Nissan Partners with local renewable energy company for Blue Switch initiative
Nissan Philippines has recently partnered with local renewable energy firm First Gen Corporation in a move to further its Blue Switch initiative in the country. Launched in January of this year, Blue Switch is a program that promotes the use of EV technologies.
Photo: Nissan Philippines
“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.
The partnership includes First Gen’s acquisition of a Nissan LEAF as part of its efforts to launch the GreenWheels Project, GreenWheels is an electric vehicle (EV) pilot program whose charging station electricity supply comes from a clean energy source.
Under the GreenWheels Project, First Gen developed a fast EV charging station, which can accommodate multiple EVs. Inside the First Gen Clean Energy Complex in Batangas City, the Nissan LEAF will serve as the project’s test vehicle.
Photo: Nissan Philippines
What sets the GreenWheels Project apart is its charging station which not only boasts fast charging but is also powered by solar energy. This clean and fast charging station can charge up an EV unit’s battery to 80-percent in as fast as 40 minutes, a mere fraction of the 18 hours needed by a regular home charger.
Nissan Philippines seeks to further support the GreenWheels project and open itself to more ways of collaboration with First Gen once the pilot testing proves to be a feasible option for reducing CO2 emissions.
Najima added: “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.”
The project is a stepping stone to a truly sustainable by completely removing the reliance on fossil fuels to power charging stations.
