Natural disasters are a constant threat to the island nation of Japan, with earthquakes, typhoons, and other hazards being a part of everyday life. In response to this, Japan has allocated a significant amount of its disaster prevention budget towards measures such as earthquake-proof buildings, evacuation centers, and alert systems. However, the need for more sustainable solutions has become increasingly important in recent years.
To address this need, Nissan Motor and Kotohira Town have announced a new partnership to use electric vehicles, specifically the Nissan LEAF, as “driving storage batteries” to provide power to evacuation centers in the event of a natural disaster. The initiative is designed to raise awareness about environmental issues and disaster prevention in a sustainable way.
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Kotohira Town, which is actively pursuing sustainable development goals, will use Nissan’s LEAF EV to supply electricity to evacuation centers and other vital facilities, free of charge, in the event of a disaster. The EVs will also be used to provide electricity at events in the town, promoting the use of zero-emission electric cars even in non-emergency situations.
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Furthermore, Kotohira Town has introduced a Nissan Sakura EV as a public vehicle and portable power device, which will be equipped with vehicle-to-home capabilities (V2H) to further strengthen the town’s power resistance. The new partnership between Nissan and Kotohira Town will help to create a more sustainable and disaster-resilient city for the future.
Japan’s vulnerability to natural disasters has long been a concern for its citizens, but with initiatives like this, the nation is taking steps towards creating a more sustainable future. As the threat of climate change continues to loom large, it is imperative that governments and corporations work together to find innovative solutions to the challenges we face. The partnership between Nissan and Kotohira Town is a promising step in that direction.
