Nissan PH ended 2021 as one of the country’s leading auto brands and looks forward to a sustainable future and is powering up for another year of innovation, starting with a declaration of its Blue Switch initiative in the Philippines.
At a year opener press conference on Friday, Nissan officials announced Blue Switch is the next phase of the Japanese automaker’s electrification plans built on Nissan Ambition 2030, the company’s long-term vision for empowering mobility “by strengthening our aim of becoming a sustainable company that drives towards a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive world.”
Blue Switch is focused on building key partnerships that address social concerns with the use of electric vehicle technologies.
Started in 2018 in Japan, the initiative focuses on partnering with government and private stakeholders to promote and encourage the use of electric vehicles to address social concerns like energy management, ecotourism and disaster response.
During the event, keynote speaker Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian discussed sustainability and the future of EVs in the country. This was followed by a panel discussion on the potential benefits of electrified mobility and how it can be successfully integrated into society while addressing social concerns in the areas of tourism, the environment, and emergency response.
“When we integrate EV technology into society, we can unify people, systems, and our goals as a nation. EVs can boost tourism, protect the environment, help us respond to emergencies faster, and help enrich the lives of many people. We are looking to turn this dream into reality this 2022 and we can do this by working together,” said Atsushi Najima, Nissan Philippines president and managing director.
The Nissan LEAF and Power Mover units responded to help communities affected by Typhoon Odette in Cebu. A similar effort was also done in Tacloban in partnership with the local Nissan dealership in the province. The EV’s vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology was able to provide electricity from its battery, allowing residents to charge their mobile devices and contact loved ones.
Nissan Philippines also brought the Nissan LEAF in Boracay as part of its Safe Trips campaign which has evolved to also advocate for ecotourism and to encourage sustainability through adapting more eco-friendly options such as using electric vehicles as a mode of transportation. In addition to continuous knowledge building and sharing in the market about EVs and its technology, Nissan also aims to raise awareness on its other practical benefits and uses.
