“With Leaf sales growing, selling 2,138 units in May (up 319.2% from May 2012), it’s a smart move by Nissan to attract even more new customers, along with keeping current customers satisfied.” is a totally ridiculous statement. Go read the 55+ pages of negative comments from owners at http://www.mynissanleaf.com, come back here and delete this piece of garbage reporting, and rewrite a valid news article.

Shame on you for such shoddy reporting.

The LEAF has a 24 kWh battery pack. Scuttlebutt claims we’re getting about to $200/kWh, so a $4,800 item with an average life expectancy of more than 8 years. That’s probably paying at least double the cost of a replacement battery.

And 8 year from now prices could be closer to $100/kWh.

And I figured in no value for the “used up” battery which would have several years of productive life left as grid storage.

The capital expense of setting up battery swapping is high. You need the big wire that rapid chargers need and you need the charging equipment. You also need an inventory of batteries, swapping equipment, and more real estate than a rapid charger. Labor costs.

I don’t think people are going to pay big dollars for a 90 second swap when they can get their charge in about 20 minutes for small dollars.

We’re likely to see restaurants and stores discount the price of a charge as a way to bring in customers. Maybe just price out charges at a level that will pay for the equipment over a long period and cover the electricity. Not take any profit.

Nissan is certainly more than a little aware of battery swapping. Nissan/Renault made the Better Place swappable battery cars under the Renault badge.

Nissan seriously expect someone to pay 100 $ PM to guarantee that they will only ever get a battery at 70% Capacity?

Put it another way, if the range of the Leaf is 70 miles at 60 mph which would be the top end of the scale then Nissan expect people to pay for a warranty that will guarantee them 49 miles range ?

You would want to be insane, if Nissan said they would replace the battery for a brand new one I’d be all for it, but this is disastrous!

Worse too is the fact that if you only have 70% capacity you will be most likely fast charging a lot more taking even greater toll on the battery.

If I pay 100 a month to guarntee my battery for 8 years I end up paying 9600 for a repaired battery of 70%.

This is complete madness,

Just offer us a brand new battery and we can sell the old battery to electricity companies for renewable energy storage.

The best thing for people to do is charge your battery to 80% and don’t run it down below 30% and in a moderate climate the battery should last years, do not waste your money.

If you live in a hot climate, you might consider it.

Michael Clark Palm Bay Florida on Facebook
This was your Message
Chris V Unfortunately, it appears that Nissan is
not moving in the direction of Tesla with its battery changing stations.
Could elaborate on your comment , I’m trying to learn as much as I can
about EV’s good an bad.. I’ve made up my mind my next car will be an EV..
Thanks Mike Clark in Palm Bay

For Nissan’s target consumer, i think that’s best for now.