14 DAY TRIAL // The Kingdom of Bhutan in South Asia wishes to become a zero emission nation in the not so distant future.
To this end, it has entered a partnership with Nissan and is now looking to electrify its fleet and develop its charging infrastructure with the Japanese automotive manufacturer's help.
“An electric revolution has begun in Bhutan,” the multinational company writes in a press release published on its website.
“The remote Himalayan country, renowned for championing 'Gross National Happiness,' has taken first steps towards becoming a leading global electric-vehicle nation,” it adds.
As part of this collaboration between the Japanese multinational company and the isolated mountain kingdom, Thimphu, i.e. Bhutan's current capital city, is to have the vehicles in its taxi and government fleet replaced by all electric LEAF models.
Besides, Nissan has promised to set in place quick several charging points across the country, and thus help further encourage the use of environmentally friendly cars, Business Green reports.
According to the same source, high officials in Bhutan are also considering the possibility to exempt electric vehicles from certain taxes.
Besides, they are thinking about setting in place a carbon credit scheme under which electric vehicle sales will translate into tax exemptions for internal combustion engine-powered car imports.
The end goal of this series of initiatives is to reduce oil imports and cut pollution by promoting the use of environmentally friendly vehicles across Bhutan.
Commenting on this partnership between the Japanese automotive manufacturer and the Kingdom of Bhutan, Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn stated as follows:
“As the world's leader in zero emissions and the maker of the best-selling electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, we believe in and will support Bhutan's breakthrough vision of its future transportation.”
“We will also use the opportunity of supplying the Nissan LEAF and our quick chargers to Bhutan to demonstrate how our electric vehicle business can be scaled in emerging markets that are rich in clean-energy,” he added.