Nissan LEAF: making on-the-go charging easy
With over 34,000 charging points – and 8451 rapid chargers – topping up the range of all-electric cars is simpler and faster than ever before...
With up to 168 miles of electric range on Nissan LEAF 40kWh models, and up to 239 miles of range on LEAF e+ 62kWh models (WLTP combined)[2], Nissan’s all-electric family-friendly hatchback is perfect for all of your journeys – short or long.
It’s simple and cost-efficient to charge electric cars at home, making the most of cheaper rates when your vehicle is parked overnight. In fact, using a 7kW home charger, you can recharge LEAF 40kWh models to 100% in 7 hours and 30min (or LEAF e+ 62kWh models in 11 hours and 30min) [3], costing as little as £6.60 – or 3.9p per mile – for LEAF 40kWh models[4].
But what if you want to top up on-the-go, away from home? Well, thanks to the UK’s fast-growing and dependable charging infrastructure, it’s easier, quicker and cheaper than you may initially think.
To find out more about the Nissan LEAF, head to nissan.co.uk
Fitting charging around your life
First, you need to rethink the way you ‘refuel’ electric cars. Rather than running a petrol car to empty and then brimming your tank to full, on-the-go electric charging works best when you fit mini recharges around your daily activities.
Known as ‘grazing’, it means you can top up your car with a bit of charge when your car is parked stationary at a charging point once you’ve reached your destination – rather than interrupting a journey to do a big recharge in one hit.
It’s sort of like how you can top-up the charge on your smartphone by plugging it in whenever you’re near a power source. And, as we’ll discover, there are a lot more places to recharge your electric car than you might think.
More charging locations than petrol stations
The UK’s vehicle charging infrastructure has grown exponentially in the last 10 years, reflecting the equally rapid growth of EV ownership. That means that range anxiety – or, perhaps more accurately, charging anxiety – is a thing of the past.
As of 21st September 2020, there were over 34,000 charging points across the UK in more than 12,300 locations[1] – and that number keeps on growing. In comparison, the number of petrol stations is declining. Back in the 1950s, there were around 40,000 petrol stations in the UK, dropping to just 13,000 in 2000 and 8385 in 2019[5].
So, when compared to petrol-powered cars, there’s certainly no shortage of places to top up electric cars such as the Nissan LEAF when needed. Equally, the location of the UK’s fast and rapid charging points has been cleverly thought out to fit the type of journeys you’re likely to be doing, and how long you might stop to charge.
Rapid chargers: keep moving, fast
Rapid chargers are the easiest way to give an electric car’s battery a quick on-the-go boost, and around 8451 of the UK’s charging points at 2363 locations (about 20-25% of the total) are rapid chargers capable of 22kW to 100kW[1]. Many of these rapid chargers are positioned near motorways and A-roads – where fast top-ups to quickly maximise range on long journeys make the most sense.
Using a 50kW CHAdeMO rapid charger, you can recharge a Nissan LEAF 40kWH from 20% to 80% in as little as 60 minutes, while a LEAF e+ 62kWH takes around 90 minutes[3]. With the average mid-trip coffee break at a service station taking 15-20 minutes – or longer if you’re sitting down for lunch or dinner – that means a rapid charger lets you enjoy a quick refresh of your electric range while you’re relaxing.
Around 97% of motorway service stations now have a rapid charger on-site[6], meaning you’re probably never more than 25 miles away from a rapid charger[7]. With just over 142,000 fully-electric cars currently registered in the UK[1], there is one rapid charger for every 17 electric cars – meaning lots of capacity to go around.
And, even though public rapid chargers are more expensive to use than home charging, a 20-80% top-up only costs £7.20 (or 7.2p per mile) which is the equivalent to around 100 miles of range for Nissan LEAF 40kWh models (WLTP combined)[2][8].
Fast chargers: perfect for a slower top-up
The rest of the UK’s 25,000+ slow and fast chargers[1] are based in locations where cars are parked for longer, such as urban side streets or car parks for supermarkets, shopping and leisure facilities. This makes them eminently suitable for smaller top-ups during quick tasks, or prolonged slow charging during longer activities.
A weekly supermarket shop, for example, takes up to 50 minutes. On a 7kW fast public charger, that’s enough time to add around 10-20% battery charge (around 16 to 32 miles of range – WLTP combined[2]) to the battery of a Nissan LEAF 40kWh model for around £1[3][8]. Perfect for a quick top-up, while you top-up the fridge.
Lunch with friends, a session at the gym, or a longer shopping trip in a retail park or town centre can take anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes, while a trip to the cinema can easily top two hours. That’s more than enough time to add anywhere between 20% and 40% – around 32 miles to 64 miles (WLTP combined)[2] – of range for around £2[3][8].
There’s also a growing trend from the UK government to place more slow and fast chargers in on-street locations, making them perfect for urban electric car owners who don’t have access to their own driveway or garage for at-home charging.
So, even if you don’t have access to your home charger, keeping an electric topped up is easier, faster and more cost-efficient than you might think.
To find out more about the Nissan LEAF, head to nissan.co.uk
[1] For more information, visit: https://www.zap-map.com/statistics/
[2] Laminated lithium-ion 40kWh battery with up to 168 miles range and e+ 62kWh battery with up to 239 miles range. WLTP figures shown are for comparability purposes. Actual real-world driving results may vary depending on factors such as the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted after registration, weather conditions, driving styles and vehicle load
[3] Indicated charging times and costs may vary depending on factors including charging conditions, battery and ambient temperature at point of use and if the battery safeguarding technology is activated. Visit nissan.co.uk to find out more
[4] Cost to charge to Nissan LEAF 40kWh up to 168-mile range, based on average daytime electric rates of 16.5p per kWh (Drive Zero, August 2020). Charge cost = £6.60 (3.9p per mile)
[5] For more information, visit: https://www.statista.com/statistics/312331/number-of-petrol-stations-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/
[6] For more information, visit: https://www.goultralow.com/faqs/
[7] For more information, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-vision-for-the-rapid-chargepoint-network-in-england/government-vision-for-the-rapid-chargepoint-network-in-england
[8] Calculations based on Nissan LEAF 40kWH model with rapid charging cost of 30p per kWh (ecotricity.co.uk) and fast recharging cost of 12p per kWh (polar-network.com)
Best electric cars 2024 – the EVs to buy and those to avoid
Sales of electric cars are booming, and no wonder: the best are quiet, cheap to run and smooth to drive. But which are the brightest sparks – and which are the loose connections?
