electrical NISSAN LEAF 2016 1.G Owners Manual

The LEAF is an electric vehicle. Some of the
vehicle’s systems operate differently and have
different operating characteristics than vehicles
equipped with an internal combustion engine. It is
important to carefully review the entire Owner’s
Manual for this reason. The main difference is the
LEAF is powered by electricity. The LEAF does
not require and it is not capable of using gasoline
like a vehicle powered by a traditional internal
combustion engine. The LEAF uses electricity
stored in the lithium ion (Li-ion) battery. The vehi-
cle’s Li-ion battery must be charged with electric-
ity before the vehicle can be driven. As the vehicle
operates, the Li-ion battery gradually discharges.
If the Li-ion battery becomes completely dis-
charged, the vehicle will not operate until it is
re-charged.
This vehicle uses two types of batteries. One is
the 12-volt battery that is the same as the battery
in vehicles powered by gasoline engines, the
other is the Li-ion battery (high voltage) .
The 12-volt battery provides power to the vehicle
systems and features such as the audio system,
supplemental restraint systems, headlights and
windshield wipers.The Li-ion battery provides power to the electric
motor (traction motor) that moves the vehicle.
The Li-ion battery also charges the 12-volt bat-
tery.
The vehicle must be plugged in for the Li-ion
battery to be charged. Additionally, the vehicle
system can extend the vehicle range by convert-
ing driving force into electricity that is stored in
the Li-ion battery while the vehicle is decelerating
or being driven downhill. This is called regenera-
tive brake. This vehicle is considered to be an
environmentally friendly vehicle because it does
not emit exhaust gases, such as carbon dioxide
and nitrogen oxide.
WARNING
Your vehicle contains a sealed Li-ion high
voltage battery. If the Li-ion battery is
disposed of improperly, there is a risk of
severe burns and electrical shock that
may result in serious injury or death and
there is also a risk of environmental dam-
age.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the Li-ion battery:
• Do not expose a vehicle to extreme ambient temperatures for extended
periods.
• Do not store a vehicle in temperatures below −13°F (−25°C) for more than
seven days.
• Do not leave your vehicle for more than 14 days where the Li-ion battery avail-
able charge gauge reaches a zero or
near zero (state of charge) .
• Do not use the Li-ion battery for any other purpose.
THE EV (ELECTRIC VEHICLE)
SYSTEM LI-ION BATTERY
EV-2EV Overview

The Li-ion battery warmer uses electrical power
from an external source when a charger is con-
nected to the vehicle. The Li-ion battery warmer
uses electrical power from the Li-ion battery
when the charger is not connected to the vehicle.
NOTE:
•Connect the charger to the vehicle and
place the power switch in the OFF posi-
tion when parking the vehicle if tempera-
tures may go below -1°F (-17°C) . This pro-
vides external power to the Li-ion battery
warmer when it operates and does not
discharge the Li-ion battery.
• The charging status indicator lights illumi-
nate in a specific pattern when the Li-ion
battery warmer operates. The charging
status indicator lights use the same pat-
tern to indicate 12-volt battery charging,
Climate Ctrl. Timer operation or Remote
Climate Control operation (models with
navigation system) . The charging status
indicator lights do not change if the Li-ion
battery warmer operates at the same time
as the above features. For additional in-
formation, refer to “Charge status indica-
tor lights” in the “Charging” section of this
manual. •
The Li-ion battery warmer uses Li-ion bat-
tery power to operate, even if the vehicle
is connected to a charger when: – the vehicle’s power switch is in the ON position.
– there is no electrical power being sup- plied to the charging equipment.
• When the Li-ion battery warmer is already
in operation using an external power
source, it will continue to use the external
power even if the power switch is placed
in the ON position.
• Vehicle driving range is reduced if the
Li-ion battery warmer operates (Li-ion
battery temperature approximately -1°F
(-17°C) or colder) while driving the vehicle.
You may need to charge the Li-ion battery
sooner than in warmer temperatures.
• The Li-ion battery requires more time to
charge when the Li-ion battery warmer
operates.
• The predicted charging time displayed on
the meter and navigation system (models
with navigation system) increases when
the Li-ion battery warmer operates. •
Climate control performance is reduced
when using the Climate Ctrl. Timer or Re-
mote Climate Control (models with navi-
gation system) while the Li-ion battery
warmer operates.
• The Li-ion battery may not charge to the
expected level using the charging timer
when [Start Time] (models with navigation
system) and [End Time] are set while the
Li-ion battery warmer operates.
• Set the Charging Timer [End Time] when
charging in cold weather. The vehicle au-
tomatically determines when to start
charging to fully charge the Li-ion battery,
even if the Li-ion battery warmer operates.
Charging ends before the set end time if
the Li-ion battery is fully charged.
EV-6EV Overview

WARNING
In case of a collision:
• If your vehicle is drivable, pull your vehicle off the road, push the P (Park)
position switch on the shift lever, apply
the parking brake and turn the EV
(Electric Vehicle) system off.
• Check your vehicle to see if there are exposed high-voltage parts or cables.
For their locations, refer to “High volt-
age components” in this section. To
avoid personal injury, never touch
high-voltage wiring, connectors, and
other high-voltage parts, such as in-
verter unit and Li-ion battery. An elec-
tric shock may occur if exposed electric
wires are visible when viewed from
inside or outside of your vehicle.
Therefore, never touch exposed elec-
tric wires.
• If the vehicle receives a strong impact to the floor while driving, stop the ve-
hicle in a safe location and check the
floor. • Leaks or damage to the Li-ion battery
may result in a fire. If you discover
them, contact emergency services im-
mediately. Since the fluid leak may be
lithium manganate from the Li-ion bat-
tery, never touch the fluid leak inside
or outside the vehicle. If the fluid con-
tacts your skin or eyes, wash it off
immediately with a large amount of
water and receive immediate medical
attention to help avoid serious injury.
• If a fire occurs in the EV (Electric Ve- hicle) , leave the vehicle as soon as
possible. Only use a type ABC, BC or C
fire extinguisher that is meant for use
on electrical fires. Using a small
amount of water or the incorrect fire
extinguisher can result in serious in-
jury or death from electrical shock.
• If your vehicle needs to be towed, do it with the front wheels raised. If the
front wheels are on the ground when
towing, the traction motor may gener-
ate electricity. This may damage the
components of the EV (Electric Ve-
hicle) system and cause a fire. • If you are not able to safely assess the
vehicle due to vehicle damage, do not
touch the vehicle. Leave the vehicle
and contact emergency services. Ad-
vise first responders that this is an
electric vehicle.
• In the event of an accident that re- quires body repair and painting, the
vehicle should be delivered to a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer to have
the Li-ion battery pack and high volt-
age parts such as the inverter, includ-
ing the wiring harness, removed prior
to painting. Li-ion battery packs ex-
posed to heat in the paint booth will
experience capacity loss. Damaged Li-
ion battery packs may also pose safety
risks to untrained mechanics and re-
pair personnel.
ROAD ACCIDENT PRECAUTIONS
EV-8EV Overview

RANGE
The distance you can drive the vehicle (range)
varies considerably depending upon available
charge, weather, temperature, usage, battery
age, topography, and driving style.
Refer to the Monroney label (window sticker) for
the official EPA range. Your actual range can vary,
either initially or as the battery ages and with use
over time. For additional information, refer to “Im-
prove driving range” in this section for information
of the factors that affect vehicle range an how to
use the vehicle to maximize vehicle range.
IMPROVE DRIVING RANGE
Vehicle range depends on a number of factors.
Actual vehicle range will vary depending upon:
• Speed,
• Vehicle load,
• Electrical load from vehicle accessories,
• Traffic and road conditions.NISSAN recommends the following driving
habits to help maximize vehicle range:
Before driving:
• Follow recommended periodic maintenance.
• Keep tires inflated to correct pressure.
• Keep wheels in correct alignment.
• Pre-heat or pre-cool the interior cabin while the
vehicle is charging.
• Remove unnecessary cargo from the vehicle.
While driving:
• Drive in ECO mode – The ECO mode helps reduce power con-sumption by reducing acceleration when
compared to the same accelerator pedal
position in the D (Drive) position.
• Drive at a constant speed. Maintain cruising speeds with constant accelerator positions or
by using cruise control when appropriate.
• Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Gently press and release the accelerator pedal for accelera-
tion and deceleration.
• Drive at moderate speeds on the highway. • Avoid frequent stopping and braking. Maintain a
safe distance behind other vehicles.
• Turn off the air conditioner/heater when it is not necessary.
• Select a moderate temperature setting for heat- ing or cooling to help reduce power
consumption.
• Use the air conditioner/heater and close win- dows to reduce drag when cruising at highway
speed.
• Vehicle range may be substantially reduced in extremely cold conditions (for example -4°F
(-20°C) .
• Using the climate control system to heat the cabin when outside temperature is below 32°F
(0°C) uses more electricity and affects vehicle
range more than when using the heater when
the temperature is above 32°F (0°C) .
EFFICIENT USE OF YOUR VEHICLE
EV OverviewEV-23

WARNING
• If you use any medical electric devices, such as an implantable cardiac pace-
maker or an implantable cardiovascu-
lar defibrillator, check with the electric
medical device manufacturer concern-
ing the effects that charging may have
on implanted devices before starting
the charge operation. Charging may
affect the operation.
• Make sure there is no water or foreign materials in the charge port, charge
connector or electrical plug, and that
they are not damaged or affected by
rust or corrosion. If any of these condi-
tions are noticeable, do not charge the
Li-ion battery. This may result in a
short circuit or electric shock and
could cause a fire which may result in
serious personal injury or death.
• To avoid serious personal injury or death when the Li-ion battery is charg-
ing, be aware of the following precau-
tions.
– Do not touch the metal contacts ofthe charge port, charge connector or
electrical plug. – Do not touch the vehicle and charger
when there is lightning. A lightning
strike may back feed into the char-
ger causing damage and possible
personal injury or death.
• Make sure the charge connector is re- moved from the charge port before
starting your vehicle. If the charge con-
nector is only partially engaged and
the connector latch is unlocked, it is
possible to place the EV (Electric Ve-
hicle) in the READY to drive position.
• Do not plug in or unplug the plug with wet hands and do not stand in water,
liquid or snow. This may cause an elec-
tric shock which may result in serious
personal injury or death.
• Do not disassemble or modify the charge port or the EVSE (Electric Ve-
hicle Supply Equipment) . This may
cause a fire.
• If you notice an unusual odor or smoke coming from the vehicle, stop charging
immediately. • Be careful not to allow your hands,
hair, jewelry or clothing to come into
contact with, or get caught in, the trac-
tion motor cooling fan. The cooling fan
can start at any time during charging.
CAUTION
• To prevent damage to the charging
equipment:
– Do not close the charge port lid
without closing the cap.
– Do not subject the charging equip- ment to impact.
– Do not pull or twist the charge cable.
– Do not drag the charge cable.
PRECAUTIONS ON CHARGING
CH-2Charging

– Do not store and use chargingequipment in locations where the
temperature is over 185°F (85°C) .
– Do not place the charging equip- ment close to a heater or other heat
source.
• Make sure the cap is closed on the charge port when charging is finished.
If the charge port lid is closed when the
cap is open, water or foreign materials
may enter the charge port.
• Do not charge when a vehicle body cover is in use. This may cause damage
to the charge connector.
• Do not attempt to perform a jump start on the 12-volt battery at the same time
that the Li-ion battery is being
charged. Doing so may damage the
vehicle or charging equipment and
could cause an injury. For additional
information, refer to “Jump starting” in
the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual. • Trickle charging is performed using the
EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equip-
ment) provided with the vehicle.
NISSAN recommends using an AC 110
- 120 volt, 15A, dedicated electrical cir-
cuit and outlet. The dedicated circuit is
used to help prevent circuit damage or
the circuit breaker from tripping due to
the high draw of charging the Li-ion
battery. If the dedicated circuit is not
used, the circuit may cause adverse
interference on MCB (Moulded Circuit
Board) and household electrical appli-
ances such as televisions and audio
systems. If the circuit is shared, and
another electrical device is being used
at the same time the vehicle is charg-
ing, the breaker may trip. A licensed
professional electrician should install
a dedicated circuit if one is not already
available.NOTE:
•When charging the Li-ion battery, place
the power switch in the OFF position.
When the power switch is in the ON posi-
tion, the Li-ion battery will not start charg-
ing.
• If the charger is connected to the vehicle
when it is in the READY to drive position,
the power switch automatically changes
to the ON position. Place the power switch
in the OFF position to begin charging.
• For your safety, if the charger is connected
to the vehicle while the power switch is in
the READY to drive position, the vehicle
will automatically switch to the ON posi-
tion. Because charging will not be started
while the power switch is in this position,
be sure to place the power switch in the
OFF position.
• When the ambient temperature is 32°F
(0°C) or less, charging time may be longer
than normal and the level to which the
Li-ion battery can be charged may be less
than at higher temperatures.
ChargingCH-3

•If the vehicle will not be used for an ex-
tended period of time, charge the Li-ion
battery using the long life mode once ev-
ery three months. Do not operate the
charging timer repeatedly while the
charge connector is connected to the ve-
hicle after the Li-ion battery charging is
completed. Doing so may discharge the
12-volt battery. For additional informa-
tion, refer to the long life mode charging
method, in the “Charging timer” section of
this manual. If the Li-ion battery becomes
discharged, charge it immediately.
• The power switch can be set to the ON
position and the climate control and navi-
gation system (models with navigation
system) can be used while the Li-ion bat-
tery is charging. However, because these
operations consume Li-ion battery power,
it will take longer for the Li-ion battery to
become fully charged. Place the power
switch in the OFF position to help reduce
Li-ion battery charge time.
• If electrical power is interrupted while
charging, charging restarts automatically
when the electrical power is restored. •
It is recommended to keep the charge
cable connected to save Li-ion battery
power, when the heater and air condi-
tioner are operating with remote opera-
tion (models with navigation system) .
• If the charge port is frozen, melt the ice
using a hair dryer. After the ice has
melted, charge the Li-ion battery. Forcing
the charge connector to connect may
cause a malfunction.
• If foreign materials have entered the
charge connector and charge port and it is
not possible to connect it, do not attempt
to force the connection. Contact a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer. Forcing the charge
connector to connect may cause damage
to the charging equipment and vehicle.
• There is a hole on the charge port for
water drainage. If the water drainage hole
becomes blocked, or if water gets trapped
inside the charge port, do not charge.
Contact a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
CH-4Charging

This vehicle is an electric vehicle and it requires
electricity to operate. The Li-ion battery is the only
source of power to operate the vehicle. It is
important to conserve power and plan your
charging needs when you drive to avoid com-
pletely discharging the Li-ion battery and being
unable to drive.
There are three methods available to charge the
Li-ion battery;
• Normal charge
• Trickle charge
• Quick charge (if so equipped)
The time to completely charge the vehicle Li-ion
battery varies, based on the state of charge of the
Li-ion battery, condition and age of the Li-ion
battery, ambient temperature and condition of the
power source connected to the vehicle. The
charging times provided in this manual are esti-
mates only and may vary.Normal charge
NISSAN recommends using normal charging for
usual charging of the vehicle. Use of quick charge
should be minimized in order to help prolong
Li-ion battery life.
Normal charging uses an SAE J1772 compliant
charging device that can be installed on a dedi-
cated 220V/240V circuit in your home. NISSAN
recommends the installation of a home charging
dock by a licensed professional electrician.
NISSAN has contracted with a company to assist
you in purchasing and installing a charger. Con-
tact your NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
It takes approximately 5.5 to 9.5 hours for the 30
kWh battery (depending on the charger) in order
to charge the Li-ion battery from discharged (low
battery charge warning light illuminated) to 100%
charged.
For additional information, refer to “How to nor-
mal charge” in this section.Trickle Charge
Trickle charging is not recommended for regular
use. Trickle charge can be used when it is nec-
essary to perform an emergency charge at a
destination such as a friend’s house.
Trickle charge uses the EVSE (Electric Vehicle
Supply Equipment) or an SAE J1772 compliant
cord set to connect the vehicle to an AC 110–
120 volt, 15A dedicated outlet. The outlet should
be protected by a circuit breaker or fuse to avoid
overloading the circuit or other electrical hazard.
It takes approximately 26 hours to charge the 30
kWh Li-ion battery from discharged (low battery
charge warning light illuminated) to 100%
charged.
For additional information, refer to “How to trickle
charge” in this section.
Quick charge (if so equipped)
Quick charge capability is only available on ve-
hicles manufactured with the quick charge op-
tion, which includes the quick charge port. If your
vehicle does not have such a port, quick charging
cannot be used.
ChargingCH-7

To stop normal charge:
1. Ensure that the charge connector lock is notengaged. For additional information, refer to
“Charge connector lock switch” in this
section.
2. Press the button on the charge connector, release the lock and remove the charge con-
nector from the charge port and properly
store it.
3. After closing the charge port cap on the charge port, close the charge port lid.
NOTE:
To stop charging mid-charge, remove the charge
connector. Charging automatically stops.
HOW TO TRICKLE CHARGE
WARNING
• If you use any medical electric devices, such as an implantable cardiac pace-
maker or an implantable cardiovascu-
lar defibrillator, check with the electric
medical device manufacturer concern-
ing the effects that charging may have
on implanted devices before starting
the charge operation. Charging may
affect the operation.
• In order to avoid an electric shock or fire due to a short circuit, connect to a
GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter) circuit
breaker and use a waterproof electri-
cal ground socket.
• The NISSAN Genuine EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) charging
device provided with your vehicle
draws 12 amps continuously while
charging the Li-ion battery. Do not plug
in to any electrical circuit unless it is
inspected by a licensed electrician to
confirm that the electrical circuit can
accept a 12 amp draw. Any electrical
circuit has a much higher likelihood of
being compromised in the following
conditions listed below. – Improper use of the charger may
result in a fire and serious injury or
death.
– Do not use this charger in structures more than 40 years old.
– Do not use this charger in structures using fuse-based circuit protection.
Use only with electrical circuits pro-
tected by circuit breakers.
– Do not use this charger on electrical circuits with two-prong outlets.
– Do not use charger if outlet appears damaged or will not hold plug firmly.
– Discontinue charger use immedi- ately if plug or outlet becomes hot
to the touch or if you notice any
unusual odors.
– Do not use charger if other devices are plugged into the same circuit.
– Never use extension cords or plug adapters with charger.
– Do not operate with a damaged cord.
– Always unplug the charger when not in use.
– When unplugging, be sure to pull by the plug and not the cord.
ChargingCH-11

– The device has parts that may sparkinside. Do not use it where gasoline,
paint, or flammable liquids are used
or stored.
– Do not use if a malfunction occurs or if the charger has been damaged in
any manner. Return to a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer for replace-
ment.
– The charger contains no user ser- viceable parts. Do not attempt to
repair the charger, doing so will void
your warranty.• Pass the lower side belt of the EVSE(Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment)
case securely through the fastener on
the bottom of the luggage board. If the
case suddenly becomes loose, it may
cause serious injury or death.
CAUTION
• Only charge using a standard 110 - 120 volt, 15A dedicated electrical outlet
(For example do not use an electric
generator) . Failure to do so may cause
charging to fail and could cause dam-
age to the Li-ion battery charging
equipment due to power surges.
• NISSAN recommends using Genuine NISSAN charging equipment to charge
the vehicle. Using non-NISSAN equip-
ment could cause the Li-ion battery to
not charge correctly and may damage
the Li-ion battery. • Trickle charging is performed using an AC 110 -
120 volt, 15A dedicated electrical outlet using
the EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment)
provided with the vehicle.
• The Genuine NISSAN EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) charging equipment or
trickle charge cable performs a communication
function with the vehicle before Li-ion charging
starts. If this communication does not occur
because other equipment is used, the Li-ion
battery will not charge.
• Immediate charge, charging timer and remote charge (models with navigation system) can be
performed in the trickle charge mode. For addi-
tional information, refer to “Charging methods”
in this section.
CH-12Charging