Nissan Leaf for Vitality Safety & Independence

Farid Shahidinejad responded to my Fb request for tales concerning the Nissan Leaf. When Farid’s pal, an engineer who labored within the petrol trade, instructed him that Australia solely has 24 days’ provide of petrol in reserve, he did his analysis and acquired an electrical automotive. His preliminary buy was a 2015 Nissan Leaf for safety. He didn’t need his household to be caught up in an vitality disaster.

“If there have been to be a conflict or an embargo, petrol can be scarce.” Gas costs had been already rising (and nonetheless are — going up 25% over the Easter weekend, and again down when the working week resumes — it’s a cartel).

Not solely would an electrical automotive charged with photo voltaic assure transport, nevertheless it is also used to barter for items and companies ought to the market break down. “I’m not a big-time prepper, however the thought crosses your thoughts when you will have younger youngsters. I wanted to get one thing that will not solely be a dependable type of transportation throughout tough occasions however I might additionally energy my residence home equipment with it within the occasion of a world disaster. Additionally, being the one individual with a working car would enable for bartering.” These had been Farid’s ideas in 2018. Since then, we have now had the worldwide COVID epidemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Typically it looks like one disaster after one other.

In 2018, Farid discovered a pleasant importer who would promote him a used Nissan Leaf from Japan (they’re additionally right-hand drive). He bought the 2015 Leaf for AU$19,000 with 15,000 km (9320 miles) on the clock. He had spent a number of time researching the automotive, as he needed to make the correct resolution. His important concern was round battery degradation.

He needed a pearl white one, with steering wheel controls and with a low variety of kilometers on it. The importer managed to get him one with little or no battery degradation. He was very assured to make the acquisition after assembly the importer and having his dozens of questions answered. This boosted Farid’s sense of safety. A lot in order that they’ve stored in contact and Farid has referred a number of individuals who have gone on to buy their very own automobiles.

Though the importer has given Farid a $500 spotter’s charge for every buy, Farid prefers to go this on as a reduction to the brand new homeowners. “I don’t refer for the cash, however as a result of I really like the automotive.”

Proudly owning the Leaf has been an amazing expertise for Farid and his household. “I really like the whole lot about it however I needed to fastidiously plan journeys to verify I had sufficient battery. I discovered that with the 24 kWh model, I simply had sufficient to get to locations if I deliberate issues accurately. After 3 years of possession, the battery had degraded possibly one other 10–20% and it was time to promote.” What number of km had he accomplished on this time? “I discovered myself having to cost extra ceaselessly than normal at speedy chargers they usually had been typically damaged. Charging grew to become a trouble.”

Did he hypermile? “Sure, completely, I’d flip between N, D and B always after I went on longer journeys.” He felt stiff on the finish of the day from the tightening in his physique from the stress. “That was one main cause I offered the infant.” Many CHAdeMO chargers are older and a few Leaf drivers are involved about their availability. It must be famous that almost all new public quick chargers are geared up with CCS2 and CHAdeMO, so Leaf homeowners needn’t fear.

A few of Farid’s points with battery degradation and charging delivered to thoughts the frequent FUD that we hear about how poor EV batteries are. Like all FUD, there may be some foundation in fact, as early EVs didn’t have the standard of battery that newer ones do — as Farid has skilled.

In 2021, Farid determined to purchase a 2019 Leaf for $28,000, additionally white, with 19,000 km (11,806 miles) on the clock from the identical importer. “In the direction of the top of the COVID pandemic, I put my outdated Leaf up on the market. The bottom mannequin 2019 Nissan Leaf I bought was nice. I actually just like the epedal which makes it straightforward to drive in visitors. The automotive has a digital camera that warns me about close to accidents and it helps me park. The vary is greater than excellent. It could actually get me to and again from the furthest place I normally go to, which is from Tamborine Mountain to Boonah and again.” (150 km/93 miles) Farid works from residence designing web sites for companies.

Farid along with his 2019 Nissan Leaf. Picture courtesy of Farid Sharhidinejad.

It took Farid about 4 months to promote the 2015 Leaf. “I saved possibly $12000 over the time I had the automotive and offered it for $3300 lower than I paid initially. So the automotive earned me $8700.” What was the battery state of cost? The primary concern was the dearth of vary. They might additionally see the newer automotive and ask about that. The automotive lastly offered to a purchaser in Melbourne who made the 1600 km journey to choose the automotive up. “I don’t know how he made it again in two days as a result of the automotive would must be charged a number of occasions and it will probably overheat, however he by some means made it!”

Farid plans to maintain his 2019 Nissan Leaf for safety till it dies or till his 11-year-old daughter will get her licence. “I really like the Nissan Leaf however I’m additionally watching all the brand new EVs which can be coming into the market at a lot decrease costs, which is improbable. I’ll keep on with Nissan for now, however the MG EV is a bit tempting to look into. It appears to be the highest promoting EV in England, which is sort of a feat.”

Farid selected to not have his dashboard or radio transformed to English. With the outdated 24 kWh Leaf, he was capable of finding loads of movies on YouTube: “They might stroll you proper via the method. With my present Leaf, I haven’t had a lot luck discovering movies for it. I take advantage of the Google translation app. I simply intention my cellphone on the sprint and it interprets the whole lot in actual time. What I do then is memorise the sequence of essentially the most ceaselessly accessed options I need, as holding the cellphone in opposition to the sprint is just not that straightforward. The glare of the display makes it tough for the digital camera to choose up the textual content, so you need to intention and maintain it in the correct angle. Typically occasions the menu names as they arrive translated are deceiving, as they’re a literal translation from Japanese, so typically the result’s nonsensical or comical.”

Utilizing Google Translate to work the sprint. Picture courtesy of Farid Shahidinejad.

Sat Nav in Japansese. Picture courtesy of Farid Shahidinejad.

Farid has a 5 kW photo voltaic system that he put in 4 years in the past. This provides him vitality safety for his automotive. “I work at home, so I cost between midnight and 4am after I select to cost it utilizing the grid, as I’ve a particular charge with Powershop the place I pay solely about 9 cents per kWh. In sunny climate, I don’t plug in at night time however plug in after I drop the children at college, so it goes between 10am and 2pm with photo voltaic. You’ll be able to set the automotive to solely enable cost between sure hours.”

Zen trickle charger. Picture courtesy of Farid Shahidinejad.

That is the charger he used to make use of with the 2015 Leaf. He appreciated it since you might get the trickle all the way down to 8A for slower charging when it’s cloudy outdoors. The downside was the max was 12A whereas the OEM charger is 15A. He needs he might’ve stored it, because it’s been fairly a cloudy 12 months.

With solar energy on the roof and an electrical automotive, Farid and his household can really feel vitality safe. They’ve a dependable type of transport freed from the constraints of the bowser and the tyranny of the oil cartels.