The battery of electric cars such as Nissan leaf and BMW is one of the expensive components of your vehicle. So, a Nissan leaf owner might wonder how much it will cost to replace a battery. Like the Tesla model three, the Nissan leaf is one of the best-selling electric cars globally. This is not a performance vehicle, and most people don’t buy it for its styling.
Nevertheless, it has a cheap runaround, providing city dwellers with low-cost trips. You’ll enjoy its affordability until the Nissan leaf’s battery depletes beyond a certain level. Once this happens, you’ll need to replace it. And that can be an expensive affair.
This guide has everything you need to know about the Nissan leaf battery replacement cost.
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The Lifespan of Nissan Leaf Batteries
A product warranty will tell you much about the products’ anticipated lifespan. The Nissan leaf battery warranty is eight years or/and 100k miles. Eight years isn’t long until you check warranties for other car models.
Remember that an EV battery’s life cycle can be personal. Battery degradation implies that every vehicle will lose the available range with time, but it’s only an issue once it restricts you. Let’s consider that with a Nissan leaf. For instance, if a Nissan leaf had an initial EPA range of 84 miles, some range would be lost as time elapsed. So, its battery life might be shorter than a car with more than a 300-mile range.
The life cycle of a Nissan leaf battery is long. But the truth is, it doesn’t matter how well you maintain it. Your battery will die, which is inevitable. But, some things will cut short its lifespan.
Some of the things that can degrade your Nissan leaf’s battery include:
- How many miles you do regularly
- How frequently do you recharge it
- Temperature
Note that driving the vehicle for a long time will degrade the car battery’s life. Every time you recharge, the battery health degenerates.
How much does a Nissan leaf battery replacement cost?
The makers of electric motors have given us the precise answer to how much the actual cost of replacing a Nissan leaf battery is. However, only some electric vehicle owners know this.
So, if you are among those who don’t have the figures, the replacement cost of a Nissan leaf battery is around $8,000 for a 24kWh battery. The process can take up to three hours.
While the replacement is expensive, it will be worth it in the long run. You’ll continue using your car, but this time with a powerful new battery.
The battery cost for hybrid cars is different, though, and it differs from manufacturer to manufacturer. The price ranges from $2,000-$8,000 on average and if you want the exact amount, serve per model.
Prius cars are offered in various types of batteries during the production process. On the other hand, Nissan leaf uses lithium-ion battery technology that ensures the battery has a long life. The Nissan leaf was provided in two battery sizes. One of them was a 24 kWh battery available on the S trim. It was utilized until the 2016 model came out.
In 2016, leaf began using a powerful 30 kWh battery that was included on SV and SL trims. The battery was powerful and drastically bumped the range of the Nissan leaf. The 24 kWh provided 72 miles of range, and more robust batteries produced in 2016 had 30 kWh provided a range of 107 miles.
The 2nd generation leaf packs several powerful lithium-ion car batteries 一 40 kWh and 62 kWh. That offers you over 226 miles for the 62 kWh battery and 151 miles for 40 kWh.
Reconditioned and refurbished battery
Suppose you’re into preserving the environment and keeping it clean, purchasing refurbished batteries can be a good move. That is why battery costs will reduce drastically. Saving money while conserving the environment seems like a perfect deal.
Some companies purchase utilized electrical vehicle batteries and restore the original performance. They purchase the whole battery pack and refurbish it, giving it a new life. That same thing happens with Nissan leaf batteries.
A refurbished Nissan leaf battery can cost between $4,000 and $6,000, based on the battery model. Don’t forget to add labor charges to the price.
How to extend the lifespan of your battery
Routine maintenance of electric car batteries is important to keep them functioning properly. While they’ll die eventually, maintaining them can extend their lifespan. This allows you to save cash that you could have used to buy a new battery.
Furthermore, batteries are costly, and brand-new batteries will cost a fortune. That can be a disturbing rhythm for car owners on a tight budget.
Fortunately, maintaining it regularly and properly will allow you to start the engine easily. To prevent replacing your EV battery frequently, here are some tips to help you ensure the battery lasts longer.
- Check the battery terminals. Ensure that the positive and negative terminals are free from dirt and have no indication of leaks or corrosion.
- Try to prevent rust, leaks, and even corrosion from your car battery. Note that these things can damage your battery life.
- Don’t rely on DC fast charging and utilize a 240-volt home charging station. Charging the battery slowly overnight will extend the battery life. Don’t drain the battery or overcharge it. Even though it’s tempting to keep the battery at 100%, it will be healthy between 20-80 percent capacity.
- Switch off the lights when the car is idle and unplug all accessories.
- One of the downsides to Nissan leaf batteries is that they don’t have the active thermal management that keeps the battery cool. Extreme temperatures will damage the car battery. So, please keep it in a cool, dry place.
- Note that the newer Nissan leaf features a passive thermal management unit that cools the battery. The system allows air to run over the battery as the vehicle moves. However, they don’t have the advanced EVs liquid system that Tesla offers. Therefore, if you want to extend the battery life, store your car in an undercover parking lot or garage to protect the battery from external climate. As the cold temperatures will impact your vehicle’s ability to maintain a charge in the short term, the hot weather will most damage the battery pack.
- Apply a mixture of baking soda and clean water on the battery’s terminals and use a non-metallic brush to rub the area. This helps you to avoid nasty corrosion and rusting.
- You might experience the engine struggling to start during winter, which is expected. However, consider a replacement if the battery shows signs of struggle even when it’s not winter.
- Ensure you inspect every component of the battery frequently. This comprises the terminals, posts, cables, and fasteners. Pay attention to this while watching out for corrosion. Don’t panic when you spot corrosion; remove it using a wire brush.
- Try a smooth drive. The Nissan leaf’s regenerative braking unit is engineered to capture kinetic energy from its brakes that would be wasted. Since you want to make the most out of the unit, avoid sudden acceleration and hard braking. Driving steadily and smoothly puts less wear and tear on the battery and brake pads.
- Avoid pressing on the gas too much. Pressing on the gas pedal too much is unhealthy for your battery. It drains the battery at a faster rate. These fast-draining sequences can damage the car battery prematurely, and you’ll need to get a replacement.
Nissan leaf battery replacement: is it worth it?
An electric car battery replacement at the dealership is the last thing you want since you might spend your fortune. The bigger the car battery, the more cash you’ll need to replace it.
Replacing an ordinary 24 kWh battery can cost over $8,000. Big battery packs such as 60 kWh will cost over $10,000 for the new pack from the manufacturer.
That is why most leaf owners choose the other alternative and purchase battery packs from donor vehicles. A second-hand car battery will cost $2,500-$3,500 for the 24 kWh battery and $6,500-$7,500 for the 40 kWh battery.
You’ll also have to spend some bucks on labor. Many repair stores charge $50-$100 per hour.
Conclusion
Nissan Leaf is one of the massively produced electric cars with constant popularity. It’s reliable, has many uses, and is affordable compared to other electric motors. But when replacing the battery, you might get a headache for the right reasons. Replacing a Nissan Leaf’s battery isn’t cheap, as you can spend up to $10,000.
Furthermore, there are a few options for leaf battery replacement. However, the new models of the second generation don’t suffer the same severe degradation as the first-generation counterparts. Luckily, battery technology is advancing, and soon, we’ll have electric motors with long ranges and battery life. Now, that’s all about Nissan Leaf battery replacement costs, but you can comment if you want more clarification.