Nissan’s second-generation Leaf officially goes on sale today, and to celebrate, the Japanese manufacturer has displayed the all-new electric hatchback on Britain’s first electric-lit street – Electric Avenue.
The latest version of the world’s best-selling electric vehicle was launched on the corner of Electric Avenue and Brixton Road in Lambeth, which is consistently one of the most polluted areas in London.
It is also the same day that London’s legal air pollution limit was reached – just 32 days into the new year – highlighting the importance of electric mobility going forward.
With pollution continuing to be an issue in the UK capital, local authorities have recently introduced the Toxicity Charge to help reduce emissions in central London – which works alongside the established Congestion Charge – and in an attempt to get more drivers interested in electric vehicles, Transport for London announced it will be investing £4.5million in installing charging points for electrified vehicles.
The Nissan Leaf is exempt from all current road charges, due to its zero-emission setup and when the Ultra-Low Emission Zone comes into effect in 2019, it will be one of the few vehicles allowed on the roads of central London.
Carl Bayliss, EV business development manager at Nissan Motor GB, said: “We are delighted that the new Nissan Leaf is now on sale across the UK. Much more than just an EV, the Leaf is a whole new driving experience, designed to move people with greater exhilaration, confidence and connection to the world around them.
“Nissan looks forward to EVs playing an increasingly important role in the sustainable development of our urban infrastructure – not just improving air quality, but also in the storage, management and distribution of renewable energy.”
The new Leaf is the first Nissan vehicle to come with ProPilot, the latest evolution of the brand’s assistance technology systems, and the ePedal – which can be used to control both the acceleration and braking.
Prices for the Leaf start from £21,900, which includes the government’s £4,500 electric vehicle grant discount.
