Nissan Leaf ZE0

The Leaf ZE0 (2010-2017) was the first mass-produced electric car and thus a genuine pioneer — which is exactly how it should be judged on the used market. With the EM57 drive and battery capacities of 24 kWh at first (later 30 kWh), it offers real-world ranges of roughly 100 to 150 km at best, depending on age, temperature and battery condition. As a city and commuter car it can be very cheap today, but it is not suited to long journeys.

The decisive issue is the high-voltage battery. The ZE0 has no active liquid cooling of the pack — the cells are only passively tempered by the surrounding air. Especially in hot climates and with frequent fast charging, this leads to accelerated degradation. On a used car the real State of Health (SOH) therefore matters more than the nominal capacity: the dashboard shows the remaining capacity bars, and with diagnostic apps (e.g. via OBD) the SOH can be read out. A car that holds only a few bars has a correspondingly short range. Worth knowing: the battery warranty covered only around 5 years/100,000 km — on most used examples it has long expired.

Because the pack is by far the most expensive component, the purchase stands or falls on its condition. Frequent DC fast charging over the vehicle's life accelerates ageing further — a car charged mostly slowly at a wallbox is usually in better shape.

Beyond the battery there are typical EV quirks. The brakes are barely used thanks to regeneration, so the calipers can seize and corrode — on the test drive listen for smooth, noise-free braking. The front axle shows suspension wear over time. And the small 12V auxiliary battery (separate from the traction pack) tends to discharge during longer periods of standing — a common annoyance, but cheap to fix.

Buying advice: have the SOH read out or check the capacity bars carefully, ask about charging history (share of fast charging), check the 12V battery and inspect the brakes for corrosion. The price should reflect the real remaining battery condition.

Verdict: the ZE0 is a reliable, low-maintenance EV for the city — as long as the battery still has enough capacity. Without active cooling, however, the pack ages visibly, and a replacement rarely pays off. With a checked SOH and realistic range expectations it is a cheap entry into electric mobility; as a long-distance car it does not cut it.