EVs Enhanced, an organization in Christchurch, New Zealand, will introduce its 16 Blade battery, a whole alternative platform for the Nissan Leaf, starting in March of 2023. The corporate says it needs to take early electrical vehicles just like the Leaf and make them higher. The Leaf was a groundbreaking automotive when it was new, however the battery was all the time it weakest hyperlink, primarily as a result of Nissan determined to not use liquid cooling. Air cooling works fairly OK more often than not, however not so properly in highly regarded places and hardly in any respect throughout quick charging.

The 16 Blade battery makes use of an energetic thermal administration system and has been designed to suit throughout the confines of the unique Nissan battery pack enclosure. The corporate says its mission is “to develop and provide upgrades that allow present electrical autos to stay usable, related, and fascinating as they age. By making use of present know-how, it’s potential to make these autos considerably higher, quicker, and with longer vary than after they have been new.”

“The intention is to increase the usable lifetime of those autos as a lot as potential, firstly for the early adopters that initially bought these autos after which for the next house owners as they’re able to embrace this superior know-how. We love electrical autos and contemplate any steps in direction of selling their adoption to be a worthy trigger,” EVs Enhanced says. Amen to that.

The 16 Blade battery might be made obtainable for all 24, 30, and 40 kWh Leaf fashions from 2011 by means of to the most recent 2022 fashions. Upgrades for Leafs initially fitted with a 62 kWh battery will not be being pursued as a result of bodily mounting variations. The primary mannequin to obtain 16 Blade assist would be the 2013 onward 24 and 30 kWh Leafs, shortly adopted by the 40kWh Leaf. Help for the unique 2011-2012 mannequin Leaf is deliberate to comply with.

The 16 Blade battery improve is not going to work for the e-NV200 electrical vans, nevertheless, the corporate says it’s engaged on an answer that may enable house owners of these autos to replace their autos as properly.

Vary & Charging With The 16 Blade Battery

The 16 Blade battery may have three deliberate variants named RED, BLUE, and GREEN. These characterize totally different cells with totally different chemistries and traits, however throughout the similar sixteen module type issue. The preliminary focus is on the GREEN variant utilizing lengthy lifespan LFP chemistry and a capability of roughly 40kWh. The BLUE variant focuses on most vary with over 70kWh. The RED variant is for top efficiency purposes (a Spec LEAF racing sequence, maybe?) and might be produced in low portions.

Because of its energetic thermal administration system, the 16 Blade battery can obtain constant DC quick cost charges even when a number of quick costs are wanted in a single day, similar to on an extended highway journey. The GREEN, BLUE, and RED variants all have totally different most cost charges, however the GREEN variant might be restricted to a quick cost present of 125 A, identical to the inventory battery. Due to the cooling system, this peak present could be held as much as 80% SOC. The charging time is decreased in comparison with a inventory 40 kWh Leaf battery, which tapers shortly above 50% SOC.

The 16 Blade GREEN has a goal single cost vary of 270 km WLTP, which is almost similar to the unique battery. It makes use of the unique battery enclosure from Nissan, which permits it to bolt proper in, though there are some minor modifications required within the motor bay to accommodate the thermal administration system.

The corporate factors out that the LEAF has all the time been able to V2G operation as a result of its use of the CHAdeMO charging commonplace. Nevertheless, frequent use of that functionality had a adverse impact on battery life. “16 Blade GREEN with its lengthy lifespan LFP chemistry signifies that V2G purposes might be a really sensible possibility for Leafs fitted with this battery answer.”

How A lot Will All This Price?

Naturally, the primary query most individuals may have is, how a lot will the 16 Blade battery from EVs Enhanced price? The corporate says, “Our goal sale value for 16 Blade Inexperienced has been and continues to be roughly a 3rd of the price of a brand new 40 kWh Leaf earlier than any authorities incentives. That excludes the trade-in value that you may be provided to your authentic battery pack.”

“Whereas international inflation is constant to work in opposition to us all, our resolution to not announce a hard and fast value earlier this 12 months has turned out to be the suitable one. We’re sticking with that concept for slightly longer till we begin accepting orders. Nevertheless, no one ought to be below any phantasm {that a} completed 16 Blade Inexperienced pack will undercut the retail value of US$11,225 that Nissan USA costs for a brand new however inferior 40 kWh battery. Our focus from the outset has been on making a superior product with a greater design resulting in improved efficiency and an extended life-cycle.” In different phrases, you get what you pay for.

EVs Enhanced may also provide trade-ins for the unique battery, which ought to assist decrease the worth of the alternative. “The trade-in value provided will rely on the situation of your authentic pack, however taking this selection will scale back your remaining price of an improve. As a result of we reuse the unique battery enclosure when creating a brand new 16 Blade pack, there might be no possibility to purchase 16 Blade with out buying and selling in a pack in alternate. Nevertheless, there might be choices to maintain your authentic modules/cells and have them repackaged right into a extra handy type for stationary storage purposes.” These guys have considered every little thing.

The 16 Blade GREEN battery is roofed by a 160,000 km or 3-year producer’s guarantee with an possibility to increase that to eight years with a coverage underwritten by a global insurer. The corporate suggests prospects ought to alter the acknowledged worth of their automobile with their insurance coverage firm following the completion of the improve.

Availability

The 16 Blade Nissan Leaf battery might be obtainable first in New Zealand, with Australia being subsequent in line. “We’re planning for Australia to be our check case for supplying 16 Blade Inexperienced in kit-set type the place the completed battery packs might be assembled there by a group that we’ve educated to construct the product to the excessive requirements that we count on.”

“As a result of we re-use the unique battery enclosure when creating a brand new 16 Blade pack, it’s most effective to have the pack enclosure modifications and meeting accomplished comparatively near the place the tip prospects are. The unique battery modules can then be re-purposed however keep within the nation they’re already in. In any other case you find yourself transport a whole lot of donor battery enclosures forwards and backwards world wide which is pointless and avoidable.

“As soon as manufacturing is underway at full steam, we’re planning to focus our efforts on offering accomplished packs for our native New Zealand market and offering kits to assist worldwide companions produce the product for his or her native market. Due to this fact, the provision of 16 Blade in your nation will rely on us reaching ample manufacturing volumes to satisfy demand in addition to rules in your nation, but additionally on an organization [that is properly trained] near you.”

The Takeaway

Now we have to applaud the dedication of EVs Enhanced to design and construct a higher battery for the Nissan Leaf. Construct a greater mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door, in line with an outdated adage. We surprise if that knowledge applies to raised batteries?

A tip of the CleanTechnica hat to Dan Allard, who first introduced this story to our consideration.

Full our 2022 CleanTechnica reader survey for an opportunity to win an electrical bike.

Respect CleanTechnica’s originality and cleantech information protection? Think about changing into a CleanTechnica Member, Supporter, Technician, or Ambassador — or a patron on Patreon.

Do not need to miss a cleantech story? Join day by day information updates from CleanTechnica on electronic mail. Or comply with us on Google Information!

Have a tip for CleanTechnica, need to promote, or need to recommend a visitor for our CleanTech Speak podcast? Contact us right here.