A Norfolk Nissan dealer is promoting the benefits of electric motoring by chatting to listeners on his local BBC radio station.
Kevin Abbs, managing director of Crayford & Abbs, has appeared on Radio Norfolk several times over the past four years.
As more and more people become familiar with the benefits of running a clean, green car such as Nissan’s legendary LEAF, his job has become easier – but it hasn’t always been like that.
Recalling his first couple of radio slots, Kevin told Nissan Insider that his contributions were met with a certain amount of scepticism from the presenters themselves who had yet to be convinced that electric motoring was the way forward. But things have moved on since then – especially in the last six months or so, he says.
‘‘It really feels as though momentum is building and that manufacturers are adding new models almost monthly,’’ Kevin told us. ‘‘It’s great to go along and talk about the feasibility of electric motoring – and also extol the virtues of the Nissan LEAF and the way Nissan are driving the market.’’
The BBC’s repeated approaches to Kevin are a tribute to his knowledge around all things EV – and his dealership has enjoyed considerable success selling LEAF in the 10 years the car has been on the market.
Keeping the focus
The mentions of his business’s name over the airwaves help advance the cause and raise awareness, too. He says: ‘‘We get a lovely name-check. They talk about us being the specialists for electric cars so it keeps the focus driving forward.
‘‘But what has been quite refreshing for Crayford & Abbs – and I would like to think, Nissan – is that when you consider the number of dealerships in and around Norfolk, they ask us to go on air. They could have any manufacturer in Norfolk but they ask Nissan!’’