NISSAN LEAF 2013 1.G Owners Manual

If the Intelligent Key is within the operating range,
it is possible for anyone, even someone who does
not carry the Intelligent Key, to push the power
switch to start the EV (Electric Vehicle) system.
The cargo area is not included in the operatingrange but the Intelligent Key may function.
If the Intelligent Key is placed on the instrument panel, inside the glove box or door pocket, the
Intelligent Key may not function.
If the Intelligent Key is placed near a door or window outside the vehicle, the Intelligent Key
may not function.
POWER SWITCH OPERATION
When the power switch is pushed without de-
pressing the brake pedal, the power switch posi-
tion will change as follows.
Push once to change to ACC.
Push two times to change to ON.
Push three times to change to OFF.
Push four times to return to ACC.
Open or close any door to return to LOCK whilein the OFF position. The indicator light
Aon the power switch illumi-
nates when the power switch is in the ACC or
ON position.
The power lock is designed so that the power
switch position cannot be switched to LOCK
until the vehicle is into the P (Park) position.
When the power switch cannot be switched to
the LOCK position, proceed as follows.
1. Push the P (Park) position switch on the shift lever to place the vehicle in the P (Park)
position.
2. Push the power switch to the OFF position. The power switch position indicator
Awill
not illuminate.
3. Open the door. The power switch will change to the LOCK position.
POWER SWITCH POSITIONS
LOCK (Normal parking position)
The power switch can only be locked in this
position.
The power switch will be unlocked when it is
pushed to the ACC position while the driver is
carrying the Intelligent Key.
*: Push while the brake pedal is depressed.
5-8Starting and driving

ACC (Accessories)
This position activates electrical accessories,
such as the radio, when EV system is OFF.
ON
This position turns on the EV (Electric Vehicle)
system and electrical accessories.
READY (Normal operating position)
This position turns on the EV (Electric Vehicle)
system, electrical accessories and the vehicle
can be driven.
OFF
The EV (Electric Vehicle) system can be turned
off.
The power switch cannot be placed in the LOCK
position until the vehicle is in the P (Park) posi-
tion.
CAUTION
Do not leave the vehicle with the power
switch in the ACC position for an ex-
tended period of time. This can discharge
the 12-volt battery.
NOTE:
If the power switch is pushed quickly or is
pushed twice quickly, the switch may not
function even if a chime sound is heard.
Push the switch again more slowly.
EMERGENCY EV (ELECTRIC
VEHICLE) SHUT OFF
To shut off the EV (Electric Vehicle) system in an
emergency situation while driving, perform the
following procedure.
Rapidly push the power switch 3 consecutive times in less than 1.5 seconds, or
Push and hold the power switch for more than 2 seconds.
NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY®
BATTERY DISCHARGE
If the Intelligent Key battery is discharged, or
environmental conditions interfere with the Intel-
ligent Key operation, start the EV (Electric Ve-
hicle) system in the READY to drive mode ac-
cording to the following procedure:
1. Push the P (Park) position switch on the shift lever.
2. Firmly apply the foot brake.
3. Touch the power switch with the Intelligent Key as illustrated. (A chime will sound.)
Starting and driving5-9

4. Push the power switch while depressing thebrake pedal within 10 seconds after the
chime sounds. The power switch position
changes to READY to drive mode.
After step 3 is performed, if the power switch is
pushed without depressing the brake pedal, the
power switch position will change to ACC.
NOTE:
When the power switch is pushed to the
ACC or ON position or READY to drive
mode by the above procedure, the Intelli-
gent Key battery discharge indicator ap-
pears on the dot matrix liquid crystal dis-
play even if the Intelligent Key is inside
the vehicle. This is not a malfunction. To
stop the warning indicator from blinking,
touch the power switch with the Intelli-
gent Key again.
If the Intelligent Key system battery dis-
charge indicator appears on the dot ma-
trix liquid crystal display, replace the bat-
tery as soon as possible. See Intelligent
key battery replacement in theMainte-
nance and do-it-yourself section. Make sure that the area around the vehicle is
clear.
Check fluid levels such as coolant, brake fluid, and window washer fluid as frequently as pos-
sible.
Check that all windows and lights are clean.
Visually inspect tires for their appearance and condition. Also check tires for proper inflation.
Check that all doors are closed.
Position the seat and adjust the head restraints.
Adjust the inside and outside mirrors.
Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to do likewise.
Check the operation of the warning lights when the power switch is pushed to the ON position.
(See Warning/indicator lights and audible re-
minders in theInstruments and controls sec-
tion.) 1. Confirm the parking brake is applied.
2. Confirm that the vehicle is in the P (Park)
position.
The EV (Electric Vehicle) is designed not to
operate unless the shift lever is in the P (Park)
or N (Neutral) positions.
The Intelligent Key must be carried with
you when operating the power switch.
3. Depress the brake pedal and push the power switch to place the EV (Electric Vehicle) sys-
tem in the READY to drive position.
To place the vehicle in the READY to drive
position immediately, push and release the
power switch while depressing the brake
pedal with the power switch in any position.
The READY to drive indicator light
in the
meter illuminates.
4. To stop the EV (Electric Vehicle) system, push the P (Park) position switch on the shift lever,
and push the power switch to the OFF
position.
BEFORE STARTING THE EV
(ELECTRIC VEHICLE) SYSTEM STARTING THE EV (ELECTRIC
VEHICLE) SYSTEM
5-10Starting and driving

ELECTRIC SHIFT CONTROL
SYSTEM
This vehicle is electronically controlled to pro-
duce maximum available power and smooth op-
eration.
The recommended operating procedures for this
vehicle are shown on the following pages.
Starting vehicle
1. After placing the vehicle in the READY to driveposition, fully depress the foot brake pedal
before moving the shift lever to the D (Drive)
position.
The shift lever of this vehicle is designed
so that the foot brake pedal must be
depressed before shifting from the P
(Park) position to any driving position
while the power switch is in the ON po-
sition.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of the
other positions if the power switch is
placed in the LOCK, OFF or ACC position
or if the key is removed. 2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed, and
move the shift lever to the D (Drive) position.
3. Release the parking brake and foot brake pedal, and then gradually start the vehicle in
motion.
WARNING
Do not depress the accelerator pedal while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) or D (Drive) posi-
tion. Always depress the brake pedal
until shifting is completed. Failure to
do so could cause you to lose control,
which could result in an accident.
Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse) while vehicle is moving. Failure to do
so could cause you to lose control and
have an accident.
CAUTION
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill slope, do not hold the vehicle by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. The
foot brake should be used for this pur-
pose.
Do not hang items on the shift lever. This may cause an accident due to a
sudden start.
Do not shift to the ECO position abruptly on slippery roads. This may
cause a loss of control.
DRIVING VEHICLE
Starting and driving5-11

Shifting
To move the shift lever,
: Slide along the gate while the brakepedal is depressed.
: After sliding, maintain it in the same position until the vehicle placed to N
(Neutral) position.
: When in the D (Drive) position, slidealong the gate.
NOTE:
Confirm that the vehicle is in the desired
shift position by checking the shift indicator
1located near the shift lever or the dot
matrix liquid crystal display in the meter.
To place the vehicle into the D (Drive)
position from the ECO position, move the
shift lever into the D (Drive) position.
After placing the vehicle in the READY to drive
position, fully depress the brake pedal, and move
the shift lever to any of the preferred shift posi-
tions.
If the power switch is placed in the OFF or ACC
position for any reason while the shift position is
in any position other than the P (Park) position,
the power switch cannot be placed in the LOCK
position.
If the power switch cannot be placed in the
LOCK position, perform the following steps.
1. Apply the parking brake when the vehicle is stopped.
2. Place the power switch in the ON position while depressing the foot brake pedal.
3. Press the P position switch and place in the P (Park) position.
4. Place the power switch in the OFF position.NOTE:
The vehicle automatically applies the P
(Park) position when the power switch is in
the OFF position.
WARNING
The shift lever is always in the center position when released. When the
power switch is placed in the READY
to drive position, the driver needs to
confirm that the vehicle is in the P
(Park) position. The indicator next to
the “P” by the shift lever is illuminated
and the “P” is displayed on the meter.
If the vehicle is in the D (Drive) position
or R (Reverse) position when the
power switch is placed in the READY
to drive position, this may cause a sud-
den start which could result in an acci-
dent.
On a hilly road, do not allow the vehicle to roll backwards while in the D (Drive)
position or ECO position, or allow the
vehicle to roll forward while in the R
(Reverse) position. This may cause an
accident.
5-12Starting and driving

CAUTION
Do not slide the shift lever while push- ing the P position switch. This may
also damage the electric motor.
When switching to the preferred posi- tion by operating the shift lever, check
that the shift lever returns to the cen-
tral position by releasing your hand
from the lever. Holding the shift lever
in a mid-way position may also dam-
age the shift control system.
Do not operate the shift lever while the accelerator pedal is depressed, except
when switching to the ECO position.
This may cause a sudden start which
could result in an accident.

The following operations are not allowed
because excessive force would be ap-
plied to the traction motor and this may
result in damage to the vehicle:
– Moving the shift lever to the R (Re- verse) position when driving for-
ward
– Moving the shift lever to the D (Drive) or ECO position when revers-
ing
If these operations are attempted, a
chime sounds and the vehicle shifts to
the N (Neutral) position. P (Park):
Use this shift position when the vehicle is parked
or when placing the vehicle in the READY to drive
position. Make sure that the vehicle is completely
stopped.
In order to switch to the P (Park)
position, press the P (Park) position switch
as shown in the illustration above once the
vehicle has come to a complete stop. If the
P (Park) position switch is pressed while
the vehicle is in motion, a chime sounds
and the current shift position is main-
tained. After switching to the P (Park) position,
apply the parking brake. When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake first while keeping the
foot brake pedal depressed then push the P
(Park) position switch and place the vehicle in the
P (Park) position. See
Parking brake.
NOTE:
While the vehicle is stationary, if the shift
position is placed in any position other
than the P (Park) position when the power
switch is set to OFF, it will automatically
switch to the P (Park) position.
If the P (Park) position switch is pressed
while sliding the shift lever, the shift posi-
tion will not switch to the P (Park) posi-
tion. When pressing the P (Park) position
switch be sure to first allow the shift lever
to return to its center position.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Make sure that the
vehicle is completely stopped before selecting
the R (Reverse) position. If the vehicle is
placed in the D (Drive) position while re-
versing, the chime will sound and the ve-
hicle will switch into the N (Neutral) posi-
tion.
Starting and driving5-13

N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged. The
vehicle can be placed in READY to drive position
in this position.
Do not shift to the N (Neutral) position while
driving. The regenerative brake system does not
operate in the N (Neutral) position. However, the
vehicle brakes will still stop the car.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.If
the vehicle is placed in the D (Drive) posi-
tion while reversing, the chime will sound
and the vehicle will switch into the N (Neu-
tral) position.
B-mode:
Engages the regenerative braking system more
aggressively on downhill slopes, and helps re-
duce brake use. Activated by moving the shift
lever left and down. The shift lever will then return
to the center position. ECO mode:
Use ECO in order to help extend the driving
range.
In comparison to the D (Drive) position, ECO
consumes less power for the traction motor and
heater and air conditioner operations and en-
ables the range of the vehicle to be extended.
ECO can be selected from the D (Drive) or
B-mode position.
WARNING
Be sure the parking brake is released before driving. Failure to do so could
cause brake failure and lead to an ac-
cident.
Do not release the parking brake from outside the vehicle.
Do not leave children unattended in a vehicle. They could release the parking
brake and cause an accident.
When leaving the vehicle, apply the parking brake and push the P (Park)
position switch on the shift lever.
PARKING BRAKE
5-14Starting and driving

To engage:Firmly depress the parking brake.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Firmly depress the parking brake and it will release.
3. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROL
If the cruise control system malfunctions, it will
cancel automatically. The SET indicator on the dot
matrix crystal display will then blink to warn the
driver.
If the SET indicator on the dot matrix crystal display
blinks, turn the cruise control MAIN switch off and
have the system checked by a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer.
The SET indicator on the dot matrix crystal display
may blink when the cruise control MAIN switch is
turned ON while pushing the RESUME/
ACCELERATE, SET/COAST or CANCEL switch.
To properly set the cruise control system, perform
the following procedure.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when driv-
ing under the following conditions:
when it is not possible to keep the vehicle at a set speed
in heavy traffic or in traffic that varies in speed
on winding or hilly roads
on slippery roads (rain, snow, ice, etc.)
in very windy areas
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION
1. RESUME/ACCELERATE switch
2. SET/COAST switch
3. CANCEL switch
4. MAIN (ON·OFF) switch
The cruise control allows driving at a speed be-
tween 25 to 89 MPH (40 to 144 km/h) without
keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal.
To turn on the cruise control, push the MAIN
switch on. The CRUISE indicator on the dot
matrix crystal display will illuminate.
CRUISE CONTROL
Starting and driving5-15

To set the cruising speed,accelerate the ve-
hicle to the preferred speed, push the SET/
COAST switch and release it. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal. The vehicle will maintain
the set speed.
To pass another vehicle, depress the accel-
erator pedal. When you release the pedal, the
vehicle will return to the previously set speed.
The vehicle may not maintain the set speed on winding or hilly roads. If this happens, drive
without using the cruise control.
To cancel the preset speed, use one of the
following methods.
1. Push the CANCEL switch.
2. Tap the brake pedal.
3. Turn the MAIN switch off. The CRUISE indi- cator on the dot matrix crystal display will turn
off.
If you depress the brake pedal while pushing the RESUME/ACCELERATE or SET/COAST
switch and reset at the cruising speed, the
cruise control will disengage. Turn the MAIN
switch off once and then turn it on again.
The cruise control will automatically cancel if the vehicle slows more than 8 MPH (13 km/h) be-
low the set speed. If you move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position, the cruise control will be canceled.
To reset at a faster cruising speed, use one
of the following methods.
Depress the accelerator pedal. When the ve- hicle attains the preferred speed, push and re-
lease the SET/COAST switch.
Push and hold the RESUME/ACCELERATE switch. When the vehicle attains the preferred
speed, release the switch.
Push, then quickly release the RESUME/ ACCELERATE switch. Each time you do this,
the set speed will increase by about 1 MPH
(1.6 km/h) .
To reset at a slower cruising speed, use one
of the following methods.
Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the vehicle attains the preferred speed, push the SET/
COAST switch and release it.
Push and hold the SET/COAST switch. Re- lease the switch when the vehicle slows down
to the preferred speed.
Push, then quickly release, the SET/COAST switch. Each time you do this, the set speed will
decrease by about 1 MPH (1.6 km/h) . To resume the preset speed,
push and re-
lease the RESUME/ACCELERATE switch. The
vehicle will resume the last set cruising speed
when the vehicle speed is over 25 MPH
(40 km/h) .
5-16Starting and driving

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 thevehicle is charging.
Remove unnecessary cargo from the vehicle.
While driving:
Drive in ECO mode – In the ECO position more regenerativebrake is applied when the accelerator pedal
is released in comparison to the D (Drive)
position and more power is provided to the
Li-ion battery.
– The ECO position helps reduce power con- sumption by reducing acceleration when compared to the same accelerator pedal
position in the D (Drive ) position.
– The ECO position reduces the power pro- vided to the heater and air conditioner sys-
tem.
Drive at a constant speed. Maintain cruising speeds with a 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 consump-
tion.
Use the air conditioner/heater and close win- dows to reduce drag when cruising at highway
speed.
Release the accelerator pedal to slow down and do not apply the brakes when traffic and
road conditions allow. – This vehicle is equipped with a regenerative
brake system. The primary purpose of re-
generative brake system is to provide some
power to recharge the Li-ion battery and
extend driving range. A secondary benefit is
“engine braking” that operates based on
Li-ion battery conditions. In the D (Drive)
position, when the accelerator pedal is re-
leased, the regenerative brake system pro-
vides some deceleration and some power to
the Li-ion battery.
INCREASING POWER ECONOMY
Starting and driving5-17