Nissan Debunks Electric Vehicle Myths During 6th Philippine Electric Vehicles Virtual Summit

Nissan Philippines participated in the recently-concluded Philippine Electric Vehicle Virtual Summit (PEVS) held online from September 24 to 26, 2020. Organized by the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), the 2020 PEVS gave Nissan the opportunity to emphasize its commitment to bring innovation that excites to the Philippine automotive market. Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director Atsushi Najima spoke about the brand’s plans to bring in electrified mobility to the country with the upcoming introduction of their fully-electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF.

Along with Ben Warren, Nissan Australia’s National Manager of Electrification and Mobility, who shared Nissan’s electric vehicle (EV) adoption experience in Australia during the virtual EV summit, the Japanese car brand not only presented the exciting opportunities of electrified mobility, but also shared and debunked the top four myths about EVs.

MYTH #1: “Electric vehicles are slow.”

A recent experiment raced the Nissan LEAF against the fastest elements of nature – fire and wind – with the EV winning with its celebrated acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.9 seconds. With lesser moving parts and a powerful electric motor, an EV accelerates faster than a regular gas-powered car.

With over 70 years of EV expertise, Nissan has designed the e-Powertrain that puts electric power straight to the wheels for instant acceleration, making the Nissan LEAF quicker on the start, for a smooth and very responsive drive.

MYTH #2: “An electric vehicle’s driving range capacity is limited.”

With a fully charged battery, the Nissan LEAF can cover 311 kilometers. If you consider that the average daily drive around Metro Manila is 13.2 kilometers, you can drive around the metropolis in a fully charged Nissan LEAF for up to three weeks without having to worry about an empty battery. For out-of-town trips, the Nissan LEAF can be driven up to Baguio, which is 246.6 kilometers from Metro Manila, before the batteries need to be recharged.

Also, the Nissan LEAF’S ePedal combines ease, excitement and innovation in EV technology. The innovative feature enables you to drive using one foot pedal, allowing you to accelerate and brake depending on the foot pressure. Even more impressive, Nissan’s ePedal is part of an advanced regenerative braking system, meaning the car will recover a little bit of charge every time you step on the brakes, which will further increase the driving range of the EV.

MYTH #3: “Charging is a pain for electric vehicles.”

A common misconception is that electric vehicles can only be charged using quick charging stations. Although the Philippines currently has around 14 charging stations that are ready for the Nissan LEAF, most electric vehicle owners prefer to charge at home, since it is the most convenient option.

Similar to charging one’s mobile phone after a long day’s usage, the Nissan LEAF can be plugged into a regular electrical socket to charge it overnight. Charging with the universal cable usually takes about 12 to 15 hours to fully charge the Nissan LEAF. For faster charging, users have the option to install a special wall box to speed up the charging time to 5 to 7 hours.

MYTH #4: “Electric cars are not exciting.”

With the Nissan LEAF as the icon of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the possibilities of a safe, fun, and exciting driving experience are endless. What’s more exciting than an electric vehicle producing zero emissions and virtually no sound while drifting? In this exhilarating and adrenaline-pumping demonstration, the Nissan LEAF showed how easily the mass-produced EV can churn out both maximum torque and force, while delivering virtually silent donuts and burnouts.

“Nissan is a world leader in electric mobility. We are constantly challenging mobility conventions including now – taking the top four myths about EVs, and busting them with our award-winning Nissan LEAF. We’ll never stop daring the impossible”, Najima claimed. “We look forward to bringing the Nissan LEAF in the Philippines as a legendary vehicle that has been continuously refined since its first introduction in 2010. Helping to bring an inspiring, innovative and human-centric future for the Philippines.”