Nissan Leaf 2024 'Refresh' Doesn't Fix Its Charging Problem

pcmag.com:

The 2024 Nissan Leaf will be slightly more expensive despite not updating its two biggest problems: a dismal, 149-mile range; and outdated CHAdeMO charging port.

The Leaf is the only mainstream EV on the market today with a CHAdeMO port—legacy hardware that was once standard on Japanese-made EVs like those from Nissan and Mitsubishi. Most other automakers have adopted Combined Charging System (CCS) ports in recent years, including Nissan on its new Ariya EV. In the past few months, multiple major automakers have announced a switch to Tesla's port, the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug, leaving CHAdeMO even further behind.

CHAdeMO ports will become increasingly rare at public chargers in the coming years. Billions in federal funding earmarked for a national charging network can only go toward chargers that have CCS or NACS ports. Charging companies like Blink or ChargePoint can choose to add a CHAdeMO, but will have little incentive to do so.

The 2024 Leaf has a starting price of $28,140 (up just $100 from 2023), making it the most affordable EV on the market next year. It will also come in an upscale trim, the Leaf SV Plus, which starts at $36,190 (up just $150).

Its main competitor, the Chevy Bolt EV and EUV, which are both a few thousand dollars cheaper, will not return for the 2024 model year. General Motors discontinued the line due to its outdated battery technology as it turns its focus to a new lineup with the improved Ultium battery platform.

But while the 2024 Leaf is affordable, it has one of the lowest ranges: 149 miles on the base model, 212 miles on the SV Plus—both unchanged from the 2023 version(Opens in a new window).

The 2023 Nissan Ariya has up to 304 miles of range, though it starts at