Leafs out on first day of spring

An expected 100 plus Nissan Leaf owners will drive from Greenlane to Silverdale in Auckland on September 1 in possibly the largest electric vehicle convoy in New Zealand.

The Leafs are out in force to herald the start of International Drive Electric Week nationwide EV-related events from September 8-16.

“Electric vehicles are exciting to drive and incredibly low cost to run. I hope that more of the public will consider buying an EV as their next vehicle purchase,” organiser and NZ Nissan Leaf Club member Michael Young says. “And I hope this will become an annual First Day of Spring event for the Nissan Owners’ Club.”

Meanwhile, owners of all EVs are invited to join the Nissan Leaf Club rally, although they will be asked to position their EVs at the rear of the convoy.

A “Nissan Owners Meet and Greet” is scheduled at McDonalds Greenlane where chargers are stationed at about 2pm before the convoy leaves at 3pm.

The convoy will then travel via the southern and northern motorways to Kings Plant Barn in Silverdale where more Vector chargers are located, finishing by 5pm.

The rally is weather dependent, but will continue if rain is light.

More than 4000 Nissan Leafs are registered in New Zealand among at least 9000 EVs.

Drive Electric Week will be launched first internationally on September 8 from 7am with an EV display at the Whangarei Growers Market, the display returning on September 15. That’s followed by a morning tea at the Totara Cafe in Tikipunga, Whangarei, 10.30am.

Corporate EVs will be displayed and rides and drives available at QBE Stadium in Albany, Auckland, September 8, noon-4pm.

Wellington EV advocates Sigurd Magnusson and Jorn Scherzer talk EVs at the War Memorial Library in Lower Hutt on September 8, 1.3pm-2.30pm.

Flip the Fleet’s Henrik Moller provides short presentations at an EV presentations and drives afternoon the same day at the Central Stories Museum & Art Gallery in Alexandra from 3pm. The event links with an exhibition on climate change.

More EV rides and drives are offered on September 9 at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market from 8.30am.

Dee West speaks at a Northland Regional Council EV event in Whangarei on September 12 from 5.30pm, and the Rotorua Night Market hosts EVs on September 13 from 5pm.

Also on September 13, an “Electric car and e-bike showcase” is at the Newtown Community and Cultural Centre, Wellington, from 5.30pm.

EVs are included in the Hawke’s Bay Home and Garden Show in Napier on September 14-16 9am-4pm.

A world record attempt at the “longest parade of electric cars” (set at 402 cars, 3km long in Denmark) will be made in Christchurch on September 16, 11am, to wrap up the week.

Visit https://www.leadingthecharge.org.nz/auckland_spring_leaf_rally for more details.