A New Year’s Goal to Transform the Way we Drive and Live

As we enter 2019, many of us are reflecting on what the year holds for us and how we can make it better than the last. The positive changes we intend can be personal or much broader taking holistic view on changes to better society. I have personal goals of course, but as Regional Vice President for Asia & Oceania at Nissan, my keen interest is to promote safe, smart and sustainability mobility across Asia and Oceania through electrification. My one wish in 2019: the new car buyer considers purchasing an electrified vehicle.

While it may sound self-serving as a representative of a major automotive manufacturer, in the face of Asia’s urbanization, the move towards electrification is one of a greater good.

Electric Vehicles: A Promising Solution to Asia’s Urban Wellbeing

Asia’s development leapfrogs the rest of the world. Cities in the region continue to experience unprecedented growth with virtually half of all the region’s population living in urbanized locations as of 2018.^[i],[ii] As a result, city dwellers face challenges related to mobility and infrastructure, including crippling congestion as well as choking air pollution among others. In Asian cities, this translates into a dizzying haze, where evidence exists that our pedestrians are exposed to fine particle levels up to 1.6 times higher than those of our European and American counterparts.[iii]^,[iv] The result is about 88 percent of premature deaths attributed to air pollution across low- and middle-income Asia, according to World Health Organisation (WHO).

With more cars on the roads, noise pollution is also of a growing concern to urbanites wellbeing. WHO states the long-term average exposure to levels above 53 dB, similar to the noise from a busy street, can trigger elevated blood pressure, coronary artery disease and heart attacks – in cities like Bangkok, the usual noise level recorded daily is 73 dB.[v]

Electric vehicles offer a promising solution to the environmental issues that plague Asia and Oceania. Virtually silent in operation, according to global energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie, “a typical mid-size electric vehicle can generate up to 67% lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than a gasoline internal combustion engine (ICE) car, on a well-to-wheel basis (factoring in production and driving of EVs)”.^[vi]

It’s with these positive figures, I’m pround that Nissan is part of the pioneering front to electrify mobility across Asia and Oceania. Along with other sectors last year, Nissan also took action towards electrifying mobility in Asia and Oceania in 2018 through a host of thought leadership activities, strategic partnerships, industry associations and namely, the announcement to launch the new Nissan LEAF in seven regional markets--Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. Since its 2010 launch, Nissan LEAFs have travelled more than 5 billion zero-emission kilometers across the globe.

Nissan’s New LEAF is going on sale across seven markets in Asia and Oceania; and embodies the company’s vision of a more sustainable tomorrow and “electrified” Asia.

The Electric Movement Grows in Big Ways

In addition to Nissan’s work in this field, 2018 proved another year whereby major actors, recognizing the challenges of Asia’s future, have publicly and solidly demonstrated their support towards sustainable energy and the electrification of transportation. Virtually every government across Asia has issued a public policy for electric vehicles—which has translated into a host of initiatives from electric bus production in Myanmar to large-scale tax benefits for purchasers of electric vehicles in Korea. [i]^,[ii]

Communities and other private companies in the region additionally took leadership roles in energy conservation. In Thailand, for example, the “Honor the King’s Legacy” project upskilled communities to recycle waste into art through and create sustainable income streams. Parcel delivery firms, such as DHL eCommerce, began testing electric vehicles in Malaysia and Vietnam towards a goal of cutting its logistics-related greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.[iii]

While winds of change from the public and private sectors are evident with governments providing incentives, industries providing infrastructure and savvy manufacturers, such as Nissan, producing innovative electric mobility, the ultimate and true test of our ability to create a more sustainable—and electric—tomorrow across Asia ultimately rests with the mindset of each individual.

2019, The Year of a Sustainable Mindset

With this in mind, and as we open a new year of possibilities, New Year’s Resolutions serve as a great opportunity to adopt new habits which over time can help mold more sustainable mindsets for a brighter tomorrow. Researchers note habits are sequences of actions learned progressively to execute without much thought.^[iv] Translated, this means we have trained ourselves to instinctively to glance both ways before crossing a street or put on a seatbelt in a car, for instance.

For a more sustainable 2019, choosing sustainable options can help ‘train’ our mindset towards a brighter tomorrow. And the good news we are increasingly offered incentives to make energy efficient choices. From every day promotions to opt for electric vehicles when using ride hailing apps to less frequent, yet highly impactful reminders, such as receiving large tax incentives for purchasing battery-based vehicles, we are living in a period with a plethora of sustainable living choices.

Further, according to research, it can take as little as 21 days up to 66 days to adopt a new habit or behavior.[v]^,[vi]  Meaning, that if we commit to energy conserving choices that support a zero-emission tomorrow for a little over two months days, the choice to do so will ultimately become as instinctive as turning on a light when entering a room and turning it off when leaving.

In Asia, the need for us to adopt a more sustainable mindset is critical and I challenge us all to consider where we want to be tomorrow as a society for our future and our children's future. If it is a place where we can enjoy clean air and a more peaceful, relaxed way of living within urban areas, now is the time to adjust our daily choices and commit to new a new mindset whereby electric mobility is commonplace and the preferred method of transportation.

About Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Nissan was established in Japan since 1933 with the commitment to create Innovation that Excites for customer satisfaction. Nissan wants to improve quality of life for people in society by pursuing a goal of zero emission vehicles and zero fatalities on the road with “Nissan Intelligent Mobility”. The company plans to introduce autonomous drive vehicles across regions for safety and more enjoyable driving experience. Nissan started business in Thailand since 1952. Currently, the Nissan Group of Companies in Thailand has subsidiaries five companies, including two of the production bases, over than 190  showrooms and service centers nationwide network. Vehicle range cover all segments includes 10 models spanning the entry level Eco-Car, SUV, Premium Sedans and Pickup Trucks.

About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, INFINITI and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2017, the company sold 5.77 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 11.9 trillion yen. On April 1, 2017, the company embarked on Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, a six-year plan targeting a 30% increase in annualized revenues to 16.5 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2022, along with cumulative free cash flow of 2.5 trillion yen. As part of Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, the company plans to extend its leadership in electric vehicles, symbolized by the world's best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in six regions: Asia & Oceania; Africa, the Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America; and North America. Nissan has partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999 and acquired a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors in 2016. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi is today the world’s largest automotive partnership, with combined sales of more than 10.6 million vehicles in calendar year 2017.

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