The Nissan Leaf is one of the most popular EV SUVs you can buy. But while your Nissan Leaf saves you from the cost of fuel, for now, the battery could be incredibly expensive to replace later. Please take this as a fair warning when it comes to purchasing an electric vehicle. 

The Nissan Leaf battery is ridiculously expensive 

Before we start, know that we are not dissing the Nissan Leaf or any EVs. They are a great way to achieve a better fuel economy and can be the perfect vehicle for your needs. But with every vehicle, there are pros and cons. When it comes to the Nissan Leaf, replacing the battery could be a major con. 

According to Driving, one man named Clayton Brander is struggling to replace the battery in his 2013 Nissan Leaf. He got the Leaf as a used option in 2017, finding it very well priced. At the time, the dealership said if you need to replace the battery in the next few years, it should be about $5,000. 

But flash forward to 2020, and the man is having tons of trouble finding a battery that can be installed. The dealership is now quoting Clayton $15,000 for a new battery, which is an outrageous price to keep a vehicle from 2013 ticking.

Clayton Brander is a resident of B.C. and has sent Nissan Canada plenty of times, but they keep referring him back to the dealership, then the dealership refers him back to Nissan Canada. This is creating one massive circle of frustration with no answers. 

Nissan Leaf battery deterioration 

Clayton was warned that his battery might deteriorate, but he got years of use from his Leaf before it started going south. Originally the Leaf got about 75 miles on a single charge. Now it only gets about 49 miles per charge. 

He shared, It seems like these things are going to end up in the landfill.” He explained that he imagines it makes more sense for automakers to sell new cars instead of servicing older models from a financial standpoint.

However, now he is stuck with the options of shelling out $15,000 to replace the battery or buying a new car. Both options aren’t exactly financially friendly for him. Clayton hopes to find a solution that doesn’t involve buying a new Nissan Leaf, which starts at about $31,600. 

About electric vehicle battery degradation 

Also, battery deterioration isn’t new. All batteries begin to degrade. That’s one overtime your cellphone has less and less juice. EV battery degradation is the natural process that permanently reduces the amount of energy the battery can store and or deliver. 

Things that affect battery health include time, high temperatures, operating at a high or low state of charge, high electric current, and usage. While it’s difficult to find answers about how long an EV battery will last, some auto manufacturers have warranties that cover the battery for eight years or 100,000 miles. 

But automakers guarantee that the costs of batteries are decreasing as more research and development is performed. Since 2019, the average price of a Lithium-ion battery pack has dropped by 80%, but with the older Nissan Leaf, costs increased.