Nissan has introduced a pair of services that will provide LEAF drivers with much more precise state of battery information.
EV drivers can always see how much charge remains in their batteries, but figuring out exactly how many miles that translates into is an imprecise process, because things like elevation changes, traffic and air conditioner use can dramatically affect the available range. Now, Nissan has introduced a pair of services that will provide LEAF drivers with much more precise state of battery information.
The LEAF owners’ web site already has a route search function that includes information on charging spots, time required to drive a given route, and driving directions. The new battery level service uses an electricity consumption simulator that takes into account factors such as hills along the route, driving highways or local streets, and air conditioner use. Drivers use a web site or smartphone app to calculate the forecasted remaining battery capacity upon arrival at their destination. The information will soon be available via the Nissan LEAF’s on-board navigation system.
A related feature is the Energy Usage Database, which provides the maximum and minimum amounts of electricity consumed by LEAFs that have traveled on a given route, together with altitude and charging spots along the route. The database uses information collected by Nissan’s CARWINGS Data Center. It will be available in Japan this month, and is under development in the US and Europe.
Source: Nissan
Image: Nissan
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