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.
• If you have an implantable cardiac pacemaker or an implantable cardio-
vascular defibrillator, while the Li-ion
battery is charging:
– Do not stay inside the vehicle.
– Do not go inside the vehicle, for ex-ample to remove or place an item in
the passenger compartment.
– Do not open the rear hatch, for ex- ample to remove or place an item in
the cargo area.
Charging may affect the operation of
electric medical device and result in
serious personal injury or death. • 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.
PRECAUTIONS ON CHARGING
CH-2Charging
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 4–7 hours (depending on
the charger) in order to charge the Li-ion battery
from discharged (low battery charge warning
light illuminated) to charged.
See “How to normal 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 dedicated circuit breaker or
fuse to avoid overloading the circuit or other
electrical hazard.
It takes approximately 21 hours to charge the
Li-ion battery from discharged (low battery
charge warning light illuminated) to charged.
See “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.
A vehicle equipped with a quick charge port is
compatible with most CHAdeMO (Japanese in-
dustry standard) connectors on charging sta-
tions. Charging stations using this standard are
UL certified and safe to use in the US. While
supported by NISSAN, this connector may not
become the US SAE standard.
Quick charging is possible (even several times a
day) if the battery temperature is not near the red
zone. If the battery temperature reaches the red
zone, in order to protect the battery, quick charg-
ing is not allowed and the power limitation mode
will be triggered.
Public charging:
This vehicle is compatible with any public charg-
ing station that is SAE J1772 compliant. If you
attempt to charge from a non-compliant charging
station, you may not receive a complete charge,
or you may not be able to charge at all due to
ChargingCH-7
hardware and software differences. NISSAN is
working with state, municipalities utility compa-
nies and others to assist in the preparation of
markets and infrastructure, but makes no repre-
sentations that public charging stations will be
available in locations where you wish to operate
the vehicle, nor can NISSAN predict the period of
time it may take for public charging infrastructure
to be developed in your area. Depending on
where you live or drive, there may not be sufficient
public charging stations available to meet your
particular needs for driving range and charging
away from your home. Trip planning is therefore
important, and you should plan trips with these
facts in mind.
Quick charge uses public charging stations (up
to 50 kW of power) .
The time needed to charge the Li-ion battery from
discharged (low battery charge warning light illu-
minated) to 80% charged using the a quick char-
ger depends on many factors including the Li-ion
battery temperature and the type of quick charger
used.
It may take more time to charge the Li-ion battery
using the quick charger if the vehicle is parked in
a cold location (for example below 32°F (0°C))
for a long time.The Li-ion battery temperature gauge can be
used to estimate the approximate time needed to
charge the Li-ion battery to 80%.
Li-ion battery
temperature gauge Estimated charge
time
A3 or fewer seg-
ments illuminated More than approxi-
mately 90 minutes
B4-5 segments illu-
minatedApproximately 30-90
minutes
C6-7 segments illu-
minatedApproximately 30
minutes
D8-9 segments illu-
minatedApproximately 30-60
minutes
Li-ion battery
temperature gauge Estimated charge
time
E10 or more seg-
ments illuminated More than approxi-
mately 60 minutes
NOTE:
Charging time is typically limited to 60 min-
utes when using a quick charger. Press the
start switch on the quick charger after it
stops if additional charge time is necessary
to reach an 80% charge.
See “How to quick charge” in this section.
Power Limitation Mode
This mode protects the health and operation of
the vehicle’s Li-ion battery. This mode operates in
certain extreme conditions (heat, cold, low state
of charge) . Power available to vehicle systems,
including its traction motor, is limited resulting in
limited performance, acceleration and top speed.
Charging may be automatically terminated, espe-
cially with repeated quick charging in extreme hot
weather.
Checking Li-ion battery charge
The three methods for checking amount of
charge are as follows.
CH-8Charging
• Check by using the Li-ion battery availablecharge gauge on the meter when the power
switch is placed in the ON position. See “Li-ion
battery available charge gauge” in the “Instru-
ments and controls” section and “Li-ion battery
low charge warning” in the “Instruments and
controls” section.
• Check by using the charging status indicator light. See “Charging status indicator lights” in
this section.
NOTE:
•During the charge operation, charge con-
tinues when the power switch is placed in
the ON position.
• The Li-ion battery cannot be charged if the
quick charge connector and the normal
charge connector are connected at the
same time. If another charge connector is
connected mid-charge, charging will stop.
• For safety reasons, it is not possible to
switch to the READY to drive position
while a charge connector is connected.
• During charging, it is possible that the
radio may be inaudible due to noise by the
electromagnetic wave.
HOW TO NORMAL 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.
• If you have an implantable cardiac pacemaker or an implantable cardio-
vascular defibrillator, while the Li-ion
battery is charging:
– Do not stay inside the vehicle.
– Do not go inside the vehicle, for ex-ample to remove or place an item in
the passenger compartment.
– Do not open the rear hatch, for ex- ample to remove or place an item in
the cargo area.
Charging may affect the operation of
electric medical device and result in
serious personal injury or death. • Be sure to follow the precautions for
using the charger that can be installed
in your home. Failing to do so could
result in serious injury or death.
CAUTION
• Do not use any charging equipment that is not compatible with the LEAF.
Doing so could prevent the Li-ion bat-
tery from charging properly or could
result in damage to the vehicle or Li-
ion battery.
• Normal charge uses the charging device (AC 220 - 240 volt, 20A) that can be installed in your
home to charge the Li-ion battery.
• Immediate charge, charging timer and remote charge (models with navigation system) can be
performed in the normal charge mode. See
“Charging methods”.
• The Genuine NISSAN charging equipment communicates with the vehicle before Li-ion
battery charging starts. If this communication
does not occur because other equipment is
used, the Li-ion battery will not charge.
ChargingCH-9
• NISSAN recommends that you connect thenormal charge cable when getting out of the
vehicle, even if it is not going to be used. By
doing this, you can get the most out of the
remote climate control (models with navigation
system) and Climate Ctrl. Timer functions the
next time you use the vehicle.
To start normal charge:
1. Push the P (Park) position switch to place the vehicle in the P (Park) position and apply the
parking brake.
2. When charging the Li-ion battery, place the power switch in the OFF position. When the
power switch is in the ON position, the Li-ion
battery will not start charging.
3. Open the charge port lid and charge port cap. See “Charge port lid” and “Charge port cap”
in the “Pre-driving checks and adjustments”
section. 4. Connect the charge connector to the charge
port. If it is connected normally, a beep will
sound once.
5. If charging has started or if the battery is waiting for charging timer, a beep will sound
twice and the charging status indicator light
display will change. See “Charging status in-
dicator light”. To stop normal charge:
1. Ensure that the charge connector lock is not
engaged. For more information, see “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.
CH-10Charging
To start trickle charging:
*:You can pass a rope through the hole
Aon the
control box in order to hang it up while the Li-ion
battery is charging.
1. Push the P (Park) position switch to place the vehicle in the P (Park) position and apply the
parking brake.
2. When charging the Li-ion battery, place the power switch in the OFF position. When the
power switch is in the ON position, the Li-ion
battery will not start charging.
3. Open the charge port lid. See “Charge port lid” in the “Pre-driving checks and adjust-
ments” section. 4. Take out the EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply
Equipment) or trickle charge cable from the
rear hatch.
5. Connect the electrical plug to the 110 - 120 volt, 15A dedicated electrical outlet. If it is
connected normally, the green light on the
EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment)
control box indicator light illuminates. See
“EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment)”.
6. Open the charge port cap. See “Charge port cap” in the “Pre-driving checks and adjust-
ments” section. 7. Remove the safety cap from charge
connector.
ChargingCH-13
8. Connect the charge connector to the chargeport. If it is connected normally, a beep will
sound once.
9. If charging has started, or if the Li-ion battery is waiting for charging timer, a beep will sound
twice and the charging status indicator light
display will change. See “Charging status in-
dicator lights” in this section. 10. When recharging outside such as in your
drive way, use a commercially available pad-
lock attached in position
Ato prevent theft. To stop trickle charge:
1. Ensure that the charge connector lock is not
engaged. For more information, see “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.
3. Attach the safety cap to the EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) .
4. Remove the electrical plug from the AC 110 - 120 volt, 15A dedicated electrical outlet.
CH-14Charging
CAUTION
• Be sure to insert the charge connector
straight into the quick charge port right
up to the base. Failure to do so may
result in the Li-ion battery not charging
or could cause damage to the charging
equipment. 5. Grasp the lock lever and lock the charge
connector.
6. Follow the instructions on the quick charge equipment to start charging. When the equip-
ment is properly installed and ready to charge
a beep sounds twice and the charging status
indicator light will change. See “Charge sta-
tus indicator lights” in this section
Charging ends in the following situations.
• When charging is complete
• When charging time has exceeded 60 minutes
• When the possible charge time set for the quick charger is exceeded
NOTE:
•Charging may automatically stop even if it
is not completed.
• If charging stops mid-charge, you can re-
start charging by pressing the start button
on the quick charger again.
• The charge connector is locked to the
charge port during charging and cannot
be disconnected. Follow the instructions
on the quick charge equipment to stop
charging. Confirm charging is stopped by
looking at the indicators on the dash. The
charge connector can be disconnected
from the vehicle when charging is
stopped.
• When quick charging, the Li-ion battery
charging rate is slower as the percentage
available battery charge available in-
creases.
ChargingCH-17