Image copyright AFP
John Weatherley says Nissan exaggerated the info in regards to the Leaf
Owners of Nissan's new electrical Leaf say they were given deceptive details about the car earlier than shopping for it.
They say charging the Leaf can take thrice longer than claimed on Nissan's web site.
Others are sad that the vary on a single cost is not so good as the 235 miles they were promised.
Nissan admitted that charging occasions can fluctuate, however denied there was a downside or that any prospects were misled.
The Advertising Standards Authority is now contemplating whether or not to launch an investigation into the difficulty.
Charging time
As many as 2,600 new Leafs have been bought within the UK, and it was named Electric Car of the Year for 2018 by What Car? journal.
But drivers making an attempt longer journeys within the Leaf have discovered themselves spending as much as two and a half hours at motorway service stations to recharge.
Last 12 months, Nissan advised potential buyers that utilizing so-called speedy chargers ought to solely take 40 minutes "in moderate driving conditions" for an 80% cost. They subsequently modified that to between 40 and 60 minutes.
There seems to be no downside with the primary two prices on any given dayone at residence, after which the primary speedy cost en route.
It is barely when drivers come to cost for the third timeor the second speedy costthat some have mentioned they face lengthy waits. Potentially, that would have an effect on any journey of greater than 250 miles.
John Weatherley, a firm director from the Forest of Dean, loves his Nissan Leaf.
But when he made a 300 mile journey to the Lake District, he discovered himself ready for a complete of two-and-a-half hours when he stopped to cost for a second time.
"If Nissan at the start had said what the car is capable of, without exaggerating the fact on their website, I'd have been fine with it," he advised the BBC.
"They said they could charge in 40 to 60 minutes, so I believed them. But it's not true. The advertising is totally misleading."
When Mr Weatherley wrote to Nissan to complain, he was advised that speedy charging was solely supposed to be used as soon as in a journeyone thing many buyers could also be unaware of.
Nissan additionally advised the BBC that charging can take longer than marketed, relying on situations.
"External ambient temperature, the type of driving you've been doing beforehand, and the heat you put into the battery if you've been doing successive charges can impact the timing," mentioned Gareth Dunsmore, director of electrical autos for Nissan Europe.
He mentioned the battery mechanically slows a cost, to protect its longevity, and to behave as a security mechanism when it will get too sizzling.
"We make this clear in the owner's manual," mentioned Mr Dunsmore.
In some cases it can be the charger itself that's accountable, he mentioned.
'Misled twice'
Tony Pitcairn, from Ilkley in West Yorkshire, had issues on a 290 mile drive to Somerset.
He and his spouse spent 90 minutes at a motorway companies in Gloucestershire.
But Mr Pitcairn was additionally dissatisfied by the vary of the brand new Leaf, which he purchased particularly for lengthy journeys.
His advertising brochure claimed the car may do 235 miles on a single cost.
But having purchased the car, he discovered the vary was really 155 miles.
"That was a disappointment to start with," he mentioned.
"So we have, in my mind, been misled twice, because the claimed range on a full charge is not 235 miles. Secondly, nowhere does it say that you will only be able to rapid charge in 40 minutes only once."
When journalists from What Car? examined the brand new Leaf, they discovered a "real world" vary of simply 108 miles.
Orders cancelled
Nissan mentioned the unique claim of 235 miles was right below an official technique of measurement often called the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).
However, as carmakers have moved to a totally different measureoften called the Worldwide harmonised Light automobile Test Procedure (WLTP)the vary is now formally 168 miles.
Mr Dunsmore suggested any upset prospects to get in touch: "Come and speak to us if there's anything you're not happy with."
Meanwhile, a variety of prospects have cancelled their orders.
I used to be one of many first to listen to of this, so I put my order for a new 40kWh Leaf on maintain and obtained a 24hr check drive. I took it on certainly one of my semi-regular longer routes and was shocked by how terrible the issue was. Order cancelled and 2nd hand 30kWh Leaf purchased.
— Matt Beard (@GettinTwitta) June 21, 2018
Matt Beard, from Aberdeenshire, did so after taking a check drive. Eventually he purchased the older mannequin Leaf as an alternative, which has a much less highly effective battery, however fewer issues when charging. In a tweet, he mentioned he was shocked at how unhealthy the issue was.
Others are sad with the response from Nissan.
Jonathan Porterfield, of eco-cars.web, who usually drives electrical automobiles from Leicester to Orkney, was the primary to report the difficulty.
"I don't want this episode to knock Nissan, but at the same time they need to sit up and take notice," he mentioned.
"Just telling people you've got to wait longer at a rapid chargerit's not good enough."