Leaf Questions

Firblog

Bought a ex demo leaf SVE just before Christmas. Charging was bloody scary for a while as no home charger, didn't realise how long it took to charge non fast chargers, or how little range I'd get on hilly/wet/cold roads etc.

Anyhow over that now, but have a couple of queries.

1. Carwings

Cannot get this to work, on car get no service all the time... how/what does the car connect to to get service?
I've downloaded Nissan EV app, is this the correct one? Have logged into it but no info at all.

2. Heater

Is this the crapiest heater in any car on the planet?

I have it up @ 30C for nearly hour and feel cold getting out of the car, it's pure sh*te

zinzan

EVConnect is disabled at the moment due to security issues. Even when it was open connection was patchy, though the change from CarWings to EVConnect did improve it somewhat.


http://www.breakingnews.ie/business/nissan-pulls-companion-app-after-car-hack-flaw-is-revealed-online-722408.html

I find the heater ok but find it really dries the air in the car to an uncomfortable level so only use it sparingly.

maloo

I test drove a leaf last November. I found the heater to be terrible too. I was frozen to the core every time I drove the car. Still ordered a new one though, was advised to get the cold pack. And the dealer didn't seem surprised when I told him the heater was crap. I've heard that the heater is a common thing to fail though? If it's still under warranty bring it back and get it sorted by the dealer?

mundogas

I find the heater okay, could be the cabin filter needs changing. You said SVE so heated wheel and seats shout also help alot. I find them great. They are easy on the battery also.

Firblog

mundogas wrote: »

heated wheel and seats shout also help alot. I find them great. They are easy on the battery also.

If there were heated slots to put my feet in i'd not be complaining..

I swear to god if I could get the carwings thing working, I'd be heating it for 2 hours before getting into it

I think unless you're naked in the car then the heater is absolutely perfectly adequate.

It warms up faster than anything you will ever have experienced in any ICE and pre heating is wonderful.

I find the AC on Auto to be **** and have to use it manually and then it's perfectly fine but not in Auto, but heating to me is good.

Range should be of no surprise to anyone that has followed the threads here about the Leaf because I and others have well documented it.

Firblog

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I think unless you're naked in the car then the heater is absolutely perfectly adequate.

It warms up faster than anything you will ever have experienced in any ICE and pre heating is wonderful.

I find the AC on Auto to be **** and have to use it manually and then it's perfectly fine but not in Auto, but heating to me is good.

Range should be of no surprise to anyone that has followed the threads here about the Leaf because I and others have well documented it.

You must be joking.. I have to wonder what cars you've driven prior to going EV. I begin to suspect that if the leaf had square wheels you'd be saying that they're perfectly adequate...

Firblog

Firblog wrote: »

You must be joking.. I have to wonder what cars you've driven prior to going EV. I begin to suspect that if the leaf had square wheels you'd be saying that they're perfectly adequate...

No I've never owned a car before so a candle would seem warm to me after years of cycling to work and back in the cold.

I find that on colder days I'll need to increase the fan speed to 2/3 and direct more air at feet with temparature set to 20-22 but have no issues. At "auto" the car can be bit of a fridge.

I always preheat on cool/cold days and use seat heater at low setting pretty much constantly. The heat drops to close to 0 when the low battery warning comes on.

mr.dunkey

Who did you buy it from, Bring it back and get them to explain how it works, Heater should be better than that, car should be under warranty, Go back to Nissan

Firblog wrote: »

Bought a ex demo leaf SVE just before Christmas. Charging was bloody scary for a while as no home charger, didn't realise how long it took to charge non fast chargers, or how little range I'd get on hilly/wet/cold roads etc.

Anyhow over that now, but have a couple of queries.

1. Carwings

Cannot get this to work, on car get no service all the time... how/what does the car connect to to get service?
I've downloaded Nissan EV app, is this the correct one? Have logged into it but no info at all.

2. Heater

Is this the crapiest heater in any car on the planet?

I have it up @ 30C for nearly hour and feel cold getting out of the car, it's pure sh*te

mr.dunkey

I deal in LEAFS and never had a heater that was insufficient, possibly a Fault that is covered under 3 year warranty or are you a person who could sit in a furnace and still complain that its cold?

Firblog wrote: »

If there were heated slots to put my feet in i'd not be complaining..

I swear to god if I could get the carwings thing working, I'd be heating it for 2 hours before getting into it

BoatMad

Deleted User wrote: »

No I've never owned a car before so a candle would seem warm to me after years of cycling to work and back in the cold.

Well well that's explains so much , a bloody cyclist ( only half kidding u )

BoatMad

I certainly found then MY2016 heater to be adaquate , cold pack is brill

BoatMad

Firblog wrote: »

You must be joking.. I have to wonder what cars you've driven prior to going EV. I begin to suspect that if the leaf had square wheels you'd be saying that they're perfectly adequate...

Mad lads has square wheels on his leaf , he loves them ( only gently josing u )

macnab

I have the Gen 1 Leaf (2011) The heater sometimes doesnt appear to be working after I have preheated it, I have to switch the car OFF-ON to reset it (wheres ctrl-alt-delete when you need it)
After 15 months of Leaf ownership I find the best settings for heating are: Temp at 19 Degrees, Fan at 3 bars, Mode at Feet and Screen, I never use Auto.

Padraig Mor

I don't find any issue with heating in my car. I have the cold pack as well, which is a godsend - it's almost too hot!

Actually I seem to remember somewhere in the Manual where it says ECO mode reduces power to the Heat and AC, might be worth checking out.

Rafal

I find the SVE heater (heat pump, not the dry heat combo of AC+heat) to be one of my favourite features of the Leaf. I suspect you have a faulty one.

The dry heat option that you get if you turn AC and heat, as for demisting, is slower to get going, however, I have used it sparingly. Heat button on Auto is excellent, and I keep it at 19C.

Eco mode makes it more intermittent, so temperature will swing a little bit more, but still very comfy.

DrPhilG

My wife is always freezing, diagnosed with poor circulation which makes her persistently cold.

She has no issue with the heating in our Leaf. Heated seat always on, I use the heat on manual, usually about 3 bars set to windscreen and feet. If I'm particularly cold I change it to front and feet for a while but usually have to change back as it's too warm.

My only issue with the heat is that the panel and settings are stupid.

Has anyone tried a hat on ? may sound silly but if you find the heating in the leaf not good then I suggest a hat, I wear my jacket in the car as I always did.

I'm only suggesting this because heat isn't free in an EV like it is in an ICE so the more you turn it up, the more it's costing because cars are very poorly insulated, it will still cost a lot less than driving on diesel.

I drove up to work this evening in Eco and found that the heating was definitely cooler. but as a + I saved almost a whole 10% probably because Eco really does reduce temptation to hammer the throttle, it changes the mapping and stiffness so I think it really helped me this evening.

In fact it's so long since I drove in Eco I realise how in traffic it makes that slow driving a lot more comfortable because the car doesn;t want to shoot forward.

simdan

Firblog wrote:

You must be joking.. I have to wonder what cars you've driven prior to going EV. I begin to suspect that if the leaf had square wheels you'd be saying that they're perfectly adequate...

Maybe you have a problem with your SVE. Mine heats up 20 mins before I get in to it, when carwings was working. The car is set to auto and 19C and is lovely in the mornings. When it's at 30C it's unbearable.

pwurple

Sounds like a fault firblog. I find the leaf very warm with the heating on.

Controls are crappy though. And madlad, wtf? Take off the coat and hat!

BoatMad

Deleted User wrote: »

Has anyone tried a hat on ? may sound silly but if you find the heating in the leaf not good then I suggest a hat, I wear my jacket in the car as I always did.

I'm only suggesting this because heat isn't free in an EV like it is in an ICE so the more you turn it up, the more it's costing because cars are very poorly insulated, it will still cost a lot less than driving on diesel.

I drove up to work this evening in Eco and found that the heating was definitely cooler. but as a + I saved almost a whole 10% probably because Eco really does reduce temptation to hammer the throttle, it changes the mapping and stiffness so I think it really helped me this evening.

In fact it's so long since I drove in Eco I realise how in traffic it makes that slow driving a lot more comfortable because the car doesn;t want to shoot forward.

OMG , Im doubled over,

Hey Mad_lad, if you get out and push it instead, you'll find its great on battery life

I suggested trying in normal D without Eco mode enabled because I definitely noticed a difference the other night driving to work.

What's wrong with wearing a woolly hat in a car ? seriously . Unreal.

Definitely the Leaf in Question needs to be checked out because I find nothing wrong with the heating, fastest car to warm up you'll ever experience !

BoatMad

What's wrong with wearing a woolly hat in a car ? seriously . Unreal.

do you keep the bicycle clips on too

seriously dude , you crack me up.

The point of an enclosed vehicle was to provide comfort to its occupants , which is why around the 1930s , the driver got an enclosure , then some creature comforts.

you are suggesting going back to the 1920s !!

BoatMad

BoatMad wrote: »

do you keep the bicycle clips on too

seriously dude , you crack me up.

The point of an enclosed vehicle was to provide comfort to its occupants , which is why around the 1930s , the driver got an enclosure , then some creature comforts.

you are suggesting going back to the 1920s !!

Not at all, I'm suggesting if someone thinks the heating in the leaf is inadequate to either get it checked out or add a woolly hat, seriously, I don't get into any car in the cold without my jacket and I find a jacket most sufficient.

BoatMad

Deleted User wrote: »

Not at all, I'm suggesting if someone thinks the heating in the leaf is inadequate to either get it checked out or add a woolly hat, seriously, I don't get into any car in the cold without my jacket and I find a jacket most sufficient.

in any modern car I have owned ( 14 all told at last count) I have never felt the need ever to wear a coat simply because the car couldnt provide sufficient heat . The only time I wore a coat was when it was opportune as I was getting out soon. most of the time I drive in shirts or at very most a jumper

steelboots

I find the Heater on my SVE MY2016 Leaf fantastic, now my previous car was a '99 and the one before that an '87 so maybe that explains why I think its so good.

I always have the heated seat on, which makes it nice and cosy. I do suffer from cold feet though but I over come that by putting on the cruise control, turn on the heat steering wheel and steering with my feet, works great.

BoatMad

steering with my feet, works great.

great, the nosebleeds from pressing the accelerator with your head must be an issue though

BoatMad

BoatMad wrote: »

in any modern car I have owned ( 14 all told at last count) I have never felt the need ever to wear a coat simply because the car couldnt provide sufficient heat . The only time I wore a coat was when it was opportune as I was getting out soon. most of the time I drive in shirts or at very most a jumper

People don't wear coats in cars ? that's a new one to me.

I said I wear my coat in the Leaf, I didn't say I needed to !

I wore a coat in any car I ever owned in winter because I can't be arsed freezing when I get out of the car as I suspect anyone else I've ever seen wearing a coat in a car does too.

steelboots

steelboots wrote: »

I find the Heater on my SVE MY2016 Leaf fantastic, now my previous car was a '99 and the one before that an '87 so maybe that explains why I think its so good.

I always have the heated seat on, which makes it nice and cosy. I do suffer from cold feet though but I over come that by putting on the cruise control, turn on the heat steering wheel and steering with my feet, works great.

Yeah my heater is perfectly fine too.

I guess some people have to run down the Leaf because it's an EV or people are just trolling...........

steelboots

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah my heater is perfectly fine too.

I guess some people have to run down the Leaf because it's an EV or people are just trolling...........

Ye, I have my car timed to heat up every morning, the seat and steering heated also. To be able to come out in the morning and take the p1ss out of my neighbors with their kettles of water is worth every penny.

Also the hater heats up so quick, if people are finding the heat in adequate I suggest getting a thermometer and measuring the temp. I set mine on auto @ 21deg c and its perfect.

Yeah pre heating is great ! sometimes I don't bother to pre heat because it warms up so fast anyway.

Sometimes I can get away with no heating with my jacket and just the heated seats,

For those ready to pounce on this let me make it clear, I don't do this because I have to to increase range, I do it because the heated seats keep we adequately warm with my jacket on, and I keep my jacket on as I always did in colder weather in any ICE car I owned because I hate getting out in the cold, damp and wind and having to get my jacket out and put it on, I'd rather have it on when I get out.

mylesm

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah pre heating is great ! sometimes I don't bother to pre heat because it warms up so fast anyway.

Sometimes I can get away with no heating with my jacket and just the heated seats,

For those ready to pounce on this let me make it clear, I don't do this because I have to to increase range, I do it because the heated seats keep we adequately warm with my jacket on, and I keep my jacket on as I always did in colder weather in any ICE car I owned because I hate getting out in the cold, damp and wind and having to get my jacket out and put it on, I'd rather have it on when I get out.

I thought you never owned a car before

cros13

Because the heaters in EVs are effectively discrete systems they are one of the few parts more prone to failure than on an ICE. There have been a small few reports of heater issues on i3s from owners outside Ireland mainly related to high voltage distribution issues (i.e. the heater not getting power).

macnab

I had a few issues with the heater in my last Leaf (Gen 1 MY11) The easiest way to tell if it's working or not is to look at the on screen energy draw.
If i found the heater was using zero kw then I had to switch the Leaf Off and back on to reboot the heating. I doubt the Gen 1.5 has the same issue though.
My new MY16 Leaf seems to be better insulated than the MY11 as my feet don't seem to be as cold.

Firblog

thanks to all for various suggestions, Mad_lad for heater working better without eco mode (not wearing woolly hat) have found the heat is now adequate..

I did put all heat on (in ecomode) there one morning before leaving the house, used 6% of the battery and indeed the cabin was well warmed, this took 15/20 mins. Just wondering why it would heat up so well in 20 when not driving, and hardly at all when I am driving.

peposhi

Firblog wrote: »

thanks to all for various suggestions, Mad_lad for heater working better without eco mode (not wearing woolly hat) have found the heat is now adequate..

I did put all heat on (in ecomode) there one morning before leaving the house, used 6% of the battery and indeed the cabin was well warmed, this took 15/20 mins. Just wondering why it would heat up so well in 20 when not driving, and hardly at all when I am driving.

I normally have the heat and ac on when I drive in a cold weather. When I do need some extra heat though I turn off the ac and leave only the heat on and turn up the fan speed. A minute later in the car is very, very warm almost too warm for my liking.

Firblog

peposhi wrote: »

A minute later in the car is very, very warm almost too warm for my liking.

Not a hope of this in my leaf, definitely going to get a temp gauge and record various temps at the end of journeys

Firblog

Firblog wrote: »

thanks to all for various suggestions, Mad_lad for heater working better without eco mode (not wearing woolly hat) have found the heat is now adequate..

I did put all heat on (in ecomode) there one morning before leaving the house, used 6% of the battery and indeed the cabin was well warmed, this took 15/20 mins. Just wondering why it would heat up so well in 20 when not driving, and hardly at all when I am driving.

You're welcome, lol I don't wear a woolly hat either

Eco does make a difference alright, I used it this morning for another experiment and It does make a difference to range, it really tries to deter you from pressing the throttle. And also limits the heater and AC output.

When you pre heat, you're not using Eco mode because this only works when the car is on. So the heater will work at max power.

Pre heating does not use the heat pump , the heat pump works only when the car is on so you're using the resistive only part of the heater so if you need max range then pre heat off the mains.

peposhi

peposhi wrote: »

I normally have the heat and ac on when I drive in a cold weather. When I do need some extra heat though I turn off the ac and leave only the heat on and turn up the fan speed. A minute later in the car is very, very warm almost too warm for my liking.

Using heat and AC consumes a fair bit more energy and for 98% of the time it's not necessary, the ehat and AC will be fighting each other.

Auto and 20 Deg C keeps me very warm indeed with the heated seats and steering, if not using these 22 deg C and I'm plenty warm as much as I personally can tolerate.

Sometimes it's necessiary to use the de-mist button for a min or two which uses heat and ac to clear the windscreen, both consume a fair amount of energy but usually if I find if the windows fog up to manually point the heat to the windscreen, sometimes in Auto it points the heat to the feet only.

I very rarely need heat and ac after preheating the windows are usually perfectly clear.

Pre heating remotely works only for 15 mins after that it shuts off, pre heating off the mains can work for 30 mins depending on the temperature.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Using [both] heat and AC...the heat and AC will be fighting each other.

That's actually incorrect. Both heating and A/C use the same compressor and only one "side" can work at any given time and if I understand it right the system could not physically both heat and cool at the same time.

What the buttons do is just give the HVAC permission to heat and cool if needed. I have seen a good diagram of Renault Zoe system, which works similarly, but can't find it now. Here is some information from Nissan themselves:

http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/TECHNOLOGY/OVERVIEW/heat_pump_cabin_heater.html

BoatMad

samih wrote: »

That's actually incorrect. Both heating and A/C use the same compressor and only one "side" can work at any given time and if I understand it right the system could not physically both heat and cool at the same time.

What the buttons do is just give the HVAC permission to heat and cool if needed. I have seen a good diagram of Renault Zoe system, which works similarly, but can't find it now. Here is some information from Nissan themselves:

http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/TECHNOLOGY/OVERVIEW/heat_pump_cabin_heater.html

+1

SteelyDanJalapeno

Stupid question,

But I'm renting in my current house and don't want to get anything installed, my current job has a charge point in the car park, so I should be covered most of the time with that.

But when at home, is there anyway I can use regular outlets with some adapter or something?

BoatMad

TiltedBrain wrote: »

Stupid question,

But I'm renting in my current house and don't want to get anything installed, my current job has a charge point in the car park, so I should be covered most of the time with that.

But when at home, is there anyway I can use regular outlets with some adapter or something?

yes, its called the " granny" cable and it has a conventional plug at the end. its charges at 10A and 230 VAC, so about 2.3KW

SteelyDanJalapeno

BoatMad wrote: »

yes, its called the " granny" cable and it has a conventional plug at the end. its charges at 10A and 230 VAC, so about 2.3KW

Excellent! so that leads me on the another question, how can I calculate charge times?

Like from zero to full on the entry Leaf (3.3k?)

BoatMad

TiltedBrain wrote: »

Excellent! so that leads me on the another question, how can I calculate charge times?

Like from zero to full on the entry Leaf (3.3k?)

The brochure gives some typical examples, but on a 10A, my experience is around 9-10 hours for 100%

SteelyDanJalapeno

BoatMad wrote: »

The brochure gives some typical examples, but on a 10A, my experience is around 9-10 hours for 100%

Great thanks, I might start researching further so, all sounds good

macnab

An entry level Leaf will have a 24kw battery, but it has been said that there is only 22kw of that available for motive use.
So a simple calculation would be 22kw divided by 2.4kw = 9.166 hours.
This is using a 10 amp granny cable (10 amps x 240 volts = 2.4kw)
A 3.6kw supply will give 22kw divided by 3.6kw = 6 hours.
What these calculations dont allow for is tapering off of amps at the end of the charge cycle, and the balancing of the battery pack at 100%
My 30kw Leaf will charge from 36% to 98% in 5 hours at a 3.6kw supply.
The battery will then stay charging but remain at the 98% for about 2 more hours. It will at that stage reach 100% and the charge cycle ends.
That final 2 hours, I presume its the balancing phase, adds 2% of battery charge and an extra 5km range.

samih

samih wrote: »

That's actually incorrect. Both heating and A/C use the same compressor and only one "side" can work at any given time and if I understand it right the system could not physically both heat and cool at the same time.

What the buttons do is just give the HVAC permission to heat and cool if needed. I have seen a good diagram of Renault Zoe system, which works similarly, but can't find it now. Here is some information from Nissan themselves:

http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/TECHNOLOGY/OVERVIEW/heat_pump_cabin_heater.html

No Not what I meant, the problem is that the consumption clearly goes up with heat and AC on together as it cycles between heat and AC, try it.

The AC seems to come on to cool as well as dehumidify , then the heat comes on to counter act the cooler cabin, maybe it would work better on manual but I only ever use heat and ac together with the demist button.

I would have though that on Auto it wouldn't allow the cabin temp to drop but it does, then the heater has to come on.

If I find on the rare occasion the windows fogging up I turn the heat to the windscreen, if the temp is above a certain temp it directs the heat to the feet only.

BoatMad

I would have though that on Auto it wouldn't allow the cabin temp to drop but it does, then the heater has to come on.

all ac causes a reduction in temperature by the nature of how it works , you then have to reheat the dryer but colder air to restore comfort levels