Nissan Leaf's fast-charge capability optional. Why? — Autoblog Green "We knew long ago that the Nissan Leaf would not be capable of level three fast-charging from the get-go, and there's good reason for this, which we'll get back to in a bit. It's now been brought to our attention that many of those who are pre-ordering the Leaf are shocked to find out that fast-charging is optional. What may first look like an oversight by the company really isn't at all. Nissan simply failed to outline exactly why fast-charging is optional, so we'll do it for you."
That's an interesting article, but it doesn't address the fact that the Nissan site lists fast charging as an option *only* on the more expensive SL model. I tried to ask about this using their chat facility but was told that they would set my question aside for 'future consideration'. I think that Nissan has to make fast charging an option for all models. Not necessarily free, but an option nonetheless.
I understand why they are doing it. I would have to see the price to know if I want it. I planned on using it IF the Nissan dealer in a town near me (Mattoon) decided to install a fast charger. It would be helpful to run that far into that town, and not have the range anxiety coming back. Otherwise, I would have to be sure to find somewhere to park with a plug. Currently in central IL, there are hardly any such places.
It will be several years, at least, before most of us have access to RELIABLE fast charging, by which I mean ENOUGH fast-charge slots that you can count on finding an open one when you need it. What good does it do if you drive 75 miles, counting on a fast-charge to get you home, and someone else is using the one fast-charge slot in that town? The time will come. But for now I will not be able to count on fast charging, so I will not plan on driving the Leaf farther than 40 or 45 miles from home. I'm okay with this, because I would need to drive farther so seldom that I can use the stinker on those very rare occasions. I'll need the stinker for road trips, anyway. So the only reason for me to pay for the fast charge option would be thinking of resale value. And if it can be installed on the car later, then even that is not a concern. In the markets being electrified early, the option may be worth it. For me it's not much of an issue.
I'm with you Daniel....I don't really need it under most circumstances. Leaf for 60 mile r/t commute. Stinker, as you put it (even though my Focus is a PZEV with very low emission numbers), for the odd occasion I have to go further afield.
I'd definitely want a fast charger. That would atleast double my driving radius. Seattle area will have a few fast chargers around. Electric Vehicle Readiness
As has been said on other threads - I think the lack of fast-charge capability on every Leaf will prove to be a real deal killer for the acceptance of the vehicle. While most of my travel is well within a 50 mile radius of home, from time to time I do travel further. A fast-charger somewhere down line means the car is usable; without means that in order to drive around on electricity most of the time, I need to also have an ICE vehicle available to me for those other necessary trips. That makes this a very expensive car. While there clearly is a subset of those interested in the Leaf that never plan to be more the 30-40 miles from home, I think the majority are interested in being able to make those occasional trips to the shopping mall which is beyond vehicle's range. There are other posts on the subject that say - for $25k how many features do we really expect? But the car is $32k/$33k to Nissan, only eventually $25k to early buyers who get a tax credit. No engine, no transmission, no reason why a fast charge capability can't be bundled into every car even if it has to be replaced down the line if a different standard emerges. If no fast charge port, why then ask customers to pay a grand or more for a GPS system that tells you where fast charge stations are? The car already tells you how many miles of charge you have left. Clearly this is something where Nissan has lost control of the message.
I think it makes sense for the fast charging to be an option. Buy it if you want; save the bucks if you don't. But I do agree that the option should be available on both trim levels.
The target customer is someone who already has multiple vehicles in the family. The expectation is one ICE vehicle is replaced with Leaf. Use ICE for long distance travel. There are 60 million US households with multiple cars. For eg. I plan to replace my existing 10 yr old ICE with Leaf. My wife will continue to drive her ICE. On days I need to drive more than 80 miles on my own, I'll take her car. But ofcource on most of the more than 80 mile trips, it would be a family trip - for which we will take iCE.
so, we are "environmental visionaries", eh? Really, I thought I was just a cheapskate and yes, I drive a Prius...
Yes, I have seen the PowerPoint presentation PDFs. I never thought of myself as a visionary, was my point. I am leaning more towards the Pragmatic Majority recently, especially if the Leaf is not comming wth the DC Fast Charger, and my state will be very late to get them anyway. I am being forced to be in the pragmatic majority, just because of where I live.
