NISSAN announces it has saved 50M kg of CO2 emissions in Europe from its EV Fleet.

As Nissan unveils its Global Green Program 2016, the company highlights the crucial role of electric vehicles in emissions reduction and protecting the cities environment and life quality. 

Following the data collected by the car manufacturer they showed that the 41,100 pure electric Nissan LEAFs driven in Europe have already prevented the emission of just under 50 million kg of CO₂ into the atmosphere*.

Based on current growth figures, it is estimated that by 2050 there will be 2.5 billion vehicles in the world, far outstripping today’s 1 billion. So with CO₂ emissions that are currently estimated at 600 million tons worldwide, transport will have an increasingly prominent role in shaping cities.

Figures from the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) suggest that putting 1,000 electric vehicles on a city’s streets would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 30,000 kg and CO₂emissions by over 2,000 tons per year. 

Furthermore, it would also significantly reduce noise pollution levels as the Nissan’s zero-emission vehicles, the LEAF and the e-NV200, makes less noise than a 26-decibel ceiling fan.

“With our Global Green Program, Nissan is leading by example. In the last fiscal year, we proposed solutions to reduce CO₂ emissions by 50,000 tons,” said Paul Willcox, Chairman for Nissan Europe. 

“It really is possible to put in place efficient and sustainable mobility models which prevent pollutant emissions, protect the environment and also meet the individual, collective and business transport needs of today’s society.

“As a result, Europe’s best-selling pure-electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF and the e-NV200, our zero-emissions van which can be used by a wide range of businesses, offers a fantastic option for people across Europe,” he added.

In addition to their obvious environmental advantages, the efficiency of these models also extends to the financial sphere since they cut maintenance costs by 40% compared to a vehicle with a conventional combustion engine and reduce spending on fuel by between three and four times, with the cost in electricity standing at between €1 and €2 per 100 kilometres depending on the tariff.

To celebrate Europe’s Green Capital 2015, Nissan took a tour of the city recently in a Nissan LEAF, highlighting the city’s green credentials and how vehicles like the Nissan LEAF can make a huge contribution to ‘green-ing’ cities across Europe.

The video of the tour can be seen here.

Nissan’s contribution to the environment

In late 2010 the Japanese carmaker launched its Nissan LEAF, its first all-electric, zero-emission model. About to celebrate its fifth anniversary, the Nissan LEAF is currently the leading zero-emission model in the world with more than 178,074 units sold.

As a result the pioneer drivers of this model have avoided the release of 266 million kg of CO₂ into the atmosphere worldwide, a quantity that would take 19 million trees to neutralise.

* Total figures based on Nissan’s Global Data Center (GDC) to 31/0515/2015 (UTC). The distance and the amount of CO₂ are only collected from those Nissan LEAF registered in the CarWings system, which account for approximately 522% of total global sales (average projection).

The world's best-selling 100% electric vehicle

The Nissan LEAF was launched in 2010 as one of the first 100% electric vehicles for the mass market. It is currently the best-selling electric vehicle ever with more than 174,000 units sold. 

The zero-emission model from the Japanese carmaker has beaten its own sales record by recording an increase in 2014 of 33% over the previous year.

In May 2014, Nissan continued advancing in its environmental commitment with the launch of the e-NV200 van, its second totally electric model.

This vehicle combines the award-winning propulsion system of the Nissan LEAF, the 2011 World Car of the Year, with a useful load capacity that is the leader in its segment with the practicality of the Nissan NV200, International Van of the Year in 2010.