018 LEAF has a Type 2 connector for AC charging. The larger CHAdeMO connector is for DC rapid charging.

Charging from a domestic 3-pin plug requires a special EVSE cable. The domestic plug must be able to provide a full 10Amps of current for up to 15 hours. Nissan recommend a dedicated circuit. Most extension cords are not up to the task. Using an extension lead with the EVSE cable is not recommended.

Most home charge points for LEAF have a Type 1 lead attached. All you have to do is plug in the car.

Most UK public fast charge points have Type 2 sockets. Leaf can charge from these with a Type 2 to Type 1 adapting lead. If your LEAF does not have a lead, they are available from Nissan, Zero Carbon World, EV Connectors dot com and other sources.

To charge at the faster 6.6kW rate, you will need a LEAF with the 6.6kW option, a 32A/7kW charge point and a 32A lead. The car will set the charge rate to 16A if you don't have all three.

LEAF 2 (40 and 62kWh) has 6.6kW AC charging as standard.


Type 1 charge points have a tethered lead. Rapid chargers have a tethered CHAdeMO lead.



Recent production UK Leaf comes with a Type 2 cable and the Nissan EVSE. That wasn't always the case and older cars may not have come with both when new. A used LEAF comes with whatever is in the boot.


CHAdeMO DC rapid on the left. Type 1 (SAE J1772) AC port on the right. (My Gen 2 LEAF shown. Gen 1 is similar)

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Nissan 32Amp Type1 to Type2 Lead. This is sometimes called a Mode3 Type 2 cable. The 16A cable looks very similar but has thinner wire. A car with the 6.6kW charger will sense the lead and select the correct charging rate.

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#2 ·
A LEAF with the optional 6.6kW charger will display charging times for both 3kW and 6kW.

To check, turn the car on and press the page button until the charge time display appears. On a UK LEAF, the page button is to the right of the steering wheel. Look for a cluster of 4 small buttons. The page button is the one with squares on it.

6.6kW cars look like this. (My 24kWh LEAF shown)

 
#4 · (Edited)
DBT / CEV rapid chargers use two types of CHAdeMO connectors.

This is the new style.

Impact wrench Impact driver Handheld power drill Tool Drill



The new style is easy to use. Push it on to the car until it clicks. After the charge has terminated, press the large yellow button to release the connector from your car.





This is older style:

Product Auto part Automotive starter motor Pump Automotive engine part







The older ones are tricky to use. I've seen many people use them incorrectly. I watched a person destroy one and probably break his car too. There are even How-To videos on YouTube that are wrong.


This video shows the correct method to connect and disconnect the older style.

 
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