2014 NISSAN LEAF Owners Manual

This vehicle is equipped with an upper display
and a lower display.1. Master warning light (P 2-19)
2. ECO indicator (P 2-10)
3. Speedometer (P 2-6)4. Clock (P 2-11)
5. Outside air temperature (P 2-10)
6. Turn signal/Hazard indicator light (P 2-22)
7. Li-ion battery temperature gauge (P 2-7)
8. Warning/indicator lights (P 2-13)
9. Power meter (P 2-7)
10. ECO indicator (P 2-10)
11. READY to drive indicator light (P 2-21)
12. Vehicle information display (P 2-23)
— Odometer/twin trip odometer (P 2-6)
— Trip computer (P 2-28)
— Shift “P” warning (if so equipped) (P 2-27)
— Indicator for timer (P 2-36)
13. Driving range (P 2-8)
14. Li-ion battery available charge gauge
(P 2-9)
15. Li-ion battery capacity level
gauge (P 2-10)
Upper display and lower display
METERS AND GAUGES
Illustrated table of contents0-9

1. Brake fluid reservoir (P 8-10)
2. 12-volt battery (P 8-12)
3. Fuse/fusible link holder (P 8-16)
4. Fuse/fusible link holder (P 8-16)
5. Coolant tank cap (P 8-8)
6. Window washer fluid reservoir (P 8-11)
7. Fuse/fusible link holder (P 8-16)
MOTOR COMPARTMENT
0-10Illustrated table of contents

Warning
lightName Page
12-volt battery charge
warning light2-14
Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS) warning light2-15
Approaching Vehicle
Sound for Pedestrians
(VSP) system warning
light2-15
BRAKE system warning
light (yellow)2-15
BRAKE warning light (red) 2-16
Electric shift control sys-
tem warning light2-17
Warning
lightName Page
EV system warning light 2-17
Headlight warning light 2-17
Low battery charge warn-
ing light2-17
Low tire pressure warning
light2-17
Master warning light (red/
yellow)2-19
Power steering warning
light2-19
Seat belt warning light 2-19
Warning
lightName Page
Supplemental air bag
warning light2-19
Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) warning light2-20
WARNING AND INDICATOR LIGHTS
Illustrated table of contents0-11

Indicator
lightName Page
Exterior light indicator 2-20
Front fog light indicator
light (if so equipped)2-20
Front passenger air bag
status light2-20
High beam indicator light
(blue)2-21
Plug in indicator light 2-21
Power limitation indicator
light2-21
READY to drive indicator
light2-21
Security indicator light 2-22
Indicator
lightName Page
Turn signal/hazard indica-
tor lights2-22
Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) off indicator light2-22
0-12Illustrated table of contents

EV Overview
The EV (Electric Vehicle) system.............EV-2
Li-ion battery.........................EV-2
Driving with a discharged Li-ion battery.......EV-3
Charging the 12-volt battery..............EV-5
Li-ion battery warmer..................EV-5
High voltage precautions..................EV-7
High-voltage components...............EV-7
Road accident precautions................EV-8
Emergency shut-off system..............EV-9
EV (Electric Vehicle) characteristics...........EV-9
Noise and vibration..................EV-10
Life with an EV (scene guide)..............EV-10
Charging the Li-ion battery..............EV-10
Before driving your vehicle (models with
navigation system)...................EV-13
Starting your vehicle..................EV-17Driving the vehicle...................EV-18
At home after driving.................EV-22
Efficient use of your vehicle...............EV-23
Range..........................EV-23
Improve driving range.................EV-23
Li-ion battery life....................EV-24
Li-ion battery maintenance..............EV-25
EV unique information...................EV-25
Meters and indicators.................EV-25
Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians
(VSP) system......................EV-28
Electric shift control system.............EV-29
LED headlight (low beam) (if so equipped). . . .EV-29
Solar cell module (if so equipped)..........EV-30
Driving range button (if so equipped)........EV-30

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 ve-
hicle 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. The charging process usually takes
from approximately 30 minutes to 21 hours as
described more fully in this manual.
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 over seven
days.
• Do not leave your vehicle for over 14
days where the Li-ion battery available
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)
SYSTEMLI-ION BATTERY
EV-2EV Overview

NOTE:
•If the outside temperature is −13°F
(−25°C) or less, the Li-ion battery may
freeze and it cannot be charged or provide
power to run the vehicle. Move the vehicle
to a warm location.
•The capacity of the Li-ion battery in your
vehicle to hold a charge will, like all such
batteries, decrease with time and usage.
As the battery ages and capacity de-
creases, this will result in a decrease from
the vehicle’s initial mileage range. This is
normal, expected, and not indicative of
any defect in your Li-ion battery. NISSAN
estimates that battery capacity will be ap-
proximately 80% of original capacity after
five years, although this is only an esti-
mate, and this percentage may vary (and
could be significantly lower) depending
on individual vehicle and Li-ion battery
usage.
•The Li-ion battery has limited service life,
and when its charging capacity falls below
a specific level, the EV system warning
light will illuminate. Owners should bring
their vehicle in for inspection and possible
battery replacement.•The Li-ion battery has a limited service
life. Contact a NISSAN certified LEAF
dealer for information about recycling or
disposal of the Li-ion battery. Do not at-
tempt to recycle or dispose of the Li-ion
battery yourself.
DRIVING WITH A DISCHARGED
LI-ION BATTERY
When a destination is set in the navigation sys-
tem that exceeds the available vehicle range, the
navigation system automatically searches the lo-
cation of nearby charging stations. When the
nearby charging station locations are displayed,
charge the Li-ion battery as soon as possible
(models with navigation system) .
Warning lights illuminate on the instrument panel
and messages are displayed on the vehicle infor-
mation display to inform you that the Li-ion bat-
tery charge is low. Instructions are also displayed
on the navigation system screen to direct you to
nearby charging stations (models with navigation
system) .The vehicle’s range is very limited when these
warning lights illuminate and messages are dis-
played. Follow the instructions on the navigation
screen (models with navigation system) and im-
mediately charge the vehicle at the nearest
charging station.
EV OverviewEV-3

There are three levels of information that will be
displayed as the Li-ion battery becomes dis-
charged:
1. The following warning lights illuminate on the
instrument panel and messages are displayed
on the vehicle information display at the same
time to indicate low Li-ion battery charge:
• The low battery charge warning light
• The master warning light
• “Li-ion battery level is Low” warning message
is displayed on the vehicle information dis-
play
• See “Li-ion battery low charge warning” in
the “Instruments and controls” section.
• Messages are displayed on navigation sys-
tem screen (if so equipped)
• See “Low battery warning” in the “Instru-
ments and controls” section.• The driving range flashes
1.
NOTE:
Due to traffic conditions, it may be diffi-
cult to get to the charging station sug-
gested by the navigation system. If the
Li-ion battery is almost completely dis-
charged, drive directly to the nearest
charging station (models with naviga-
tion system) .2. If the vehicle is driven and the Li-ion battery
continues to discharge, the driving range on
the instrument panel changes to “---”2.
Messages are displayed on the Navigation
System screen (if so equipped) . For more
information, see “Low battery warning” in the
“Instruments and controls” section.
3. When the power limitation indicator light
illuminates, traction motor output is lim-
ited resulting in reduced vehicle speed. Stop
the vehicle in a safe location before the Li-ion
battery becomes completely discharged and
EV-4EV Overview