Nissan Plans to Charge Up Cities Across Europe

ROLLE, Switzerland, March 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

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

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.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/nissan/53798/

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 (http://www.thebigturnon.com), via social media channels or by signing up for a LEAF test drive.

*To join in The Big Turn On, point your mouse to:

https://www.facebook.com/NissanLeafUK

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheNissanGB

https://twitter.com/#!/NissanLeafUK

For more information please contact:
Local market contact: Linda Robinson, Press Communications Manager
E : [email protected], T: +44(0)1923-899930

European contact: Gareth Dean, Zero Emissions and Electric Vehicle Communications Manager:
E: [email protected], T: +44(0)7972-188625

Resources:

http://newsroom.nissan-europe.com/EU/en-gb/Home/Welcome.aspx

Video: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/nissan/53798/

SOURCE Nissan Europe