Charging a Nissan Leaf: Everything you need to know

The Nissan Leaf is one of the best-selling all-electric vehicles (EV) in the world: since Nissan rolled out the original Leaf hatchback in 2010, more than 450,000 Nissan Leafs have sold worldwide. This is second only to the Tesla Model 3 in terms of all-time sales and more than other legacy carmakers like Ford and Chevy. Understanding your Nissan Leaf Charging station options is an important part of electric car ownership.

The newest model year of the Nissan Leaf has impressive specs and functionality with a 147 horsepower electric motor, 40-kWh battery pack, an EPA-estimated range of 149 miles for the base model Nissan Leaf S. This EPA range goes up to 215 miles for the SV plus. The Nissan Leaf has a combined highway MPGe of 111 MPGe. The main difference between these two models is a larger 62 kWh lithium-ion battery for the SV plus model and a 214- horsepower electric motor. The Leaf has a nominal battery capacity of 40.0 kWh and a usable capacity of 39.0 kWh. It also comes standard with a regenerative braking feature known as e-pedal which decelerates the vehicle as the driver comes off of the accelerator. It also has adaptive cruise control with driver assistance in the Leaf SV Plus model with optional ProPilot Assist for semi-autonomous driving. Other interesting standard features in terms of connectivity include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and climate control which come standard. In terms of other Nissan USA offerings, there is the 2023 Ariya which is an all-electric SUV that is potentially good for road trips.

2023 Nissan Leaf warranty and maintenance

The Nissan Leaf offers a warranty package with a battery warranty for up to eight years or 100,000 miles. There is a limited warranty of three years or 36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty of five years or 60,000 miles.

It can take anywhere from 30 minutes for a quick charge to a full day to charge your Nissan Leaf depending if you have a smaller or larger battery. Your Nissan Leaf charge time is dependent on how full your car’s battery is and the type of charging station that you use. There are three types of Nissan Leaf charging stations.

Level 1 charging station for Nissan Leaf

Level 1 electric car chargers are the least expensive option, and are typically provided when you purchase your Nissan Leaf. Level 1 chargers plug into a standard wall outlet. They are also the slowest type of EV charger available. A standard Nissan Leaf Level 1 charging station will be able to offer about 5 miles of range per hour of charging. This type of charging station is best for overnight use at home.

Level 2 charging station for Nissan Leaf

Level 2 charging stations are considered an “upgrade” from the standard Level 1 chargers provided when you purchase your Nissan Leaf. With the help of an electrician, you can install a Level 2 charger at your home. A typical Level 2 charging station can fully charge your Nissan Leaf battery in four to eight hours.

DC Fast Charging for Nissan Leaf

DC Fast Chargers are commercial electric car charging stations that are accessible to EV owners to use across the country. Not every electric car can be charged with the use of DC Fast Chargers; however, the Nissan Leaf does have DC Fast Charging capabilities. If there is a DC Fast Charger near you, you can charge your Nissan Leaf in about 30 minutes. The max power for fast charging is 46 kW DC. The lower range from fast charging is good for people who have shorter commuting times.

Charge time and Nissan Leaf range

Electric cars like the Nissan Leaf offer significant fuel savings on a day-to-day basis thanks to their efficient use of electricity as fuel. The cost to fully charge a Nissan Leaf depends on where you live, because electricity prices vary from utility to utility and from state to state. The cost to “fill up” a Nissan Leaf battery at home ranges from just over $3.00 (in Washington state) to almost $10.00 (in Hawaii) – significantly lower than the equivalent cost for a tank of gas.

Cost to charge a Nissan Leaf in top states

When you buy an electric car, your fuel costs are equivalent to the cost of electricity you use to charge the car’s battery. By installing home solar panels with your EV, you can eliminate the need to pull any electricity from the grid. There are also many different incentives, tax credits and rebates available. The result: emissions-free, low-cost electricity for both your home and your car. The average shopper on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace breaks even on their solar investment in just seven and a half years, and solar panels continue to generate useful electricity for 25+ years.