THE Lord Mayor of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is blazing a trail for elected officials everywhere after taking delivery of his new 100% electric Nissan LEAF mayoral limousine.
Councillor George Pattison is believed to be the first mayor in the UK to make a permanent switch to a pure electric official car, trading in his present petrol-fuelled car, which has been used by his predecessors for several years.
Used to transport the Lord Mayor to official engagements by the official chauffeur, the Nissan LEAF is fitted with a plaque bearing the Lord Mayor’s coat of arms, a city council flag and the city’s oldest number plate, OBB1.
The groundbreaking move is part of the City of Newcastle’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, the environment and delivering maximum value for taxpayers.
The all-electric Nissan LEAF has been supplied by Benfield Motor Group, the North East’s largest motor retail group, through a unique partnership agreement.
The council will also enjoy significant savings thanks to the LEAF’s ultra low running costs of just two pence per mile. In addition, the LEAF – the world’s best-selling all-electric car – is built at Nissan’s record-breaking Sunderland plant, helping to secure thousands of jobs across the North East.
Meanwhile, the local authority will further boost Newcastle’s credentials as an ‘EV-friendly’ city with the installation of new electric car charging points at the Civic Centre and Mansion House, the Lord Mayor’s official residence.
Councillor Pattison said: “Trading in the previous vehicle for the Nissan LEAF is a tradition we are happy to break, as we go in search of savings wherever we can find them and continue efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. The car has zero emissions and it costs virtually nothing to run, so it’s an excellent addition to our growing fleet of electric vehicles. And with the flag, crest, and plates attached it really looks the business too.”
Colin Pybus, Operations Director for Benfield Nissan, said: “We are delighted to support the Lord Mayor and City of Newcastle Council in their quest for a greener city and environment. Benfield is a family business based here in Newcastle and we are very proud to be handing over the keys of this locally-built Nissan LEAF to the Lord Mayor of Newcastle.
“We are sure this high-profile partnership will heighten awareness of the Nissan LEAF and the many benefits associated with electric motoring.”
