Conquering Cold: Nissan Ariya's Canadian Winter Range Trial

Summary

In this video, Pat from Outsider Reviews takes a road trip in the 2024 Nissan Aria EV Platinum Plus, driving from Montreal to Quebec City in cold weather. He explores the vehicle's performance, including its range, handling, and charging experience. Throughout the journey, Pat shares insights into the car's features like the eForce all-wheel drive, charging speeds, and onboard technology. He stops at a charger, revealing the cost and time to reach 85% battery, and compares it to the price of gas. The video offers a detailed first impression and practical advice for potential EV renters or buyers.

Takeaways

• 😀 The presenter is driving the 2024 Nissan ARA EV Platinum Plus from Montreal to Quebec City, a 300 km trip, to evaluate the vehicle's performance in cold weather.
• 😀 The temperature at the start of the drive is -5°C, with light snow falling, which will impact the range and charging of the EV.
• 😀 The Nissan ARA EV Platinum Plus has a usable 87 kWh battery, and the charging speed is about 130 kW per hour, allowing for a 10-80% charge in approximately 40 minutes.
• 😀 The car features a liquid thermal management system to help with battery performance in extreme temperatures, both cold and hot.
• 😀 The presenter has set the car to eco mode to assess efficiency, and the vehicle shows a range of about 303 km at 97% charge.
• 😀 Midway through the trip, the range dropped to 170 km with 50% battery left, and the outside temperature warmed to 2°C.
• 😀 Despite the car's advanced cruise control, the presenter has difficulty getting comfortable in the Nissan's zero-gravity seats, which are normally praised for comfort.
• 😀 The presenter expects to make several stops to charge the car due to the 300 km trip and the limitations of the battery's range.
• 😀 At a charging station in Quebec, the presenter charges the vehicle to 80%, with the car reaching 85% in 45 minutes for a cost of $25, which is lower than the cost of filling up with gas for the same range.
• 😀 The Nissan ARA EV's charging curve is shown to be efficient, with the charging speed dropping once it reaches 80% charge.
• 😀 The overall charging experience is considered convenient, and the presenter mentions that road trips with EVs require more planning around charging stops, but the savings on fuel are significant.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the road trip described in the video?

The purpose of the road trip is to test the Nissan ARA EV Platinum Plus's performance on a 300 km drive from Montreal to Quebec City, specifically focusing on the car's charging capabilities and how it handles in cold temperatures.

What are the key specifications of the 2024 Nissan ARA EV Platinum Plus mentioned in the video?

The 2024 Nissan ARA EV Platinum Plus features an 87 kWh usable battery, a maximum charging speed of 130 kW per hour, and a liquid thermal management system that helps with both cold and hot weather performance.

How does the temperature affect the car's performance during the trip?

The temperature plays a significant role, especially since the initial temperature was around -5°C, which could impact the car's range. As the temperature warmed up to 2°C, the range prediction improved.

What was the initial range estimate for the Nissan ARA EV Platinum Plus when fully charged?

The initial range estimate when the car was 97% charged was about 303 km, but this estimate can vary depending on factors like driving style and previous use.

How does the advanced cruise control system perform during the drive?

The advanced cruise control system worked well, offering smooth handling, and the driver expressed high satisfaction with its performance, particularly at highway speeds.

What was the driver's experience with the seats in the Nissan ARA EV Platinum Plus?

Despite the seats being labeled as 'zero gravity' seats, which are known for comfort, the driver had difficulty finding a comfortable position. They were still experimenting with the seat settings to improve comfort.

What are the charging characteristics and experience at the public charging station?

The car was charged at a 180 kW public charging station. The car charged to 85% in approximately 45 minutes, and the cost of the charge was around $25 for an 85% charge, with a range of about 319 km after charging.

How does the cost of charging compare to fueling a gas vehicle for a similar range?

Charging the Nissan ARA EV to 80% cost about $20, which provides roughly 319 km of range. This is about half the cost of fueling a gasoline vehicle for the same distance, which would typically cost around $40.

What additional functionality did the driver use to prepare the battery for charging?

The driver turned on the battery heater in the vehicle's settings to help the battery prepare for charging in cold temperatures. This uses more energy but is beneficial for charging performance.

What is the recommended charging strategy for the Nissan ARA EV Platinum Plus according to the video?

The recommended charging strategy is to charge up to about 80% to preserve battery health and efficiency. The driver followed this advice during the trip, stopping the charge once it reached 85% for the necessary range.