EV

Yokohama - Jan. 30 - Sustainable mobility takes to the open water, as Nissan launches its first energy-efficient, coastal car carrier, the Nichioh Maru. 

The maker of the first mass-marketed, 100% electric vehicle – the Nissan LEAF – now employs an eco vessel nicknamed “Roro” – for roll-on and roll-off pick-ups and deliveries.

At one-and-a-half football fields in length, the carrier took four years to complete and began its maiden voyage January 27.
 

Renault’s Chief Operating Office, Carlos Tavares, has found plenty of good news at the 2012 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

He tells us that although he knew the Davos Forum would be a great place for brainstorming and for debate, he was pleasantly surprised that the atmosphere was not as gloomy as he thought it would be. “Beyond what we hear in the media, I found people here who have significant hope, we will find solutions for the problems we are facing”, he said.

See what he has to say...

The hardiest soul in Davos is Lu Ying. She’s been outside the Hub Pavilion for the last five days, wrapped up against the freezing temperatures to dish out free warming cups of hot chocolate to passers-by.

The hob keeping the chocolate on the boil is powered by renewable energy supplied by Nissan LEAF – it’s the first time the innovative LEAF-to-Home technology has been demonstrated in Europe.

Lu tells us that everyone who’s sampled a cup loves the idea… find out more in her video

He runs two Fortune 500 companies and travels more than 150,000 miles per year. But we caught up with Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn between sessions this week at the 2012 World Economic Forum in Davos.

Mr. Ghosn stopped by the Renault-Nissan Alliance pavilion, which showcases innovative Nissan technology called LEAF-to-Home. The system uses the electric vehicle’s battery to power household appliances. In Davos, LEAF-to-Home powers a hot chocolate stand – a popular attraction for delegates and tourists on Davos’ main street.

After a meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon to announce a $2 billion Nissan manufacturing facility in Mexico, Mr. Ghosn talked to Matt Loader of the Renault-Nissan Alliance communications team about the Alliance’s focus on zero-emission transportation and emerging markets.