In a breakthrough that might change a few minds about the battery-swap concept, Nissan says that they have succeeded in tests that would extend the range of the LEAF and other electric cars up to 186 miles on each charge, almost double today’s range with an improved battery.
Nissan has developed a new battery combination by adding small amounts of cobalt and nickel to the manganese in their current batteries. Now it’s a real mouthful: a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide cathode battery, or NMC.
Instead of using manganese only on the positive electrode, nickel and cobalt are added, raising the capacity of the battery. In tests it has shown that it is able to withstand 1,000 or so charge cycles.
Nissan is saying the new battery will be available by 2015, and won’t cost more than current battery tech, because the most expensive addition is cobalt, but the battery only needs a little of it for a big improvement.
Whether this is true or not—that it won’t cost automakers more—is less important than whether automakers could simply provide a guarantee of not charging more. They could well wind up taking a hit on their costs initially.
Most indications are that battery technology is going to get much better over the next few years, simply because we are now so seriously investing in R&D. The US DOE alone is finally now seriously investing in a variety of research leads that look promising, and Japanese automakers have done so for several years.
But worries over being able to afford the next-gen battery might slow sales, yet, at the same time, a fast roll-out of EVs is essential to getting the new technology down in price. The battery swap idea has so far been one solution to that conundrum. Knowing the better battery is going to be the same price is another.
[Ed. Note: This is also a good reason why Nissan's plans to lease the battery make sense. If you're leasing a battery and a new one comes out that doubles your range, you simply swap out the old one for the new one and you don't have to eat the cost—you keep paying the same lease price.]
Image: Nissan
Source: Electric Vehicle News
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About Susan Kraemer
I’m willing to concede that battery leasing makes sense — but we, the consumers, need: a) specifics; b) a vareity of options.
For instance, will Nissan let me jump from a lease of a battery with a 2010 Leaf to buying a battery when technologies improve, or will Nissan continue to require lease-only, even down the road?
Or, how about allowing customers to buy a battery and car outright, starting in 2010 — with the option to sell the battery back to Nissan on a pro-rated basis?
Basically, battery leasing could be OK — IF it’s done right, with plenty of options.
But blanket statements about “leasing” being “good” –without “leasing” itself actually being specifically defined are problematic.
I’m willing to concede that battery leasing makes sense — but we, the consumers, need: a) specifics; b) a vareity of options.
For instance, will Nissan let me jump from a lease of a battery with a 2010 Leaf to buying a battery when technologies improve, or will Nissan continue to require lease-only, even down the road?
Or, how about allowing customers to buy a battery and car outright, starting in 2010 — with the option to sell the battery back to Nissan on a pro-rated basis?
Basically, battery leasing could be OK — IF it’s done right, with plenty of options.
But blanket statements about “leasing” being “good” –without “leasing” itself actually being specifically defined are problematic.
I’d say that if this technology won’t be ‘rolled out’ until 2015, then it might not be rolled out at all. Battery technology is improving so fast that I doubt the improved performance Nissan describes in this article will be relevant in five years.
I’d say that if this technology won’t be ‘rolled out’ until 2015, then it might not be rolled out at all. Battery technology is improving so fast that I doubt the improved performance Nissan describes in this article will be relevant in five years.
Carbon buildup, the problem is not the discoveries if what of all of them gets massively distributed.
Yes, there is a lot of research, yes, more than other years, but the last years have been not empty of investigation and see, we are still with Ni-MH in AAA rechargables and ion-lithium in computers and cell-phones.
So, I hope to be wrong, but any technology needs some time to be tested and perhaps in 2015 we will still to wait some time to ultracapacitators and other technologies that multiply 10x ion-Lithium to be cost and safe effective and we can say: uf! thanks that they invented the NMC that doubles the ion-li and has helped the electric and hybrid car “explosion”, so, helping also to derive money to investigate Ultrcapacitators and the technology that should come after them.
But, yes, I can understand your impatience and your thoughts reading what we read here. I’ve been new technologies journalist for some time, and i have to say, that too much of the “discoveries” are only marketing and never became true. See all the private space companies than ten years ago where going to let all us to reach the moon affordably (well, I need more than that) or the compressed air cars… all these guys were “one year to” complete their technology… but the years passed and we saw something very different in the real world. Sometimes for good, sometimes for bad.
So, believe in miracles (10x batteries), but don’t underestimate medicines (2x batteries), ok?
Carbon buildup, the problem is not the discoveries if what of all of them gets massively distributed.
Yes, there is a lot of research, yes, more than other years, but the last years have been not empty of investigation and see, we are still with Ni-MH in AAA rechargables and ion-lithium in computers and cell-phones.
So, I hope to be wrong, but any technology needs some time to be tested and perhaps in 2015 we will still to wait some time to ultracapacitators and other technologies that multiply 10x ion-Lithium to be cost and safe effective and we can say: uf! thanks that they invented the NMC that doubles the ion-li and has helped the electric and hybrid car “explosion”, so, helping also to derive money to investigate Ultrcapacitators and the technology that should come after them.
But, yes, I can understand your impatience and your thoughts reading what we read here. I’ve been new technologies journalist for some time, and i have to say, that too much of the “discoveries” are only marketing and never became true. See all the private space companies than ten years ago where going to let all us to reach the moon affordably (well, I need more than that) or the compressed air cars… all these guys were “one year to” complete their technology… but the years passed and we saw something very different in the real world. Sometimes for good, sometimes for bad.
So, believe in miracles (10x batteries), but don’t underestimate medicines (2x batteries), ok?
The Ed wrote: “…you simply swap out the old one for the new one and you don’t have to eat the cost—you keep paying the same lease price.”
Have you ever leased a car? Were you ever able to “just swap out” for a new one and “keep paying the same price”? That is not how leases work. There are all sorts of little issues like early termination fees, residual value adjustments, excessive wear charges, etc. etc. Car companies like Nissan come from a proud tradition of ripping people off with leases.
I cannot imagine anyone will plunk down $25-$30k on a little electric hatchback and then be captive to Nissan for future spare parts and upgrades. It is like buying a cell phone with a 10 year service contract. Yikes!
I really like the Leaf but this battery leasing idea is just dumb. Sell the car. Warrant the car with a guaranteed buy-back on the battery in the future.
The Ed wrote: “…you simply swap out the old one for the new one and you don’t have to eat the cost—you keep paying the same lease price.”
Have you ever leased a car? Were you ever able to “just swap out” for a new one and “keep paying the same price”? That is not how leases work. There are all sorts of little issues like early termination fees, residual value adjustments, excessive wear charges, etc. etc. Car companies like Nissan come from a proud tradition of ripping people off with leases.
I cannot imagine anyone will plunk down $25-$30k on a little electric hatchback and then be captive to Nissan for future spare parts and upgrades. It is like buying a cell phone with a 10 year service contract. Yikes!
I really like the Leaf but this battery leasing idea is just dumb. Sell the car. Warrant the car with a guaranteed buy-back on the battery in the future.
I guess I will wait till 2015. If tesla is doing it today why can’t they??
I guess I will wait till 2015. If tesla is doing it today why can’t they??
Tesla is doing it at $100,000 (so far). Nissan is already aiming for a mass market car.
Tesla is doing it at $100,000 (so far). Nissan is already aiming for a mass market car.
Editor…when has ANY for profit company ever given anyone anything for free? Unless the lease agreement clearly states they will upgrade the battery pack at zero cost, plan on being fleeced when it happens. Even if they let you swap out the pack at no expense, you can count on the dealer juicing you like there is no tomorrow.
Let the buyer beware…
Editor…when has ANY for profit company ever given anyone anything for free? Unless the lease agreement clearly states they will upgrade the battery pack at zero cost, plan on being fleeced when it happens. Even if they let you swap out the pack at no expense, you can count on the dealer juicing you like there is no tomorrow.
Let the buyer beware…