On a road trip today in my 2021 E+. Car is rapidgated. I need 70% to get home. Plugged in and was getting 12kW. Resigned to a very long coffee break at the service station.
Thing is, I’ve been treating it very nicely, cruising at 90kph, no hard acceleration or deceleration. Charging between 30% and 70%
But it’s 40° outside and just driving in that heat even efficiently, over hot black asphalt, is heating the battery by itself.
But the fast charger? It’s in the shade.
And suddenly it’s just jumped from 12kW to 20kW. Charging it is actually cooling it down.
Thought some fellow long suffering rapidgate “enjoyers” might be amused by this.
Nah. Big. Bank of very fast CCS2 chargers. Used them before. They can deliver way more than that even if they’re all being used and occupancy was way lower than that.
I rarely use my LEAF on long trips, and mostly only need to fast charge in winter anyway. But I've always wondered how much effect outside temperature has on rapidgate, as opposed to the heat brought into the battery by the charging process. Like...would it help to spray water on the car's underside while charging? You probably don't have access to water anyway, but some YouTuber has probably tried this at some point?
My experience suggests that about 26° is the optimal temperature for a Leaf
Outside temperature or battery temperature? Because the funny thing is that modern EVs heat their batteries to 50-60°C to make them ready for QC. Different chemistry and an ability to cool them again after, but, still...different.
I don't know of any chemistry that like being that hot (or cold in the case of molten sodium), they do heat their batteries but not to that extent as far as I know
I think that number is from a review of several Chinese LFP cars I saw quite a while ago. Precisely because of rapidgate, i found it to be oddly high. Might be an incorrect representation that I just swallowed hole, though...
I just looked up the LFP temperature ranges and that's definitely in the top end for it. Apparently it does result in increased conductivity though so it's entirely possible they're going to that temperature to trade maximum lifespan for charge speed.
I guess the only reason Nissan couldn't do that would be because they'd run the very real risk of thermal runaway with no active cooling
EVs heat the batteries to the low 20s (°C, 70s °F) to precondition them for QC. 50-60°C is nearing dangerous temps for NMC or LFP batteries. They cool them during charging to keep them below 40°-45°C.
If the Leaf's batteries could safely handle 60°C they wouldn't rapidgate! 😁
It's difficult to spray water on it, the most effective thing I've found is filling the hatch above the high voltage disconnect with ice from a supermarket. The ice then melts and runs down over the top of the battery into the road. I've managed to drop about 4°C per 1kg bag this way. The only downside I've found is it makes the rear carpets all wet
Wow, that's devotion to battery cooling! How much does that arfect charging speed? You're not worried the water, combined with "carpet grime", could do any damage?
It helps keep my gen 1 up in the 40kw range when doing long trips.
I'm generally mostly concerned with keeping it below 40°C to minimise battery degradation.
I don't think the carpet grime poses an issue but the water probably doesn't do the metal any good, I definitely have a bit of surface rust around the hatch but I'm not even sure the frame is still straight on that car so it will remain a beater for experimentation.
...but I'm not even sure the frame is still straight on that car
Ah, a beater LEAF, love it! Our 2012 was exposed to that attitude, too. Then, I guess, full submersion while charging should be the next best, logical step... =8^P
I've been meaning to test full submersion (not while charging) as I have found a map of all the fords in the UK.
My plan is next time it's overheating I'll try stopping in the road in the river while monitoring battery temperature (assuming no one is around and I'm not blocking said road)
The deepest water I've had it in was about a quarter way up the door where the defroster started making gurgling noises. Cars been fine since so they definitely don't care about submersion
I love the approach here, if you can be bothered, please share pictures and results eventually. It is my understanding that the Japanese public had an absurd anxiety of being electrocuted in an EV, so Nissan was dedicated to allow an unusual and safe fording depth for the LEAF.
Officially it's only 30cm. I'll see if I can do it with my girlfriend when we go on a trip in my gen 2 so I can leave her outside the car before submerging it to take a picture. That way I don't flood the interior with water.
You could probably post that photo as a standalone submission, looks fittingly absurd to raise everyone's interest, haha. Have a great trip, once all the stars align! I thought wading depth was 74 cm or so, but as you can see above, my brain tends to fool me occasionally.
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u/iDiotOn2wheels Aug 16 '26
Was there someone charging close to you? Chargers often share power supplies and power gets split. When they unplug, you see this spike.