The battery pack in the Nissan Leaf failed to impress in the hottest of climates, like the US states of Arizona and Texas, where owners reported significant capacity losses. Truth is, though, the batteries are going to eventually fade out anyway – it’s what batteries do, and while the process can be slowed down (by keeping them at their ideal temperature), it cannot be stopped.
Nissan is fully aware of this, and has announced a program to swap out used batteries for new ones, specifically for the brand’s US customers. Set to commence in the first half of 2014, it will come to compliment the warranty already in place for the power storage unit (five years or 60,000 miles for capacity loss and eight years and 100,000 miles for defects).
According to Erik Gottfried, Nissan’s director of Electric Vehicle Sales and Marketing, “Nissan anticipates that the great majority of our current LEAF drivers will never need this battery replacement option. However, this program is yet another example of Nissan’s commitment to deliver peace of mind for our continually growing community of LEAF drivers.”
The service will cost $100 per month, and any Leaf is eligible to be a part of it. Nissan says it offers piece of mind to owners who may have been bugged by the idea of not being able to swap out their battery for a new one, in as efficient and cost-effective way as possible.
By Andrei Nedelea
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