A study by Nissan has revealed data showing that rising levels of air pollution in Europe’s capital cities are coinciding with a new sense of health consciousness amongst European citizens.
16 Aug 2016 | 3935 Views | By Autocar Professional Bureau
A study by Nissan has revealed data showing that rising levels of air pollution in Europe’s capital cities are coinciding with a new sense of health consciousness amongst European citizens.
The data shows that consumers are more attuned to health concerns than ever before, and are increasingly seeking their ...
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A study by Nissan has revealed data showing that rising levels of air pollution in Europe’s capital cities are coinciding with a new sense of health consciousness amongst European citizens.
The data shows that consumers are more attuned to health concerns than ever before, and are increasingly seeking their own solutions to help them ‘clean up’ the air around them.
Internet searches for the term “best air purifier” have risen over 750 percent in the UK, with the search spiking in June 2016, higher than it has ever been over the past ten years. People are also curious about the air quality in the towns and cities where they live, with the search term ‘air quality index’ seeing phenomenal growth of 750 percent and the phrase ‘air pollution facts’ up 350%.[
As air quality across Europe remains a cause for concern, Nissan says it has stepped up its own commitment to zero emissions, exploring technology that will contribute towards a greener, more sustainable environment. Beyond production of the fully electric Leaf hatchback and e-NV200 van, Nissan has announced a major partnership with energy provider Enel to trial vehicle-to-grid technology across Europe that will turn electric vehicles into clean mobile energy units, able to put energy back into the grid as well as take from it.
The Japanese carmaker has also confirmed plans to move into the residential home energy storage market, with the launch of its ‘xStorage’ unit in Europe later this year in partnership with power management firm, Eaton. The system will not only give Nissan electric vehicle batteries a ‘second life’, but will also provide a fully integrated energy storage solution that will put energy management and distribution back in the hands of the consumer.
With the World Health Organisation recently declaring that more than 80 percent of people living in urban areas that monitor air pollution are exposed to air quality levels that exceed the WHO limits, the problem is a global one. This has recently manifested itself in the number of poor air quality days declared across Europe’s capital cities including Paris, where drivers with odd or even numberplates were given authorisation to drive on different days.
Gareth Dunsmore, Head of Electric Vehicles, Nissan Europe said: “For so long now, air pollution has been seen as a problem that affects people on the other side of the world. This is a flawed perception because air pollution is impacting people and cities right here in Europe. Everyone has a role to play, ourselves included, but by investing in zero emission technologies and putting a stake in the ground about how we can help people live healthier, smarter, greener lives, we hope it’s a step in the right direction.”
According to recent reports, the global air purifiers market is projected to exceed $59 billion by 2021, with rising levels of pollution and growing health consciousness among consumers propelling this trend. As a result, consumers are making new lifestyle choices to protect their health.
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