There is not much we still don’t know about the LEAF. The main question marks are 0-60, real life range, when can I actually order MY LEAF, how long will it be until my car gets to my driveway, the weight of the car.
While throwing out some random factoids about the car (that we mostly already know) a Nissan spokesperson casually referenced the weight of the car, a estimated 3,500 pounds. Which although being a very high for a compact (ok, its unheard of before), does sound about right considering the lithium-ion pack and assembly puts a extra 660 pounds on the car.
I think if I was Nissan I’d considered adding another 5 cm on the car so I could class it as a mid-size, but what do I know? Just for fun, here is a chart of some other electric cars and their weight:
I included the Maxima and the CTS just to illustrate the weight class that a large 24 kWh pack can put a electric car into. The Versa is also on the list because it has a very similar platform (B platform) to what the LEAF rides on (albeit somewhat extended).
I imagine with this kind of weight, both the LEAF and the Volt are going to have some issues with things like understeer, but we aren’t in it to be race car drives…are we?
![Will Ferrell Spotted Driving a Nissan LEAF [Video]](http://nissan-leaf.net/wp-content/themes/bigfoot/includes/timthumb.php?src=
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You should have the estimated miles per kwh on your stats page. I think i heard 80% usable battery=19.2kwh. 100mile range, means efficiency is close to 5.2 miles per kwh? I realize this will change with real world driving but anytime there is a new car out they give efficiency ratings and they haven’t released this with the leaf yet.
Todd Horst(Quote)
I think you are right about the 80% on the usable battery. That seems to be the speculation. We have been holding off putting up a estimate until we either heard a guesstimate from Nissan themselves on the allowable SoC (state of charge) or a actual number has been thrown around.
With the first publicly licensed LEAF hitting US streets on September 1st, we figure the EPA would be out fairly shortly with this number; it will be interesting to see how efficiency is interpreted in the end.
Jay (Statik) Cole(Quote)
Is this statik from gm-volt? Anyway thanks for putting this blog out there. I was in the pruis camp, now im in the leaf camp. but i still read gm-volt
Todd Horst(Quote)
Yes, one in the same, (=
Kinda funny you mention that you were in the Prius camp/now in LEAF camp…thats today’s (the next) piece.
Finally getting things settled and running smoothly here now. Glad you like the blog! Keep checking in with us.
Jay (Statik) Cole(Quote)
I hope that number is incorrect. A 3500 pound Volt is porky. A 3500 pound Leaf would be pathetic.
Karl Olmstead(Quote)
Hi Statik..
Due to regen braking and low rolling resistance tires high weight does not affect the economy as much as it would in a conventional ICE powered car.. but it does affect the acceleration performance.
Its a paradigm shift we have to get used to, 100 years of ICE vehicles have drubbed “keep it light” into our heads.
BTW, the Volt is 3900lbs, from the Jay Leno’s Garage interview with GM’s Farah
Herm Perez(Quote)
Hi Herm,
Yeah, I didn’t want to get into how the weight will minimally affect the range/economy of the LEAF. Your right it is very confusing to a lot of people who are not familar with EVs and/or have never driven one for any length of time. Thats why I tried to keep it short and sweet, just mentioning the effects of excessive weight on handling/steering. 3,500+ lb compacts are going to be a ungainly thing darting about at speed
I’ve seen that Jay Leno interview on the weight, and it is a real puzzler to me because I have seen the 3,500lb number thrown around so much as well. I just don’t see how the Volt can get to 3,900 from the 2,800-2,950ish pounds of the Cruze, riding on the same Delta II platform….thats why I still went with the 3,500 number. Could very well end up being 3,900.
Like all things, time will sort it out for us,(=
Glad you found us!
Jay (Statik) Cole(Quote)
This site is a well kept secret, time to advertise
Well the extra electric tidbits in the Volt (3 motors, battery, 2-3 inverters) add up to 600lbs, and the Cruze has been reported at 3300lb fully opted.. thus it is very possible to get 3900lbs.
The handling on the LEAF will be interesting.. you have 660lbs of battery BELOW the level of the wheels center-of-rotation, this means the weight of the car will be thrown towards the inside of a curve, exactly the opposite of what a tall SUV does. I think it will stick to the road like glue. Think Go-Kart
Regarding the SoC on the battery, it may end up being higher than 80%. There is a limit how deep you can discharge the battery because the cells may become unbalanced once they get very low.. so perhaps as low as 5% in an emergency slow crawl-back-home mode. It may take a day or two to rebalance the cells. The batteries can be charged to 100% but it has to be done very slowly, and it will accelerate the aging of the cells. The Tesla Roadster has a special charger setting that will allow charging up to the max range of 244 miles, a normal charge only gives you 150 miles I think.
Herm Perez(Quote)
Thanks for the encouragement Herm.
I figured it was best to do a ‘soft’ opening, getting a solid footing and base of articles in place before advertising ourselves. Just get a feel for things, get a flow going, to demonstrate a commitment level to people who come here to read what is happening, etc.
A lot of people have found us regardless (like yourself)…mostly thanks to some news stories getting picked up across the ‘interwebs.’ It has gone better than expected so far. We will likely step up the presence very soon.
Jay (Statik) Cole(Quote)
Herm, weight below the axle centerlines means that the body will tend to roll inward on the curves, which isn’t a bad thing. But weight (actually, mass) is never a good thing on a car. Nor is body roll. Top Gear recently did a little comparison between the Lotus Elise and the Tesla Roadster, which uses the Elise chassis. The Elise corners like a go-kart; the Tesla doesn’t even come close. It’s faster on the straights, but the Elise blows it away in the corners.
The Leaf has little, skinny, high-pressure tires to reduce rolling resistance. If it weighs as much as a medium-sized SUV, it isn’t going to handle very well. More like a shopping cart than a go-Kart.
Karl Olmstead(Quote)
My guess would be Leaf would be around 2500 Lbs
Tim Jones(Quote)