NISSAN PLANS TO CHARGE UP CITIES ACROSS EUROPE
Nissan sets out to ‘turn on' one million people to electric driving and reward one city with help to improve infrastructure
- 100-day campaign driven by massive digital social movement
- Winning city to be awarded 30 Nissan electric vehicle Quick Chargers for the city to install
- Call to action: one million ‘eco-conscious' consumers to ‘turn on' to electric vehicles (EV) by becoming involved in "The Big Turn On" campaign
- Brand new Nissan LEAF to be won by Europe's most successful EV advocate
ROLLE, Switzerland (30 March 2012) - Cities all over Europe will be invited to embrace electric driving and encourage their communities to support Nissan's campaign - ‘The Big Turn On' - in a bid to win 30 quick chargers from Nissan.
The quick chargers are part of a wider initiative from Nissan to get one million consumers switched onto electric driving, in just 100 days. The basis of ‘The Big Turn On' campaign is to engage the public and support their cities' bid to win a new electric driving infrastructure from Nissan.
These chargers improve the speed of charging electric cars and help improve the infrastructure for a new zero-emissions future. A quick charger, which complies with the international CHAdeMO standard, can recharge an empty battery to 80 per cent capacity in just 30 minutes, as opposed to the standard charger type, which takes approximately eight hours.
Nissan is also helping to establish the infrastructure needed if the EV is to make a significant contribution to inner-city air quality. By the end of 2012, the Company will have given away over 400 quick chargers to local authorities and partners with the ultimate aim of developing a network of thousands of chargers and creating a number of Electric Highways to link cities across Europe.
Paul Willcox, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing, Nissan Europe, said: "Nissan was the first manufacturer to mass produce an all-electric car - the Nissan LEAF. We recognise the importance of a zero-emissions future and to date, along with our Alliance partner, Renault, have invested over €4 billion into electric mobility. Now it's time to tell Europe about the benefits and demonstrate the Nissan LEAF is a real alternative today, and ‘The Big Turn On' is designed to do just that."
At the same time, the campaign will bust many of the myths that have emerged around electric vehicles. The Nissan LEAF was awarded European and World Car of the Year 2011, has a 95% customer satisfaction and a 5* Euro NCAP rating. Among many evidences the initiative will prove that electric vehicles are very economical to run; that Nissan LEAF is incredibly safe; and that the range between charges is easily sufficient for the vast majority of daily trips. The Nissan LEAF has a homologated range of 175 kms (NEDC), which is further than 90 per cent of European motorists drive on a weekday.
The campaign aims to reach one million potential EV advocates in France, the UK, Germany and the Netherlands, through a combination of myth-busting achievements and direct interaction via a massive digital and social movement. ‘Turning on' is as easy as a ‘click' - consumers can pledge their commitment to EV by clicking the ‘turn on' button via The Big Turn On website (www.thebigturnon.com), via social media channels or by signing up for a LEAF test drive.
Notes to editors:
About The Big Turn On:
Visit http://www.thebigturnon.com/
About the Nissan LEAF:
The Nissan LEAF was the first mass produced EV winning the European, World and Japanese car of the year 2011. More than 25,000 units have been sold globally since its introduction in December 2010, making Nissan LEAF the world's most selling electric vehicle. The AC motor develops 80 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque, enough for a maximum speed of 145 km/h. The electric motor is powered by a Nissan-developed laminated lithium-ion battery with an output of more than 90 kW. Recharging from empty to 100% takes eight hours with a normal charger and just 30 minutes from empty to 80% using a quick charger in optimal conditions. Nissan LEAF has been awarded five stars in the tough Euro NCAP tests, making it one of the safest cars on the road. Nissan LEAF comes fully equipped with air conditioning, satellite navigation, rear-view parking camera. European production of the Nissan LEAF will start at Sunderland in early 2013.
About Nissan in Europe:
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 14,500 staff across locally-based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. Last year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 528,000 vehicles including mini-MPVs, award-winning crossovers, SUVs and commercial vehicles. Nissan now offers 24 diverse and innovative products for sale in Europe today, and is positioned to become the number one Japanese brand in Europe.
