Bangkok—Electric vehicles (EV) aren’t just for early adopters anymore. With more than one-third of Southeast Asian consumers considering EVs for their next vehicle purchase, the demand from people in Asia and Oceania to learn about EV ownership is increasing.
To help, the fourth video of Nissan’s EV Education Series, addresses three facts to easily explain the simplicity and advantages of EV ownership. Tim Jarvis, Australian explorer and environmental scientist, and Naya Ehrlich-Adam, founder of sustainable food business Broccoli Revolution in Bangkok, Thailand team up to bust some of the common myths around owning electric vehicles. Through their first-hand experience of the world’s best-selling EV—the Nissan LEAF—they also share surprising facts.
“Our educational video series is aimed at creating better acceptance and adoption of electric vehicles by both individuals and societies in the region,” said Yutaka Sanada, regional senior vice president for Nissan Asia & Oceania. “By sharing the genuine interest of real-world individuals as they learn the ease and benefits of electric vehicles, we aim to debunk current misperceptions as well as inspire audiences for the future.”
Battery-powered cars reduce spending on fuel and maintenance
With fewer moving parts in an EV, owners can save on maintenance costs as well as fuel. Most drivers in Southeast Asia travel less than 80 kilometers a day, using approximately 5.6 liters of petrol. By driving the Nissan LEAF with a 40kWh battery, vehicle owners can save up to USD $6.00 per day or over USD $2,190 per year. In Australia and New Zealand, for every 1000km travelled, Nissan LEAF drivers will save approximately USD $50.00 by charging the vehicle’s battery , compared to a petrol-driven car.
Maintenance and service costs are also considerably lower for EVs. In the US for example, EV owners experience an average savings of more than USD $650 per year.
Moreover, it’s predicted that the cost of an EV will drop below that of conventional-fuel vehicles by 2040, with EV sales growing exponentially year on year.
EVs have the same space as standard cars, and can accelerate like one too
Many consumers believe that EVs have limited space and acceleration. However, EVs today offer a full-powered vehicle experience especially designed for modern drivers, and without a tailpipe engine, they have much larger space allowances as compared to regular cars. As an example, the Nissan LEAF has 435 liters of space in the trunk—the equivalent of filling a conventional bathtub to the brim with luggage, and still having room to spare8. In addition, a Nissan LEAF can comfortably accommodate up to five adults.
Furthermore, the concern that EVs can’t pick up speed adequately is a myth. Boasting 148bhp, the Nissan LEAF can accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds. The car’s battery pack also sits down in the chassis for a low center of gravity that allows the car to hug the road, for greater speed and stability.
One of the key benefits of EVs for modern-consumers is that the car sends zero emissions into the atmosphere and is environmentally friendly. Air pollution is the highest environmental consumer concern in Asia-Pacific, with 85% of people extremely or very concerned about this issue. Thus, electric vehicles with zero-emissions and virtually silent operations, present a viable solution for owners to help do their part for an improved urban future. As Tim Jarvis articulates in this latest Nissan EV Ownership video, “If everyone drove electric cars, we would be in a far better place.”