The proprietor of a Nissan Leaf electrical automobile says his expertise has been a cautionary story for others who would possibly make the leap to electrical automobiles.
And although Brian Sanderson has paid 417 Nissan, the dealership that’s been servicing the automobile, virtually $10,000, he mentioned the payments aren’t even essentially the most heartbreaking a part of his expertise.
“It’s merciless as a result of I don’t need to be a part of the ‘let’s slam electrical automobiles’ crowd,” mentioned Sanderson, an expert musician who, alongside together with his instrumental chamber rock ensemble Esmerine, has received 4 Juno Awards.
The four-door, all-electric hatchback with a spread of about 120 kilometres was launched in Canada in December 2010.
The Leaf was the world’s best-selling electrical automobile for a few years till it was surpassed in 2020 by Tesla’s Mannequin 3, in response to Nissan and Tesla’s personal figures.
However the automobile has typically been within the information over what consultants name design “compromises” Nissan made, together with the choice to not add a complicated cooling system for its batteries, and utilizing a battery chemistry that was notably temperature-sensitive.
Automobile died 5 occasions
Sanderson purchased his 2016 Leaf utilized in 2020. Between January and July of final yr, it died 5 occasions.
“You get within the automobile, you push the button and completely nothing occurs,” he mentioned.
The primary time the automobile died, he had it towed to a native mechanic close to his dwelling in western Quebec. The impartial mechanic instructed him his automobile had extra in frequent with an iPhone than an Impala, and that he would want to take it to somebody who understood it.
So, as with smartphones and different fashionable digital units that die, can’t be revived and successfully turn out to be dense blocks of discharged electronics, Sanderson refers to his lifeless Leaf as a “brick.”
The primary time it occurred, he paid $300 to have it towed 50 kilometres to 417 Nissan in Ottawa.
With a restricted variety of technicians accessible to service the auto producer’s electrical merchandise, Sanderon’s Leaf sat unrepaired for 4 weeks earlier than 417 Nissan declared it mounted and billed him $2,800.
“They did a highway check and mentioned it’s all wonderful, so we introduced the automobile again after which perhaps it was 4 weeks later, it bricked once more,” mentioned Sanderson, who has shared his restore receipts with CBC.
CAA membership exhausted
Sanderson bought a CAA membership, considering it sensible to economize on towing. However by halfway by the summer time, his three included tows had been spent.
Although his Leaf had solely 82,000 kilometres on the odometer, he purchased a 3rd household automobile as a backup.
The Leaf has now “bricked” a complete of 5 occasions with the automobile typically sitting unused for months, all whereas Sanderson continues making $400 month-to-month funds.
Final week, after he agreed to settle a invoice of $2,340 for the most recent restore job, 417 Nissan insisted on towing the automobile again to Sanderson’s dwelling close to Wakefield, Que., and dropped it, discharged, in his driveway.
The dealership referred questions from CBC to Nissan Canada, however Sanderson believes it means the corporate has given up on him and the automobile.
Sanderson nonetheless insists the Leaf is “essentially a very good automobile,” however one with out ample help from its producer.
The same expertise
Ottawa’s Alain Hamel mentioned his Leaf possession expertise has been related.
“Completely. Nissan has deserted all its shopper base,” mentioned the federal public service IT skilled who purchased a Leaf new in 2016.
Hamel was instructed he might get a brand new battery when efficiency dipped from 12 bars at full cost to 9.
However he mentioned when that occurred, Nissan instructed him an up to date substitute coverage coated batteries exhibiting seven bars at full cost.
“So they’re shifting the yardsticks,” mentioned Hamel.
With the automobile now not able to the vary he wants and substitute batteries unavailable, he purchased a Tesla and listed the Leaf on the used market.
New batteries unavailable
The problem of sourcing substitute Leaf batteries is well-known.
Twelve months after the cell died on his Nissan Leaf, Mississauga’s Atif Harooni was nonetheless driving a rental automobile.
Then, Nissan spokesperson Douâa Jazouli instructed CBC the corporate had been “working diligently on a appropriate substitute battery for the 30kW-h Lithium Ion Battery included within the mannequin yr 2017 LEAF, which is now not in manufacturing, and are approaching a sustainable repair for the Canadian market.”
Carlo Sabucco, who function Sils Full Auto Care Centre in Oakville, Ont., which makes a speciality of EV restore, mentioned he stopped making an attempt to supply used Leaf batteries greater than a yr in the past.
“If a Nissan Leaf proprietor requires an battery improve I say, ‘Sorry, no, you go discover the battery. Have enjoyable, good luck.’”
It’s this case that’s gloomiest for Sanderson, who fears a brand new battery is what’s wanted to lastly make his automobile dependable.
He was in a position to cost his Leaf sufficient to maneuver it round his driveway, however now regards it as too costly to threat driving.
“It’s $300 the minute this automobile does something fallacious,” he mentioned.
This text is from from cbc.ca (CBC NEWS CANADA)