There’s been a lot of hype around the coming age of the electric vehicle, but few are actually driving around Canadian streets. The much hyped all-electric Nissan Leaf took a step from hype to hope this week when Nissan Canada delivered its first Leaf to a customer.
PowerStream, the second largest municipally-owned electricity distribution company in Ontario, received keys to its two white Nissan LEAFs MY11, at an event at its head office in Vaughan, Ont. Joining Allen Childs, President of Nissan Canada, were PowerStream officials and politicians including Monte Kwinter, MPP for York-Centre.
Monte Kwinter, Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Economic Development & Trade, Brian Bentz, President & CEO, PowerStream, Frank Scarpitti, Board Chair, PowerStream and Mayor, Town of Markham and Allen Childs, President, Nissan Canada were on hand to witness Nissan Canada make its first Canadian delivery of the all-electric Nissan Leaf at PowerStream in Vaughan, Ont. (CNW Group/Nissan Canada Inc.
“Electricity is the new fuel for cars and drivers have the freedom to choose a future with no tailpipe emissions or dependence on fossil fuels,” said Allen Childs, President of Nissan Canada, Inc. “This Nissan LEAF delivery is just the beginning of the sustainable mobility movement in Canada.”
For his part, Frank Scarpitti, PowerStream’s Board Chair and Mayor of the Town of Markham, said the event signalled the unfolding of a new frontier. “As leaders in our respective industries who share a common commitment to protecting the environment, it’s fitting that PowerStream and Nissan are joining forces here today to officially introduce this new and exciting vehicle into the Canadian marketplace,” said Frank Scarpitti. “The Nissan LEAF is a testament to the new frontier beginning to unfold in automotive transportation. We commend Nissan for its foresight and look forward to using our new LEAFs as a means of testing the impact of electric vehicles on our distribution grid.”
Nissan says it expects to release about 600 2012 Nissan Leaf vehicles to the Canadian market in 2012, and has another 100 2011 models already allocated to customers.
Customers keen to reserve a Nissan Leaf on a first-come-first-served basis have to register on the website: www.nissan.ca/leaf and meet other criteria including living within the vincinity of a Nissan Leaf certified dealer.
The first Canadian markets to receive the Nissan LEAF are those in which Nissan has formed partnerships with local or provincial governments along with utilities. These partnerships include:
• The Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver and BC Hydro;
• The Government of Québec, the City of Montréal, Québec City and Quebec Hydro;
• The City of Toronto; and
• The Government of Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro.
The Nissan Leaf is the first all-electric production vehicle in the world and was recently names the 2011 World Car of the Year.
With a range of 160 kilometres (EPA LA4 cycle) on one full charge, the company says the vehicle provides enough range for the daily commute of about 90 per cent of Canadians. The vehicle can be fully recharged in seven hours with a 240 volt charging dock, and can reach an 80 per cent charge in just 26 minutes using a Level 3 Quick Charger.
In April, the Nissan Leaf was awarded a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
