SANDTON, JOHANNESBURG – Nissan’s global technology roadshow, focusing predominantly on environmental technologies and the company’s flagship electric vehicle, LEAF has arrived in South Africa. Nissan Technology Square, a joint Nissan Motor Company Limited (Nissan) and Nissan South Africa (Nissan SA) initiative that runs in Sandton City, Johannesburg between 22 and 30 October, provides a glimpse of some of the advanced technologies that are a defining feature of many of the company’s vehicles.
Said Nissan SA’s managing director Mike Whitfield: “The Nissan Technology Square is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the innovative technologies that are the hallmark of our brand. Our Japan-based Nissan Advanced Technology Centre (NATC) is dedicated to the development of four strategic fields of technology improvement and innovation - safety, environment, vehicle performance and on-board comfort – and the Technology Square is an excellent platform on which to present a selection of these to a wide audience.”
Attracting interest from a variety of quarters including government, tertiary institutions, the automotive industry and general public, the Nissan Technology Square comprises information sessions, demonstrations and interactive displays.
While a number of safety and environmental technologies are on show, emphasis is on Nissan’s environmentally-friendly electric vehicle, a priority given the pressure on automotive manufacturers to reduce harmful CO2 emissions. A major exhibit at the Technology Square is a quarter-scale model of the Nissan LEAF, the world’s first affordable zero-emission car that was launched in Japan last year. The five-seater LEAF, capable of a driving range of more than 160 km on one full charge, is the first of an envisaged line of electric vehicles. Due for release towards the end of this year in Europe, Japan and the United States, Nissan SA has every confidence that collaborative talks with key stakeholders on the possible introduction of the lithium-ion battery-powered vehicle in South Africa will continue with renewed vigour, following the unveiling by the Department of Trade and Industry (DtI) earlier this year of its 2010-2013 Industrial Policy Plan, which advocates the commercialisation of South Africa’s electric car, including manufacture, infrastructure development and public education on its use and benefits.
Visiting technology expert from Nissan in Japan, Takahiko Uchimura, Senior Manager in the Technology Marketing Department, said “In pursuit of the commercialisation of electric-powered vehicles, Nissan has been developing lithium-ion batteries since 1992 with a focus on reducing the size while increasing power and capacity. The result is a compact, lightweight, long-life and cost-efficient battery which, along with regenerative braking, provides enough driving distance per charge to make this feasible in the real world.”
Adds Whitfield “Nissan’s commitment to become a leader in zero emission stems from a belief that we are more than a car company, that we are in fact a citizen of society with a responsibility towards developing sustainable mobility for future generations and engaging in activities that protect and preserve the environment.”
And while zero emission is the ultimate goal, technologies contributing to reduced emissions on current Nissan vehicles are being pursued. The diesel engine in NP200 and Qashqai, both of which are on display at the Nissan Technology Square, benefit from technology that significantly reduce emissions and improve fuel economy.
Nissan’s Vision 2015 is introducing more than 15 new technologies each year, with development efficiency having more than tripled at present compared to 2005. Supporting this vision, Nissan’s global Green Programme aims to minimise the environmental impacts caused by the manufacture and use of vehicles, while the Safety vision aims to reduce fatalities and serious injuries by half compared to 1995.
“We believe that interest in environmentally-friendly and safety technologies is gaining momentum in South Africa, aligned with the international growing awareness of the need for sustainability. We are delighted to bring this exhibition, and the positive dialogue it will create, to South Africa.” Whitfield concluded.
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