What to do with the Leaf

[EA500]

Is there any unique or “out of the box” thinking for what to do with the old Electric vehicles that are almost worthless?

Our Nissan Leaf is a 2011with 30k miles and the range has dropped to a max charge of 45 miles. I can have a new battery pack installed for 5k but the value of the car Is only 2.5k and it won’t be worth much more if I put the new battery pack in.

Any ideas?

 

[jkoya]

We sold ours back to the Nissan dealer, which offered the same as Carmax. Dealer claimed they had a low income buyer that was looking for one. We would have just gifted the car to the low income buyer (if the claim was actually true), but the dealer wouldn't give any information. Ours was a 2012 and the max charge was the same at 45 miles. We mentioned to family it was free for the taking, but nobody wanted it.

About a month after we sold the car back to the dealer, I found out a local community college was looking for EV donations for their auto shop classes. I would have gone this route instead of selling back to the dealer. Next time....

 

[EA500]

Good point, NPR runs adverts to donate cars. Thanks.

 

[wycolo]

You could swap in better cells from salvage for a lot less than 5k with a bit of luck, Leaf cells being as popular as they are.
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[EA500]

Another good idea...yup.

 

[wycolo]

$2k can now get you a full set as seen recently. Easiest EV to swap cells in.
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[TEG]

$2k can now get you a full set as seen recently. Easiest EV to swap cells in.
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Where? I am in the same boat with 30K 2011 LEAF 45 mile range.

I just use is as the "beater car" to haul local stuff and save the Tesla for longer drives.

 

[wycolo]

Was going to say C/L but then it could have been elsewhere. Will check my history . . .

Even greentecauto.com has them tested (full set) for $2.8k. I've ordered several modules from them, top quality.
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[EA500]

Good plan, I like the idea of replacing bad modules. There are probably good videos out there for dropping the battery case and testing the modules?

 

[arnis]

Donate to university for autopsy. Might be automotive or electrical engineering department.

 

[EA500]

Autopsy..I see what you did there.

 

[rdskill]

My wife drives only 12 miles a day. Here next car will be a used leaf.

 

[arnis]

My wife drives only 12 miles a day. Here next car will be a used leaf.

But sir, what if she needs to go to the dentist who is 200 miles away.
Think about the children

 

[Billyk24]

But sir, what if she needs to go to the dentist who is 200 miles away.
Think about the children

Think about driving a 1990 ICE today?

 

[arnis]

Actually 1990 diesels are cleaner (for health) than 1999-2004 diesels
But 1990 gasolines are waaay worse. Since 2000 they are pretty much perfect.

 

[arnis]

Some forum members are so touched by some new information.
They have emotions but are incapable of really stating anything for a "counterargument"

This is why most social media websites do NOT have thumbs down buttons.

 

[golfcart]

Battery backup for the house in case of power outages (powerwall equivalent)? Strip it down for an autocross car? Donate it to the local vocational school for the auto repair classes?