When a Leaf turns into a 'brick': Juno winner describes EV catastrophe

The owner of a Nissan Leaf electric car says his experience has been a cautionary tale for others who might make the leap to electric vehicles.

And though Brian Sanderson has paid 417 Nissan, the dealership that's been servicing the car, almost $10,000, he said the bills aren't even the most heartbreaking part of his experience.

"It's cruel because I don't want to be part of the 'let's slam electric vehicles' crowd," said Sanderson, a professional musician who, along with his instrumental chamber rock ensemble Esmerine, has won four Juno Awards.

The four-door, all-electric hatchback with a range of about 120 kilometres was introduced in Canada in December 2010.

The Leaf was the world's best-selling electric vehicle for many years until it was surpassed in 2020 by Tesla's Model 3, according to Nissan and Tesla's own figures.

But the car has sometimes been in the news over what experts call design "compromises" Nissan made, including the decision not to add an advanced cooling system for its batteries, and using a battery chemistry that was particularly temperature-sensitive.

Sanderson bought his 2016 Leaf used in 2020. Between January and July of last year, it died five times.

"You get in the car, you push the button and absolutely nothing happens," he said.

The first time the car died, he had it towed to a local mechanic near his home in western Quebec. The independent mechanic told him his car had more in common with an iPhone than an Impala, and that he would need to take it to someone who understood it.

So, as with smartphones and other modern digital devices that die, can't be revived and effectively become dense blocks of discharged electronics, Sanderson refers to his dead Leaf as a "brick."

The first time it happened, he paid $300 to have it towed 50 kilometres to 417 Nissan in Ottawa.

With a limited number of technicians available to service the auto manufacturer's electric products, Sanderon's Leaf sat unrepaired for four weeks before 417 Nissan declared it fixed and billed him $2,800.

"They did a road test and said it's all fine, so we brought the car back and then maybe it was four weeks later, it bricked again," said Sanderson, who has shared his repair receipts with CBC.

Sanderson purchased a CAA membership, thinking it wise to economize on towing. But by midway through the summer, his three included tows had been spent.