New 2018 Nissan LEAF to make its Midwest debut in Chicago
The all-new 2018 Nissan LEAF makes its Midwest debut at the Shared Use Mobility Center's open house on Wednesday, Dec. 6 in Chicago.
The next-generation of LEAF, the world's best-selling electric vehicle, goes on sale at Nissan dealers in all 50 states in early 2018.
"Vehicle sharing and electrification go hand in hand as key parts of a sustainable urban future," said Sharon Feigon, executive director, Shared Use Mobility Center. "This trend toward clean transportation is happening while shared mobility services are more popular than ever in cities like Chicago. Many cities, automakers and fleets are making plans to go 'all-electric.' As their ranges expand, electric vehicles like the Nissan LEAF are becoming ever more central to the urban mobility picture."
Open house sponsor Nissan will conduct the official Midwest unveiling of the 2018 Nissan LEAF at the event, which will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Shared Use Mobility Center's office, 125 S. Clark St. in Chicago.
To RSVP, go to the eventbrite.com event page. Customers can go to www.nissanusa.com to reserve their 2018 LEAF from their EV-certified Nissan dealer.
In addition to seeing the all-new Nissan LEAF, attendees will learn about trends from leading EV experts. Those speaking at the program include:
• Cynthia Maves, electric vehicle business development manager, Nissan North America
• Samantha Bingham, clean transportation program director, Chicago Department of Transportation and coordinator, Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition
• Jeremy Spoon, co-founder and CEO, Drive aGo
• Moderator: Sharon Feigon, executive director, SUMC
Chicago Area Clean Cities is a part of a recently launched seven-state partnership in the Midwest led by the American Lung Association to get people behind the wheel of plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles. The program, called Midwest EVOLVE (Electric Vehicle Opportunities: Learning, eVents, Experience), emphasizes the performance and clean-air advantages of plug-in electric vehicles.
Over the course of the three-year program, electric vehicles are being showcased and offered to consumers for test drives at Midwest EVOLVE events in seven Midwestern states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota.
"We're seeing a lot of interest in plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles at our Midwest EVOLVE events," said Bingham, coordinator, Chicago Area Clean Cities, a nonprofit coalition focused on clean transportation solutions for the six-county Chicago area. "We've hosted a half-dozen events this year at which plug-in vehicles are featured.
"What we find is that people have a lot of preconceptions about electric cars," Bingham said. "Many people just don't know much about these cars. That lack of knowledge and driving experience serves as a barrier. The events we've hosted have helped to educate people about finding a vehicle that fits their driving needs. We also help consumers to learn about charging solutions for home, work, and at public charging stations."
At Midwest EVOLVE events, consumers, government officials, fleet administrators and dealership personnel have an opportunity to learn about the environmental benefits of electric and hybrid vehicles, and the ease of charging vehicles at home, at work or at public charging stations.
Over three years, the American Lung Association and the eight Clean Cities coalitions are hosting more than 200 large and small Midwest EVOLVE events, including ride and drives, workplace-charging seminars, and other events, at brand-neutral settings throughout the Midwest. The first events were held in the spring of 2017.
Midwest EVOLVE launched in early 2017 at the Chicago Auto Show with three automotive partners, Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Nissan, as well as more than 60 other partners, including Argonne National Laboratory, utilities, state agencies, municipalities, dealerships and dealer associations. By the end of 2019, more than 200 large and small Midwest EVOLVE events, including ride and drives, workplace-charging seminars, and other events, will be held at brand-neutral settings throughout the Midwest.
The Midwest EVOLVE project is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), under Award Number DE-EE0007743. To learn more or locate Midwest EVOLVE events, visit www.midwestevolve.org.