- Electric vehicles will play an essential role in ensuring good air quality, noise pollution free cities, and a high quality of life in urban spaces in the future
- Nissan continues to take the lead in the zero emissions segment with the recent launch of the all-electric e-NV200 van
- Nissan executives participate in a roundtable discussion organised by the Committee of the Regions entitled: Promoting employment and training in the automotive industry
- Nissan co-host the “Liveable City” event as part of EU Sustainable Energy Week
Electric vehicles will play a key role in creating sustainable and liveable cities of the future. Nissan’s leadership in the segment is of significant importance in combatting air and noise pollution, and ensuring a high quality of life for city dwellers in the future.
Nissan, with its alliance partner Renault, will discuss its dedication to realising these objectives for sustainable cities as it co-hosts the “Liveable City” conference in conjunction with the Catalonian Delegation in Brussels. The event is part of the European Union’s Sustainable Energy Week and will be attended by panellists from the city councils of Barcelona and Amsterdam, private sector organisations EON and Bouygues as well as representatives from civil society groups Polis and The Climate Group.
Since Nissan launched the Nissan LEAF, the world’s first ever mass produced all-electric car in 2010, it has cemented its position as the global leader of zero emissions vehicles and sold more 111.000 units globally, resulting in more than 1 billion kilometres of road being driven without producing any combustible emissions or damage to the atmosphere. Nissan has further bolstered its dedication to EV leadership with the recent launch of the 100 percent electric e-NV200 van to the market. The e-NV200, which is produced at Nissan’s plant in Barcelona, is set to revolutionise urban commercial and public transport.
According to the United Nations, levels of CO2 in the atmosphere need to be below 450 molecular parts out of a million. The use of combustion and hybrid engines will not reach this desired outcome set out by the United Nations. Therefore, Nissan’s EV leadership position is central to achieving healthier and more habitable cities. Moreover, it is predicted that by 2050, there will be more than 2.5 million vehicles on the road in comparison to 1.0 million today. As a result, in order to sustainably meet the expected rising demand for cars, it is imperative that electric vehicles make up a significant proportion of vehicles driven across the globe.
Furthermore, it is expected that in the next decade, Nissan LEAF batteries will be able to store electricity for homes. The “LEAF to Home” concept will allow car owners to generate electricity as their vehicle charges throughout the night which can then power homes during peak times when fuel is in high demand and also most expensive. Using this technology Nissan LEAFs will have the ability to supply power to homes for up to two days.
Nissan’s commitment to developing talent
The e-NV200 is one of three new vehicles being produced at the Barcelona plant over the next two years. The new Nissan Pulsar will be the next product to roll off the line at the factory later this year, followed by the launch of a new pick-up van in 2015.
Nissan’s plant in Barcelona has experienced sustainable growth due to the company’s ongoing commitment to four pillars of activity: competitivity, flexibility, innovation and talent. And it is hoped Nissan’s dedication to these four pillars will ensure the medium-term future of the organisation’s industrial operations in Spain.
Sergio Alcaraz, Director of Production Engineering, Nissan will discuss the development of talent in the automotive industry during the roundtable discussion being held at the Committee of the Regions in Brussels. Alcaraz will explain how Nissan believes talent is crucial to a bright and successful future for the company, and how Nissan is dedicated to recruiting the best of the best while developing those already working at the organisation.
He will talk specifically about Nissan’s graduate scheme that recruits newly qualified engineers, as well as those with an educational background in other areas of the automotive sector.
Alcaraz explains that in recent years explain how Nissan has hired more than 100 engineers “with a great future ahead of them at the company” and stress that, “Nissan does not look to hire professionals to meet specific short-term needs – rather we take a medium to longer term approach.”
In addition to Nissan’s graduate scheme, Alcaraz explains how Nissan’s global talent programme works to ensure the ongoing development of all employees. This includes training from mentors across the organisation in order to meet employees’ career objectives, while offering opportunities for further academic training, where applicable.
