2023 has arrived and its been 2 years since I first decided to buy this Leaf, back then there was little to no EV choices and now there are loads to choose from! Also given that the COE prices are much higher than before.
Overview
Now a general overview of this car, it was first introduced in 2010 and has been updated several times since then. The Leaf is powered by a battery pack that provides electricity to an electric motor, which drives the car’s wheels. Unlike traditional gasoline-powered cars, the Leaf does not produce any emissions and is considered to be an environmentally-friendly vehicle, this would be able to be used in Singapore after 2023 as the country phase out ICE vehicles. It can be charged using a standard electrical outlet or a dedicated charging station. The range of the Leaf varies depending on the model and the year it was made, but most can travel for around 240km on a single charge. The Leaf also features advanced technologies like an interactive touch screen display, advanced safety features, and connected car services.
This short review will record my thoughts of owning a Nissan Leaf in 2023 and the pros and cons this vehicle has in Singapore and the region in general.
Charging Issues
This is the most important topic with regards to Electric Vehicles, it is important to realize that the fast charging station does not determine your charging speed. With different vehicles, the charging speeds varies. My Nissan leaf is compatible with a 7kW charger, so if my car is plugged into a 32kW charger, it will not charge at 32kW. It will only charge at 7kW.
Most charging stations in Singapore has CCS DC connectors and do not have CHAdeMO connectors, this may cause inconveniences to you if you are looking for a fast charge in Singapore. However with the little driving in Singapore you may not need fast chargers. If you drive into a mall, you would realize that most AC chargers will be filled up first before DC chargers are used. Why is this so?
Most of the time you would want your car to charge slowly, think about it! Read about this in this posts: LINKed here.
It is not the end of the world when it comes to fast chargers for the Nissan Leaf in Singapore, you may like to use a mobile charging service that would be able to charge your vehicle in 30mins.
Costs
Everybody would be the most interested about the cost of this vehicle and being a Japanese car, I have the best things to say about the efficiency of this vehicle. Being a relatively light vehicle, its range is awesome when not loaded up with heavy items. I will cover the points on range below but with cost of maintenance with this vehicle, it isn’t that much. In most of the world and in Singapore, there is a company that is able to help with this and is recognized by Nissan. I believe most electric vehicle sales in Singapore now have better maintenance possibility than a few years back. Even though the cost are pretty high for what they do, it is really a option there for someone to do it for you.
Range
My range with a 100% battery charge is now at 250km and ideally, you would minimally like a range of 250km and above. On top of range, you would also need to consider whether fast charging compatibility is important for you as you travel through Malaysia or use fast charger often. Another factor you would need to think about is weight of the vehicle. The heavier the vehicle, the range may decrease as you drive.
Conclusion
With the EV models increasing in Singapore, you would need to take your time to choose the right model for you. Ask about battery life, servicing, range, weight of the car, its onboard charger speed and of course the type of fast charger it is compatible with.
