– In Asia and Oceania, approximately four billion people – 92 per cent of Asia and the Pacific’s population – are exposed to air pollution levels that pose a significant health risk.1 This was further highlighted with the February 2020 launch of the world’s largest real-time air quality data bank under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), indicating that much of the region remains on ‘unhealthy’ air quality levels. In fact, air pollution is now globally the fifth leading cause of death2 among all heath risks and nine percent of deaths are attributed to it3.
To address this as part of the commitment to reduce CO2 emissions, Nissan, the creator of the world’s first mass production electric vehicle Nissan LEAF4, has collected analysis of the impact the vehicle has had worldwide since debut in 2010. At the same time, there is compelling data to demonstrate how electric mobility can be part of solutions to address air pollution levels:
1. Just one electric vehicle (EV) can save 4.6 metric tons of greenhouse gases each year, which is equivalent to planting 209 trees6.
2. To date 460,000+ Global Nissan LEAF Owners have contributed to:
Around 2.1 million metric tons of CO2 saved. To put that in context, more than 81 million trees are needed to process that much CO2 in a year.
Over 13 billion emission-free kilometers7 driven by LEAF owners – the distance of driving to the moon more than 33,800 times!8
With a 55% reduction in current CO2 emissions needed by 2030 to halt global warming9, 2020 could be the catalyst year of change for consumers making choices, like switching to EVs, to have a direct impact on air pollution.
AND Leafs drive like sports cars—–
Many people associate electric vehicles (EVs) with clean technology, charging infrastructure, and driving range. It’s less-known that EVs deliver an exciting driving experience. To demonstrate the strength of electric mobility, Nissan recently challenged a professional stunt driver to drift with the new Nissan LEAF.
Drifting is usually performed by fuel-powered sports cars, but Nissan wanted to try something different. In an unlikely pairing of adrenaline-inducing drifts and electric mobility, the new Nissan LEAF demonstrated with ease its ability to produce both maximum torque and force, while delivering virtually silent donuts and burnouts. The world’s best-selling EV thereby debunked outdated perceptions that electric vehicles are nothing but large golf carts.
Throughout the test, the Nissan LEAF’s emissions remained at zero – a number symbolized by the vehicle’s donut tread marks. As such, exhilarating performance aside, this indoor drift experiment provides yet another reason for us to smile at the prospect of future electric mobility.