Police in West Midlands Order Batch of Electric Nissan Leaf Cars
Police in the West Midlands have just received a
delivery of 30 Nissan Leaf electric cars to add to their fleet. The cars will
be used in 10 local units, with each unit getting access to three of the
vehicles.
This represents the
largest UK corporate order of the Nissan Leaf to date, and the police have
confirmed that the cars will be used to drive to local victims of crime and to
attend various meetings. Nissan was clearly pleased to have such a prestigious
customer, and confirmed that more fleet owners are starting to realise the
benefits of electric vehicles.
Why the Nissan Leaf?
The news about the order
of the 30 Nissan Leaf cars suggests that electric vehicles may finally be
starting to catch on across the UK. One of the major benefits of electric
vehicles, and one that almost certainly influenced the police, is the cheaper
cost involved in running them. The police will be able to completely recharge
the cars for just £1.75, making significant savings for the force and for the
taxpayer.
One of the potential
problems of using electric vehicles is the lack of charging stations. However,
the police will get around this by installing charging points at each of the
units where the cars will be used. This will make it easy to charge the cars
and they won't have any problems searching for charging points.
As the cars have a range
of 124 miles, they are also ideal for the short distances that the police will
use them for. Indeed, the cars are expected to drive between 40 to 45 miles
each day, which is well within the range of the vehicle.
Then there are other
benefits as well, including the fact that the cars do not produce any
emissions, which can help the police to boost their eco credentials. And to top
it off, it has been reported that many of the police offices involved in the
trials liked the appearance of the Leaf.
Nissan Leaf Wins Safety
Award
One of the other factors
that may have played some part in the decision to go with the Leaf is that it
is known for its high standards of safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety (IIHS) recently awarded the Leaf a Top Safety Pick in 2013. It received
the same award in 2011 and 2012, but it was tested again in this year because a
number of changes have been made to the 2013 model.
Amongst the features
that make it such a safe ride include an advanced airbag system (AABS) with
seatbelt sensors, side-impact airbags and a LATCH system for children. The
latest version of the Leaf also comes with quicker charging, an increased range
and a more roomy interior amongst the over 100 changes that have been made in
all.
Could It Lead to More
Nissan Leafs on the Streets?
Nissan will surely be
hoping that the recent award coupled with the headline-grabbing order from West
Midlands Police will boost the appeal of electric vehicles like the Leaf on the
road. However, one of the key problems is that there are still not enough
charging points available. Once more charging points appear and owners can
charge their cars wherever they are, it is almost certain that electric cars
such as the Nissan Leaf will really start to make an impact across the UK.
Author Bio:
Joel Freedman is an
automotive enthusiast and researcher. He enjoys sharing his insights on various
automotive blogs. To learn more visit The Car Buying Service website.
