Nissan charges Leaf for marathon

Nissan’s electric Leaf will make an appearance at this years adidas Auckland Marathon – leading the way as official pace car.

With three months to go and stepping up their training, checking out the Nissan LEAF’s paces along Tamaki Drive this week were legendary Auckland runner, Gavin Stevens, who will run his 73rd marathon when he tackles the Auckland event on  October 28, as well as members of the adiRun running group.

Nissan is the official vehicle supplier for the event, and a second Nissan LEAF will also act as the ‘tail-end Charlie’ vehicle and three of the company’s recently launched crossover Jukes will provide additional race day support.

Nissan New Zealand managing director John Manley says the idea came from the New York City Marathon, where the Nissan LEAF has been the pace vehicle since 2010.

“It’s great to see the adidas Auckland Marathon following in the footsteps of one of the world’s most renowned marathons and embracing this new revolution in motoring which offers such a great fit with an event that is about health and well-being,” says Manley.

Stevens, who has run the Auckland event 17 times and taken on the challenging 42.195 kilometre feat in as many as 20 different cities, says it is great to see Nissan New Zealand and adidas Auckland Marathon thinking about the impact its choice of pace vehicle has on participants.

“Having run in cities all over the world, many more populated and polluted than Auckland, it’s encouraging that Auckland is drilling down to this level of detail and ensuring the best possible experience for its runners,” says Stevens.

“I’ve probably clocked up in the vicinity of 200,000km run over the years and for the first time it will be great to be following a vehicle that’s not pushing out carbon emissions from its tailpipe.”