How to charge Nissan Leaf electric vehicles? Ways, tips, and steps
Updated on: 25.07.2024
Nissan Leaf was unveiled to the public in 2010 and was the first mass-market fully electric vehicle. It is a compact but very practical 5-door hatchback with a starting price of under $25,000 back in 2010. The Leaf had two generations and over 650,000 models have been produced since its release. For many years it has been the best-selling EV on the market until Tesla released its Model 3 and surpassed the Leaf in early 2020. The Leaf’s success is no accident. Some of the reasons why the Nissan Leaf was so successful:
- comfortable and spacious vehicle in its segment
- fairly large battery options capable of up to 350km on a single charge (62 kWh version)
- offers fast charging capabilities (CHAdeMO with around 50 kW)
- Great safety and autonomous driving features (lane assist, blind spot, adaptive cruise control, collision prevention, 5-star Euro NCAP review)
- One of the very first EV in modern times
Ways to charge a Nissan Leaf
Like most other EVs you can charge the Nissan Leaf with AC and DC. There are two options for the on-board charger of the Leaf- with 3.6 kW and with 6.6 kW. We highly recommend opting for the faster on-board charger to reduce your AC charging time. It will take 12h45m to fully charge a 40 kWh Leaf with a 3.6 kW on-board charger. This is slow.
Using Level 2 charger
Nissan Leaf cannot charge at 3-phase, which means it would be an unnecessary expense to purchase such a charger. The optimal Nissan Leaf home charger is a 32A 7kW portable charger. With the optional 6.6 kW on-board charger it will take 7 hours to fully charge the 40 kWh version.
How to use a Nissan Leaf home charger?
Here's how to use a Nissan Leaf Home Charger:
- Choose the Right Charger
Go for the 32A 7kW portable charger suitable for home use. The Leaf's onboard charger options are 3.6 kW and 6.6 kW. The latter has drastically reduced charging time.
- Connect the Charger
Plug your portable charger into a regular home outlet or dedicated EV charging outlet. After that, plug the charging cable into the Leaf's charging port.
- Monitor the Charging Process
Now you will have to monitor the charging time which is approximately 12 hours and 45 minutes with the 3.6 kW charger; about 7 hours with the 6.6 kW charger for a 40 kWh battery.
- Unplug and Store
When the vehicle is charged, remove the charger from both the vehicle and the outlet and store the charger safely.
Using a CHAdeMO Fast Charger
This is the fast charger for Nissan Leaf that owners have opted for in the past 10 years. Unfortunately, CHAdeMO stations are becoming less popular and we rarely see ratings of over 50 kW. Despite that this is still an option when traveling long distances- it will take 59 minutes (62 kWh battery) for a quick charge. By today’s standards, this is a very slow DC charging.
Using a CCS to CHAdeMo adapter
The most recent innovation in the Nissan Leaf (CHAdeMO) community is the CCS to CHAdeMO adapter. This Nissan Leaf charger adapter enables the car to charge at CCS2 stations. Using this adapter Leaf owners will have access to the two charging standards in Europe- CCS2 and CHAdeMO. The Nissan Leaf ccs adapter gives access to thousands of well-maintained CCS2 charging stations, many of which are rated at over 100 kW. This would be particularly useful to owners of Nissan Leaf e+ (62 kWh) as the vehicle is capable of charging with 85 kW (or even more). When Chris from the Youtube channel Battery Life tested the adapter he managed to receive 75 kW on the e+. This should technically save up to 25% charging time compared to a 50 kW CHAdeMO station.
Steps to charging your Nissan Leaf with CCS to CHAdeMO adapter
Turn off the car and open the charging lid
If you have not used a Leaf before you might have a hard time finding the button for the charging port. It is left from your steering wheel. You will hear a beep sound once you press it.
Connect the adapter to the charging port
The second step is to connect the adapter to the CHAdeMO port. Simply push in the adapter.
Connect the charging gun to the adapter
Third comes connecting the CCS2 charging gun. Carefully align it with the adapter and push it in.
Start the charging process
Now you can start the charging- depending on the charging provider it can be done through an application/ RFID card/ key or even some other method.
Hold the power button on the adapter
Last but not least you must hold the power button on the adapter for 5 seconds. This will initiate the handshake process and you will see a red LED light flashing. The handshake will take around 20 seconds after which the battery should start receiving power.
What are the other Nissan electric car models that people buy lately?
Nissan has expanded its offering of electric vehicles beyond the well known Leaf. This all-new offering from Nissan, the Ariya, is somewhat of a class all its own. With sleek design and tech features, this vehicle is top-ranked for passenger safety—awarded both the 2023 and 2024 IIHS Top Safety Pick.
Another high note is the Nissan Sakura—an EV small and relatively inexpensive that has become Japan's best-selling electric car, thanks to its efficiency and readiness for practical application. Because of its compact size, it offers great urban driving ability and a perfect entry drive in the world of EVs.
Nissan offers a variety of electric cars to meet different needs. The Leaf itself is still very reliable; its recent renewal phase improved its performance and comfort. The Ariya, targeting a premium segment, focuses on good interior quality and UX—acclaimed by many awards like Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX Winner.
From the world's first mass-produced pure electric drive car, the Leaf, to the innovative Ariya and budgetary Sakura, Nissan's portfolio of electric vehicles shows the company's commitment to driving sustainable transportation forward.
This wide range makes it impossible not to see Nissan at the forefront of this move toward cleaner driving solutions.
Tips on charging your Nissan Leaf
Keep your battery between 20% and 80%
Many people ask how to charge a Nissan Leaf. As with other lithium-ion batteries, you should develop some habits that will keep your battery in good condition. One of these habits is never fully charging/discharging your battery. Always aim to arrive at the charger with about 10-20% of battery charge. When charging the car, set a limiter at approximately 80%. This can also be done with a timer when you calculate how much time it would take to charge your car up to 80%.
Avoid charging it every night
Charge your vehicle as rarely as possible. If you get home at 50% and you expect to do the regular 20km journey to work you don’t need to connect your EV to the charger.