Nissan LEAF charging: Everything you need to know

Nissan Philippines finally brings over the LEAF electric vehicle to our shores, some four years after the second-generation model was launched in Japan. The company isn’t the first to introduce an EV here, but if the LEAF is well-received, it could open the floodgates for other automakers to unleash their own contenders in the segment.

Electrified rEVolution - 2021 Nissan LEAF Philippine Launch

The move is consistent with the worldwide trend towards electrification, as automakers pledge to phase out their existing combustion-powered models by the middle of this century. That’s well and good for industrialized countries that are presumed to have invested in the necessary infrastructure to support EV use, but for developing nations like the Philippines, potential customers might still be understandably leery.

All things considered, the LEAF could be that needed step to jumpstart our market’s independence from fossil fuels. According to Australia-based insurer Budget Direct’s Global Fuel Index, the Philippines has the 52^nd most expensive gasoline and diesel prices in the world, out of 165 countries. With personal mobility becoming an even more valued commodity these days because of the pandemic, we don’t see that ranking improving anytime soon.

Could the Nissan LEAF help us become less dependent on petroleum products?

Which brings us back to the issue of EVs, the LEAF in particular. As mentioned, the main concern of potential customers in owning an EV would be available charging stations (or lack thereof). Having a sophisticated set of wheels suddenly stop in the middle of nowhere because it ran out of juice isn’t a savory thought. Fortunately, Nissan is offering several charging options for the LEAF.

The first is standard charging at home, with nothing more than a standard 220-volt electric outlet. It’s the simplest method, similar to plugging in your smartphone, but it isn’t exactly the fastest. Using the supplied home charger, users can expect to wait approximately 18.5 hours to bring the LEAF to a full charge from a low battery state.

The EV can be recharged both at home and on the go

If the budget and home electrical layout permits, customers can have the optional Wall Box Charger installed. From when the low battery warning pops up on the display to a fully juiced-up LEAF, all it takes is an estimated 7.5 hours of charging time, the equivalent of a good night’s sleep.  

When you’re on the go, a number of public Quick Charging stations are on hand to let you top up the battery’s charge. These are available at select Nissan Philippines dealerships, with more coming soon. Charging times using the Quick Charger vary depending on the battery’s remaining load and temperature, but it generally takes 40 minutes to get the indicator from low to 80 percent.

A single charge yields a range of up to 311 kilometers

The LEAF is also capable of regenerative braking through a dedicated B Mode. This feature allows the EV to recover braking energy that would otherwise be lost as heat, using it to charge the onboard battery. There’s also an ECO Mode which regulates the output of the electric motor and increases regenerative braking to improve range. Under ideal conditions, the LEAF’s 40 kWh battery can power the vehicle up to 311 kilometers on a full charge, the equivalent of driving from Quezon City to Baguio.   

With a model this flexible, hopefully customers will be able to take a second look at EVs as serious alternatives to typical combustion-powered vehicles for their mobility needs.       

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