Nissan PH teams up with clean energy firm

First Gen Corporation using Nissan Leaf as test vehicle

Earlier this year, Nissan Philippines introduced the Blue Switch initiative, which enabled the carmaker to collaborate with various government and private stakeholders in promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs) and EV technologies to address social concerns.

Nissan then took the Leaf EV around the country together with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to promote eco-tourism and even assisted in disaster relief during Typhoon Odette where the car was used by typhoon-hit residents to charge their mobile phones.

In their latest initiative, Nissan Philippines teamed up with First Gen Corporation – a local renewable energy firm that plans to establish EV charging stations in the country powered by solar energy.

"The recent launch of our Blue Switch global initiative in the Philippines proves our commitment to a more sustainable and resilient society. We welcome First Gen as they take their first steps to achieve carbon neutrality with their GreenWheels Project and we look forward to a fruitful partnership with them under the Blue Switch program" says Atsushi Najima, Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director.

Under First Gen's GreenWheels Project, the fast EV charging station gets its supply of electricity from a clean energy source. The firm has put up the first station inside their Clean Energy Complex in Batangas City, and pilot testing is underway with the Nissan Leaf being used as a test vehicle. According to Nissan, the clean charging station can give an EV battery an 80% charge in just 40 minutes.

If the project proves successful, this would completely remove EV charging stations' reliance on fossil fuels to generate electricity and allows a sustainable model to reduce CO2 emissions in the country.