On the occasion of World EV Day, Nissan organised a virtual session for Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka markets on making electric mobility more accessible in South Asian markets to create a more sustainable green future.

The availability of an abundant amount of hydropower in Nepal and Bhutan have made both countries a very strong case for EVs, both environmentally and economically. Hence, the societal and economic benefits of driving more sustainability in South Asian countries could not be understated, says Nissan.

In line with the Nepalese government’s forward-thinking policies on carbon neutrality and support towards electric mobility, Nissan was recently able to launch the zero-emission Nissan LEAF EV in Nepal at a special introductory price of NPR 59.99 lakh to the first 50 customers. Globally, Nissan LEAF vehicles have driven more than 2.5bn cumulative kilometres since their launch in 2010, resulting in a total amount of 1.2m tons of CO2 reduction (the equivalent of 90m trees).

Sinan Ozkok, President, Nissan India Operations, said: “At Nissan, our vision for the future of mobility is fuelled by our mission to enrich people’s lives by providing communities with access to vehicles with low environmental impact. The introduction of the zero-emission Nissan LEAF in South Asian markets reflects our commitment to support the efforts of these governments, as they work toward achieving their clean energy goals. With more than 70 years of global experience in electric mobility, we are poised to deliver innovative solutions that can help these countries along their journeys to sustainability.”

The zero-emission Nissan LEAF EV is the embodiment of Nissan Intelligent Mobility. It can go from zero to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds while reaching a top speed of 140 km/h. It also has one of the quietest cabins and comes with a very low running cost compared to the ICE engine (by almost five times), says Nissan.

Raghunath Nair, Head Exports & South Asia Business Unit, NMC Ltd., said: “Bringing the Nissan LEAF EV to South Asia is a high point in our efforts to enlighten and educate communities on the benefits of EV adoption. In aligning with these governments’ vision for a more sustainable future, we are empowering communities to make decisions that reduce our global carbon footprint by bringing them the right technology with the greatest performance and zero emissions. As we support these countries’ transition into a greener tomorrow, we are driven by our shared mission of moving toward a more connected, sustainable, and resilient world.”

Sandeep Kumar Sharda, Managing Director, Pioneer Moto Corp Pvt. Ltd., said: “We have announced an Introductory price of NPR 59.99 lacs and we have been getting a tremendous response from the market. In order to give a first-hand experience of the Nissan Leaf, we are organizing a Test Drive Week from 13^th September onwards at our showrooms in Kathmandu.”

Charging the Nissan LEAF is easy and convenient as owners are provided with multiple charging options. The Nissan LEAF can be fully powered up in 15 to 18 hours at home through a dedicated wall outlet with the supplied universal charging cable. Owners can also go to quick charging stations found in select Nissan dealerships nationwide and power up their Nissan LEAF to a full charge in as fast as 40 to 60 minutes.

The test drive of the Leaf EV is taking place from 13-20th September at the company’s showroom in Thapathali and Uttar Dhoka, Kathmandu.