http://youtu.be/XfwOfsR9G-Y
First of all, a reader recently dropped us a cool video about LA’s recently installed Nissan Leaf fast charger (aka quick charger). I’m featuring that above (check out more Nissan Leaf and EV videos on Kelly R. Olsen’s EV channel). And it’s certainly a good match for Nissan’s big news yesterday, which is that it is installing over 100 DC quick chargers for Nissan Leafs at LEAF-certified dealerships in 21 key EV markets across the United States.
The EV quick chargers from AeroVironment can charge a Leaf from 0% to 80% in about 30 minutes. They use the CHAdeMO standard.
“This quick charging initiative follows a 24-dealer pilot program, which Nissan rolled out at dealerships in the markets of San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Seattle. During the pilot, Nissan has been able to study the frequency of use for the chargers and the impact that charging has on the dealer’s operations,” the Nissan Leaf news release stated.
“Nissan is undertaking a proactive, multi-pronged approach to expand charging infrastructure to enhance awareness of electric cars like the LEAF and instill range confidence in potential customers. We know that available charging infrastructure opens the doors for more Nissan LEAF sales,” Brendan Jones, director of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy at Nissan, said.
The LA quick charger featured in the video above is used about 10 times a day. “There is a steady stream of folks using the charger, and we’ve generated significant good will in the LEAF community,” Richard Luengo, general manager at Nissan of Downtown Los Angeles, said. “Over the past four months, our dealership has seen a marked improvement in sales, and some of that is clearly attributable to the new quick charger.”
Across the 24 pilot stations, the average is 4.5 charging sessions per day. However, as awareness of the chargers has increased, use has been rising. “That figure has been steadily on the rise as awareness has increased. Over the period of June 21-July 1, the number of charging sessions increased about 12.5 percent compared to the previous two-week period,” Nissan states.
The first of the new quick chargers will be installed on the East Coast this summer. By April 2014, quick chargers should be in place and in operation at 100 additional Leaf dealerships.