Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. recently announced that the ratio of its Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (SU-LEVs) reached 80% of its total Japan sales in May with 13 models certified as SU-LEVs.
SU-LEVs are vehicles that have achieved a top-level four-star status with 75% or less nitrogen oxide (NOx) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions than the level stipulated by Japanese 2005 exhaust emissions standards. SU-LEVs have approximately half the level of emissions of Ultra-Low Emission vehicles (U-LEVs).
According to Nissan’s estimate, a SU-LEV ratio of 80% results in NOx and HC reductions that would be the equivalent of fuel cell vehicles or electric vehicles accounting for 40% of its sales.
The 13 SU-LEV certified models are: Bluebird Sylphy, Tiida, Tiida Sedan, Wingroad, March, Cube, Cube Cubic, Note, Presage, Serena, Lafesta, Moco and Otti.
“Nissan has a commitment to a greener industry, always developing technologies and vehicles that consistently lower emissions” commented Monal Zeidan, Senior Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications Departments at Nissan Middle East. “Last year, Nissan was approved as a continuing member of the FTSE4Good index for its work in environmental sustainability, as well as winning the 2005 Excellent Sustainability Report award for reducing CO2 emissions, and our SU-LEV landmark is further proof of our dedication to the environment” continued Zeidan.
In February 2003, Nissan achieved its goal of having U-LEVs account for more than 80% of its gasoline-powered passenger vehicles in Japan.
Nissan has long worked on the development of clean combustion technology and catalyst technology. In January 2000, the Sentra CA released in the US became the first gasoline-powered vehicle in the world to clear standards set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and to receive Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) certification. The Bluebird Sylphy, launched in Japan in August 2000, became the first vehicle to receive U-LEV certification by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. In 2003, the model also became the first to receive SU-LEV certification.
