Sunday, May 1, 2011

London Mayor receives Nissan LEAF

Nissan has handed over the keys of a 100% electric Nissan LEAF to London Mayor Boris Johnson, shortly prior to the launch of London's first citywide electric vehicle membership scheme, Source London.

Boris Johnson accepted the keys on behalf of Transport for London (TfL) whose staff will trial the revolutionary, five-seater, zero-emission car during a month-long loan.

Boris Johnson is championing electric vehicles through Source London, which will deliver a new network of integrated electric charge points in the city to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles and help cement London's position as the electric vehicle capital of Europe.

The Mayor said, "Zero-emission electric cars are perfect for city driving, not only delivering cheaper day-to-day running costs for their owners, but also helping to bear down on pollution levels. With a wider range of vehicles now available, we are shifting up a gear to provide more support through Source London for the increasing numbers of people who want to drive them."

The Nissan LEAF, this year's European Car of the Year and the first electric vehicle to ever win the title, will be used by Surface Transport staff for site visits. The compact hatchback joins the permanent fleet of electric cars used by TfL as part of their commitment to increase the number of zero and low emission vehicles and help improve air quality in the capital.

Delivered through a wide range of partners, the Mayor's Source London scheme is a new integrated citywide charging network which will provide at least 1,300 publicly accessible charge points by the end of 2013. London was in the first wave of 'Plugged in Places' locations selected by the government to help develop the infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Research has found that 80% of daily trips in Britain are less than 30 miles. With the Nissan LEAF's ability to carry five passengers approximately 110 miles on a full charge, the car marks a significant development in the environmentally-friendly, cost efficient options available for motorists.

The Nissan LEAF's advanced technology means it will be considerably cheaper to run than a conventional compact family hatchback. Depending on an individual's electricity tariff and time of charging, it will be possible to run the Nissan LEAF for around 2 pence per mile.

Additional financial benefits include reduced servicing costs, exemption from London's congestion charge, zero road tax and zero benefit-in-kind for company car drivers