Confirmation needed: Level 3 quick charge only on the SL?

Not doubting what you saw, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Why equip all of the cars with a navigation system that tells you where you can get a charge if the car doesn't have a quick charge capability? And why work with AAA to provide juice on the go if the car doesn't have a fast recharge capability?

Without a quick charge capability the car is significantly less attractive. If you can't (eventually) top off at the mall, or while at work, or at Starbucks.


ETA - here is the spec sheet from the Leaf website. It says "440V quick charger options"
Not a good sign....

http://www.nissanusa.com/ev/media/pdf/specs/FeaturesAndSpecs.pdf

 

It would be stupid for Nissan to not offer it as a standard inclusion on the Leaf. It is so easy for competitors to just close the gaps when more EVs come onto the market.

And especially pissing off the early adopters by omitting this option. Given the need to ramp up adoption of EVs in the country, it's really stupid to not include the 440V plug in!

Ready that refund.

 

Yes I think they are floating it to see if it does not get complaints. I think we should email and facebook them. I would think for $1000 we are paying for the SL it would be included before some backup monitor!!!! In a small car why do I need that? What good is a car that can not be fast charge on the road. ie traveling to LA from PHoenix

 

I think it would be a long time before you could use that level 3 port if you had one. I would love to see it included but doubt that I would pay extra for one. If Nissan put level 3 chargers in dealerships and allowed owners to charge I would change my mind.

 

you have to look at the bigger picture hampdenwireless, what about 3rd party DC chargers? There could very will be a large market for 6-12KW DC chargers, that could develop. Without DC charging ports, that will never happen. Get it?

Also, without the connector, there is zero incentive for other states to deploy Level 3 chargers. The cars must be equiped with them, so they can be deployed. This is why it is important for the DC charging connector to be standardized, and for Nissan to be using that standard.

Frankly, I would rather have the TEPCO.Jademo connector installed at the factory, and have to Nissan change it out if it doesn't become the standard, than to let any dealership wire the entire thing up as a retrofit, dealers are notoriously sloppy, and this is not a place you can afford sloppy work.

They should just wait for the standard to be finallized, and it may be in June.

 

I think this is the single biggest thing that Nissan can do to ease the concern about running out of juice (range angst?). If Nissan believes in the all-electric vision so much - why not just suck it up and install quick charge capabilities at every Nissan dealership? Heck - split the cost with the dealer, just as you require lots of other things from the dealer.

Seems like a very easy solution to me!

 

Agreed - it's an absolute necessity for Nissan to include 440V charging capability as a baseline feature. It changes the car from a zealot's dream into something comfortable for the masses.

 

Most dealers don't have 480V power is one problem, only large commercial buildings have it. Some will, most won't...

 

It would be about 20 minutes before I could use it, as that is currently my closest L3 charger. In a couple of weeks, the closest will be 10 minutes away. So... yeah... not such a long time for some of us at least.

Have the charger. Need the port.

 

Perhaps because the charger locator is a small part of an otherwise conventional NAV system, which also shows you how far you can get on your present charge.

I think I read on that other Leaf site that the reason for not including the L3 charger is that there is not yet a standard. Once the standard is established, all Leafs will have the L3 charger. At least, I think that's what was said.

 

Yep. There are also rumors that once production starts they will go ahead and install the plug that they think will be the standard - and if not they will swap it out for free later.

 

Nissan Zero Emission Website | Nissan LEAF | Interview

Click on "Nissan Leaf", "Interview", then "LEAF Product", then "IT system assist features" for an explanation of how the onboard IT system works, it has internet connectivty, that why they are offering a built in telematics system with the Leaf.

 

I stand corrected on several points.

1. It is not called L3 any longer. It is a "DC fast charger."
2. It is installed and in use NOW.
3. And it is just 18 minutes from my house. I clocked it today, before plugging in an iMIEV and giving it an 80% charge in about half an hour.

I'm not allowed to show pictures until next Tuesday... for reasons that were not explained to me.

 

wow darell, sometimes I wish I had been born on the West coast, rather than the East coast

Good to hear you have actually seen a working DC charger.

Can we assume it runs on 480V 3 phase?

 

Input was actually 240 3 phase. But the voltage is then boosted, of course.

Capable of 50 kW (!)

Now... has anybody gotten closer to a REAL confirmation about how the quick charge port will be supplied on the LEAF? I already know that the iMIEV will come with it stock.