Nissan LEAF Helps New York Celebrate Earth Day for Second Straight Year

All-Electric LEAF to Participate in CO2 E Drive to Times Square Culminating in Green Vehicle Runway Show

NEW YORK--April 20, 2012:  Today, the award-winning Nissan LEAF will celebrate Earth Day 2012 in New York City, marking the automaker's second year as a sponsor. As part of the day's activities, the LEAF will take part in a CO2 E Drive through Manhattan along a route that finishes up in Times Square. Earth Day 2012 is a three-day event designed to help raise environmental awareness and features various family-friendly events from April 19-21.

The LEAF, one of many environmentally-friendly vehicles participating in the CO2 E Drive, will be equipped with GPS technology to track movement. Each participating vehicle will act as virtual paintbrushes with New York City serving as its canvas. GPS will track the vehicles as they maneuver through a predesigned route, ultimately forming an image of the letter "E" overlaid on a satellite image of the city. Satellite cameras orbiting over Earth will capture the image and display it in the form of colored lights. Vehicle tracking and images of the CO2 E Drive can be viewed at CO2 Greeen Drive New York.

"Nissan's commitment to zero emissions goes beyond the LEAF and we are always looking for ways to share our passion for eco-friendly solutions with the world," said Jon Brancheau, vice president, Nissan marketing. "Participating in Earth Day 2012 is an extension of Nissan's comprehensive range of initiatives that aim to help reduce environmental impact in real world terms and support the development of a sustainable mobile society."

Once in Times Square, the LEAF will take the stage during a special car runway show highlighting green vehicle attributes, such as zero tailpipe emissions, parts made from recyclable materials, and its range of 100 miles.

Following the runway show, a designated area in Times Square will be available for runway show vehicles, as well as innovators of environmentally responsible technologies, to exhibit for the duration of the event.

In March 2012, Nissan expanded the availability of the LEAF to nationwide ordering, making the LEAF the world's first and only all-electric, zero-emission vehicle for the mass market, and the first electric car available for anyone to purchase, anywhere in the United States.

Additional Earth Day New York 2012 details can be found at Earth Day NY.