Rosslyn, South Africa – "Electric cars are awesome!" says energy expert Andrew Kinghorn of his experience behind the wheel of the pure-electric Nissan LEAF.
"My most vivid memory is of my co-driver's white knuckles after I underestimated the immediate power of the electric motor!"
Kinghorn was one of nearly 100 inquisitive Johannesburg residents who took the Nissan LEAF for a test drive through Parkhurst and surrounds during the weekend of 10 - 13 April.
The event was organised by Nissan South Africa in celebration of the Parkhurst Residents' and Business Owners' Association's (PRABOA) decision to erect solar-powered electric vehicle chargers in Parkhurst Village.
"I kept an eye on the range. With nearly 200 km before the batteries need to be recharged I could easily use the LEAF as my daily city car. I am sure one charge would last me a week at least."
Kinghorn's name was drawn from the people who tested the Nissan LEAF, and he received a gift voucher to the value of R40 000 for solar equipment for his home.
"I already have a shopping list of solar gear in mind," says Kinghorn. "I will buy a set of batteries, an inverter and a number of solar panels with the balance. That should be more than sufficient to run my home office and the TV for the kids.
An avid cyclist, Kinghorn received his prize in Parkhurst before embarking on the gruelling joBerg2C Mountain Bike race from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal. He is a mining specialist who serves on the South African Fossil Fuel Foundation.
Speaking on Parkhurst's plans to install solar car chargers, Kinghorn gave it the thumbs up. "I think solar power is the way forward. We are still very dependent on fossil fuel for energy, but we are bound to follow the rest of the world in adopting alternative energies. I also believe that we will see a spike in the acceptance of electric cars as more manufacturers adopt the technology and push for battery innovation."
Nissan South Africa firmly established the electric-vehicle market in South Africa when it introduced the Nissan LEAF in 2013. The 100% electric Nissan LEAF was the first mass-produced electric car in the world, and it won the 2011 World Car of the Year and European Car of the Year awards, to name a few.
The initiative by Parkhurst residents to install electric car chargers is part of their Go Green Campaign, which aims to support the adoption of alternative energies in order to lower the village's dependence on traditional energy providers. Their goals are closely aligned with that of Nissan South Africa, which has partnered with the South African Department of Energy Affairs (DEA) to study the viability of alternative energy sources for cars. The DEA was one of the first customers of the Nissan LEAF, which the department operates as part of its national fleet.
Nissan may soon find Andrew Kinghorn among its proud LEAF owners: "I would definitely consider a LEAF," says Kinghorn. "Once you do the sums, an electric car definitely makes sense."
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