A Leaf will charge at several rates.
3-pin domestic plug
CHAdeMO Rapid 100A / 50kW
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)
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.
3-pin domestic plug
- 10Amps / ~2.2kW
- 10 to 12 hours (24kWh) / 12 to 15 hours (30kWh)
- Requires EVSE Lead
- 6 to 8 Hours (24kWh) / 9.5 hours (30kWh)
- 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)
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.