Jun 12, 2020 at 12:24pm ET Show When we wrote that aftermarket battery packs would probably help save a lot of used electric cars, that was a real concern. We have not received many suggestions of companies that take care of that, wherever they are, but we always have an eye on what shows up. That was the case with EV Rides. The company is from Portland, Oregon, and it is specialized in selling electric cars. The Fiat 500e you can see in some of the pictures are units for sale on its website, but this is not the part of the business that interests us the most. EV Rides also offers battery replacements for the Nissan Leaf. More Battery Replacement News: Anton Litovchenko, the company manager, told us more about that.
Litovchenko gets battery packs mostly from totaled Leafs.
EV Rides' manager told us what the difficulties in getting these batteries in older cars are. We already had a glimpse of that with EVBatteryRebuilds.com, but Litovchenko gives us more details.
Considering battery packs from salvaged vehicles may have issues, we asked Litovchenko how he made sure everything was ok with them.
When it comes to prices, they depend a lot on what the owner wants in terms of capacity.
The 30 kWh pack prices range from $3,500 to $4,500, while 40 kWh packs vary from $6,500 to $7,500. That's the highest price difference in these replacements. Getting a 62 kWh battery pack demands $8,500 up to $9,500. When you consider a 2011 Nissan Leaf sold by EV Rides can be as cheap as $3,990 and the most expensive one there – a 2016 Leaf S-30 – sells for $11,490, the battery pack prices only compensate for newer vehicles. Yet, they still represent a large chunk of the car value. That's something to consider even if the increase in range is satisfying to see. The fact is that companies like EV Rides give some of the old Leafs a chance to keep driving. If it depended solely on Nissan, it could be worse: a battery pack in the Virgin Islands costs $35,000.
Can you upgrade the battery in a Nissan Leaf?Your options for LEAF battery replacements typically come down to going to a Nissan dealership or working with a battery replacement specialist. Like buying an oil change in a combustion engine vehicle, the dealership service prices tend to be steeper.
How much is a 40kwh battery for a Nissan Leaf?Affordable upfront, but there's a sting in the tail
While the Leaf can be had for under $20k, the cost of a replacement 40 kWh battery ranges in price from $6,500 to $7,500 (via Recurrent Auto). That works out at around 37.5% of the price of an all-new model.
Can you put a bigger battery in an electric car?The quick answer is yes… sort of, depending on the make and model of your electric vehicle. As noted, changing out a battery for a more powerful one can be done—if you own a Tesla.
How do I maximize my Nissan Leaf battery?NISSAN LEAF TIPS & TRICKS Keeping your battery healthy
Keep your LEAF's charge level between 2 and 10 bars to maximise lifespan. Also, avoid leaving your vehicle at zero charge for more than 14 days. Leave it partially charged when not in use.
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