Nissan LEAF owners drive CO2-free to save forests in Japan

Drive your Nissan LEAF electric vehicle, help save a forest. Participants in Nissan's Zero Emissions Fund have succeeded in conserving forested areas about the same size as 60 tennis courts since the inception of the fund in June 2012. These electric vehicle (EV) owners have served an ace for the environment simply by enrolling in the fund and driving their 100% electric Nissan LEAFs—a car that emits no tailpipe gases, and thus no emission of CO2 or other greenhouse gases that impact on the environment. The Nissan Zero Emission Fund is a platform which enables the distance that Nissan LEAF owners drive to be calculated and converted into CO2 emissions offset credits based on the average CO2 emitted by a gasoline-powered vehicle. The total annual CO2 emissions that are avoided by driving a Nissan LEAF are converted into credits and sold to the Green Investment Promotion Organization, an organization that promotes investment in low carbon emissions initiatives. Profits earned by the sale of the credits are being used for installation of EV battery quick charging units and conservation of forests located near reservoirs supplying water to residents of major metropolitan areas. Each participating Nissan LEAF's total annual distance traveled is automatically recorded by the NISSAN CARWINGS Data Center through its continuous on-board communication unit. Based on the total distance traveled, the amount of offset CO2 emissions is calculated according to the standard designated by Japan's Domestic CDM. To make this happen, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has submitted its application for the Nissan Zero Emission Fund's CO2 credits for fiscal year 2012. The application was approved at the 32nd Meeting of the Domestic Credit Certification Committee that is jointly run by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the Ministry of the Environment; and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan. The fund earned 2,565,000 yen in profits from the sale of CO2 offset credits approved for fiscal year 2012, and the sum is dedicated to the cost of conserving 160 square meters of forests—roughly the same size as 60 tennis courts as well as fund operation. To help realize a sustainable zero-emission society, Nissan will continue the Nissan Zero Emission Fund from this year onward through the J-Credit scheme, a successor to Domestic CDM. Nissan, working with Nissan LEAF owners, will continue to its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and promote the wider adoption of EVs and help realize sustainable mobility. Nissan Zero Emission Fund achievements in fiscal year 2012 are as follows: Period eligible for credits: From June 11, 2012 to March 31, 2013 Number of eligible fund participants: 4,578 LEAFs Driving distance counted: 23,878,226 km Amount of certified credits: 1,710 tons Profits earned by the sale of credits: 2,565,000 yen Usage of profits earned: Conservation of the approx. 16,000 square meters (the size of 60 tennis courts*) of forest selected from the area in Tabayama-mura, Kosuge-mura or Doushi-mura in Yamanashi prefecture, Japan *Calculated based on the size of a tennis court of approx. 260 square meters (23.77 m x 10.97 m) Operational costs for the Zero Emission Fund Source: nissan-global