Car guide

Best portable charger for Nissan Leaf

Most Nissan Leaf charging happens at home, overnight. Here are the real numbers for a standard power point and a dedicated 15 A outlet, for every battery size.

The short answer

Which charger fits depends on the year: first-generation Leafs (2012–2018) have a Type 1 inlet, and Leafs delivered in Australia from 2019 have Type 2. On a standard 10 A power point, a 10-hour night adds about 129 km (about 52% of a 40 kWh battery); on a dedicated 15 A outlet, about 194 km. A 20→80% top-up of the Nissan Leaf (2019+, 40 kWh) takes about 11.6 hours on 10 A or 7.7 hours on 15 A.

At a glance

Charging the Nissan Leaf at home

11.6 h20→80% on 10 A, 40 kWh battery
7.7 h20→80% on 15 A
52%of the battery per 10-hour night on 10 A
$7.47for 20→80% at 28c/kWh
Charge times

How long the Nissan Leaf takes to charge

20→80% is the everyday top-up. 10→100% is the worst case: arriving home nearly empty and filling to the top.

VariantInletBattery (approx.)20→80% on 10A20→80% on 15A20→80% on 7 kW10→100% on 10ANights on 10A, 10→100%
Nissan Leaf (2019+, 40 kWh)TYPE 240 kWh11.6 h7.7 h3.6 h17.4 h2
Nissan Leaf e+ (2019+, 62 kWh)TYPE 262 kWh18.0 h12.0 h5.6 h27.0 h3
Nissan Leaf (2012–2018)TYPE 124 kWh7.0 h4.6 h2.2 h10.4 h1
Battery sizes are approximate and vary by model year and variant. A 'night' is 10 hours. Type 1 portable chargers run at 8 A, so they're about 20% slower than the 10 A figures. Worked numbers use the same assumptions as our range calculator: 230 V, 90% charging efficiency and 16 kWh per 100 km. Cold weather, your car's onboard charger and driving style change real results.
Running cost

What it costs to charge the Nissan Leaf

VariantBattery20→80% at 28c10→100% at 28c10→100% at 18c10→100% at 10c
Nissan Leaf (2019+, 40 kWh)40 kWh$7.47$11.20$7.20$4.00
Nissan Leaf e+ (2019+, 62 kWh)62 kWh$11.57$17.36$11.16$6.20
Nissan Leaf (2012–2018)24 kWh$4.48$6.72$4.32$2.40
Cost includes about 10% charging losses. Per 100 km, home charging costs about $4.98 at 28c/kWh vs about $13.30 in petrol. Check the c/kWh on your bill.
Good to know

Notes for Nissan Leaf owners

  • Which charger fits depends on the year. First-generation Leafs (2012–2018), including most Japanese imports, have a Type 1 inlet. Australian-delivered Leafs from 2019 have Type 2.
  • Small Leaf batteries fill from 10% to 100% overnight on a 10 A power point, which is why the Leaf is the classic power point EV.
  • Check your inlet before ordering: Type 2 has seven pin holes and a flat top edge; Type 1 has five and a latch.
  • Plug straight into the wall. No extension leads, powerboards or adapters, and ideally use an outlet on its own circuit.

See also: charge times for every popular EV and what home charging costs.

Our pick

Best portable chargers for the Nissan Leaf

No install needed

SEVR EV Portable Charger (10A)

Type 210 A max2.3 kW~13 km/h4.5 mIP66

Plugs into any standard power point. About 129 km per 10-hour night, and it travels in the boot.

$183.99Lowest price in Australia · free shipping · 3-year warranty
Add to cart
Questions

Frequently asked

Does a portable charger work with the Nissan Leaf?

Yes, with the right connector. Which charger fits depends on the year: first-generation Leafs (2012–2018) have a Type 1 inlet, and Leafs delivered in Australia from 2019 have Type 2. Check the inlet under the charging flap before ordering.

How long does the Nissan Leaf (2019+, 40 kWh) take to charge on a 10A power point?

About 11.6 hours from 20% to 80%, or 17.4 hours from 10% to 100% (about 40 kWh battery). Each hour adds about 13 km of range.

How long does the Nissan Leaf e+ (2019+, 62 kWh) take to charge on 15A?

About 12.0 hours from 20% to 80% on a dedicated 15 A outlet (about 62 kWh battery). A 10-hour night adds roughly 194 km.

How much does it cost to charge the Nissan Leaf at home?

About $7.47 for a 20→80% top-up of the Nissan Leaf (2019+, 40 kWh) at 28c/kWh, or $2.67 on a 10c/kWh overnight EV plan, including about 10% charging losses.

Do I need a wall charger for the Nissan Leaf?

Not if you drive under about 150 km a day. A 15 A portable charger adds about 194 km overnight, and a 10 A one about 129 km. A 7 kW wall charger suits long daily drives or two EVs. See portable vs wall charger.

Does the Nissan Leaf use Type 1 or Type 2?

First-generation Leafs (2012–2018), including most Japanese imports, use Type 1. Australian-delivered Leafs from 2019 onwards use Type 2. Check the inlet under the charging flap.

What charger do I need for an old Nissan Leaf?

A portable charger with a Type 1 (J1772) connector and a genuine 10 A plug, such as the EVSE Australia Type 1 portable charger (coming soon). Its 8 A output fills a 24 kWh Leaf overnight.

Can I use an extension lead with a portable EV charger?

No. Powerboards and extension leads aren't built for hours of continuous load. Plug the charger straight into the wall, and stop if the plug or outlet feels hot.

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