The fastest way to charge a 2012 Nissan Leaf is with a public DC rapid charger, which can charge your Leaf’s battery to 80% in under 30 minutes. On the other hand, at-home charging with a level 1 charger in a 110-volt socket can take up to 20 hours.

While you don’t have to pay for gas, one of the downsides of having an electric vehicle is the stress of figuring out a charge time for your vehicle. But, if you’re considering purchasing one, you should get familiar with your charging options and how they affect charging rates for the 2012 Nissan Leaf.

Here to help you do that is

Jerry

, the trusted

car insurance

comparison app that helps owners save on

Nissan insurance costs

. We’ll go over all the possible charging methods for the 2012 Nissan Leaf so you can leave for your morning commute or cross-country road trip prepared.

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How long does a 2012 Nissan Leaf take to charge?

The short answer: 30 minutes to 20 hours.

The long answer: your 2012 Nissan Leaf’s charging time depends on what kind of charger you use and the kind of outlet you plug it into. This all-electric mid-sized hatchback features an 80 kWh electric motor and 24-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which allows the 2012 Leaf to run for 70 to 100 miles depending on driving conditions.

“30 minutes to 20 hours” is a large charging time range, but it shows that how you choose to charge your Nissan Leaf matters. From at-home outlets to rapid chargers, some charging methods are much faster than others. Let’s take a closer look at charging methods and speeds to get a better idea of what it takes to charge a 2012 Nissan Leaf quickly.

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At-home charging speeds for a 2012 Nissan Leaf

The easiest, cheapest way to charge your 2012 Nissan Leaf at home is by using a standard, level one charger that plugs into a 110-volt domestic power socket. This method isn’t recommended by Nissan, though, and only adds 5 miles of range for every hour your car is charging. This means it’ll take 20 hours for your Nissan Leaf to fully charge using this method.

If you’d rather not put your 2012 Leaf out of commission for the better part of a full day, consider installing the level 2 J1772 220–240-volt charging port in your garage. The charging port greatly reduces your total charge time from 20 hours to 6-12 hours depending on the power provided by the charging station and the temperature.

Public charging speeds for a 2012 Nissan Leaf

If you need a truly speedy charge for your 2012 Nissan Leaf, your best bet is to visit a level 3 DC Fast Charging station. Not every Nissan Leaf has a DC Fast Charger, though. The SL trim level includes this feature, but if you go with the SV trim level, you’ll have to add DC Fast Charging compatibility onto your package or look for a used SV with this compatibility.

If you do have this feature, you’ll be able to charge your Nissan Leaf to 80% of its battery capacity in under 30 minutes. You can also opt for public level 2 charging stations, but these are comparable to charging your Leaf at home with a Level 2 charger.

You might be wondering if you can plug your Leaf into a

Tesla

Supercharger at one of the many Supercharger stations across the country, but you’ll be disappointed. These stations are intended for Tesla use only, so Leafs are not compatible with them.

Regardless, charging your 2012 Nissan Leaf at a public DC Fast Charging station is an incredibly efficient way to fully charge your car in less than an hour. If you need a quick charge, this is the best method to use.

MORE:

How to get a hybrid or electric car tax credit

How to save on Nissan insurance costs

Worrying about charge times is just one of the challenges of electric vehicle ownership. Finding affordable

car insurance for green vehicles

is another.

While electric cars like the Leaf are usually reliable, their parts replacement costs can be high—which can cause insurance companies to charge you more for protection. But letting a

licensed broker

app like

Jerry

do the work for you can get you the best

Nissan Leaf insurance cost

and optimal coverage.

Here’s how it works: download the app, answer a few questions, and you’ll see real-time quotes customized to your profile in just 45 seconds. Jerry works with over 55 national insurance providers to get you the best rates on Nissan insurance and will handle all the paperwork to get you switched over to your new rate.

On average, Jerry users save over $800 on car insurance—more than enough to install that Level 2 Wall Connector and cut down on charge time!

“
Jerry
got me insured through Allstate with $100 of savings each month compared to my previous insurance. The customer service was excellent, and they even detected an error my previous insurer didn’t!” —Warren H.