THE Nissan LEAF has won the Environment Award at the 2013 Fleet World Honours awards at a ceremony held today at The Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall.
The LEAF fended off competition from rival electric and hybrid manufacturers to win one of the most significant awards in the fleet calendar.
The Fleet World Honours Car Awards are open to all motor manufacturers and the judging process combines the expert opinion of the Fleet World editorial team with the values provided by a number of leading leasing companies and fleet data providers.
The LEAF was judged upon a variety of criteria specific to fleet including cost of ownership and fit for purpose credentials with the 100 per cent electric car ultimately judged to be the best environmentally focussed car available for fleets to buy today.
The prestigious Environment Award comes hot on the heels of a raft of improvements made to the New LEAF, including extended range from 109 miles to 124 miles, a battery that is capable of recharging in about half the time of the first-generation LEAF and for the first time, buyers can lease batteries for the 100 per cent electric car.
Recent enhancements
Fleet World editor, Steve Moody, said: ‘Nissan has been almost single-handedly driving the electric vehicle market forward in the past few years, with the LEAF spearheading this push by taking the vast majority of EV sales. With its recent enhancements, the LEAF is more viable than ever.’
Commenting on the award, Nissan corporate sales director Barry Beeston said: ‘We’re really pleased to have won this award from one of the most distinguished fleet titles.
‘With the crop of recent improvements we’ve made to the New LEAF including extending the range and providing the option to lease batteries, it’s all helping to make the LEAF a credible and low running cost option for forward-thinking fleets.’