Fleet Forum and Nissan announced today the launch of the Electric Vehicle Demonstrator Programme which provides free use of the new Nissan Leaf all-electric car to five organisational members of Fleet Forum. Among over 50 members of Fleet Forum, 5 international aid organisations were selected as official participants and will start in Switzerland, Italy and UK. These organisations are the United Nations World Food Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees, Islamic Relief, and the United Nations Logistics Base.
The programme aims to give aid and development organisations first-hand experience of the benefits of using electric vehicles as a way of improving efficiency while also reducing costs and minimising environmental impacts.
"This is an excellent example of learning through demonstration," says Paul Jansen, Executive Director of Fleet Forum. "Through this programme these different organisations can see for themselves how electric vehicles can be used to help achieve their objectives. From a Fleet Forum point-of-view we're happy to facilitate this as a way of increasing efficiency and reducing pollution."
At the launch ceremony in Geneva keys will be handed over to the first participants in the programme that include the United Nations World Food Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. These cars will be used in Switzerland.
The Nissan LEAF is the world's first affordable 100% electric family vehicle and the first electric vehicle to win the coveted European Car of the Year award. It has a range between charges of up to 175 km.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Nissan and Fleet Forum, Nissan has agreed to lend five Nissan LEAFs to the Fleet Forum member organisations for a year free of charge. The Fleet Forum will rotate the vehicles among official participants for six months each in order for them to experience the benefits and practicability of a zero-emission vehicle and to encourage them to switch to such vehicles for their environmental fleet management. After 12 months of free loaning, Nissan and Fleet Forum will then review feedback from the participants.
"The partnership with Nissan fits perfectly with Fleet Forum's commitment to offer our members practical knowledge and experience of transport-related products and services," says Jansen. "The participating members will benefit directly, but in the end all members will benefit. Together with Nissan we will gather and analyze the test data. We will build knowledge regarding electric driving, and we can advise our members how to maximize the best use of electric vehicles. Fleet Forum promotes electric driving because this is a very constructive way of reducing the environmental impact of the operational activities of Fleet Forum members."
In a statement of Blue Citizenship, Nissan expressed "the commitment of Nissan Motor Company to realize our vision of Enriching People's Lives. We commit to our customers, employees, shareholders and the communities where we do business to deliver engaging, valuable and sustainable mobility for all. Through our business activities, we aim to create economic value and to actively contribute towards the development of a sustainable society."
Fleet Forum is a collaborative association that includes NGOs, international organisations, the United Nations, academic institutions, donors, and corporate partners. It is dedicated to the improvement of transportation performance in road safety, cost efficiency and environmental impact in order to save lives, save money, and save resources.