For the first time in Africa, a fleet of mass-market battery cars will highlight the benefits of green transportation while providing zero-emission shuttle services for delegates at the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban from November 28-December 9.
The 17th annual Conference of Parties (better known as COP17) aims to “stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.”
Electric vehicles, which can be charged from purely renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, will play a critical role in achieving COP17's goals and reducing the impact of climate change.
The Renault/Nissan alliance has provided a dozen electric cars for the conference, and will also offer test drives in the Renault Twizy, a fun-to-drive commuter vehicle that can be plugged into any conventional wall socket.
The Nissan Leaf and the Renault Fluence ZE luxury sedan will be in use as shuttles for COP17 delegates. They will also be available for test drives.
Anyone can sign up for test rides during the conference at the Alliance's booth in the Climate Change Response Expo near the International Convention Centre. The test drive route will run from the Expo site to the Moses Mabhida Stadium and back.
Nissan has announced plans to release the Leaf in South Africa in 2013, subject to the successful conclusion of discussions between the government and the motoring industry on the establishment of a charging infrastructure and the introduction of customer incentives.