Nissan Leaf to serve as test vehicle for First Gen EV charging project

MANILA: First Gen Corporation has acquired a Nissan Leaf as part of the local energy firm's GreenWheels Project for EV charging and partnership with Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI). 

The GreenWheels Project is a program in which EV charging stations powered by solar energy will be tested. The Nissan Leaf will serve as the project's test vehicle.

With the help of solar energy, First Gen's fast-charging station can give an EV unit's battery an 80% charge in 40 minutes, or a mere fraction of the 18 hours needed by a regular home charger, NPI said in a release. 

The firm's charging station inside its Batangas City headquarters can accommodate multiple EVs. 

To further move its Blue Switch initiative, NPI partnered with renewable energy firm First Gen. Launched in January of this year, Blue Switch is a program that promotes the use of EV technologies to address social concerns, NPI explained. 

"The Blue Switch initiative allows Nissan to establish partnerships with various stakeholders, so we can work together to power mobility and beyond for a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive world," Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director Atsushi Najima explained.

NPI's partnership with First Gen is one of the first steps under Blue Switch and will serve as an example of how future collaborations will be approached by Nissan in the Philippines, the company added. 

Photos from Nissan Philippines and Dylan Afuang

Also read: By driving the Leaf, we see Nissan's push for 'Intelligent Mobility'