The Nissan LEAF EV from 2010
THE Nissan LEAF, the world’s first mass-market electric vehicle, has been named as one of the greatest ever transport innovations.
That’s according to a survey conducted by the Japanese carmaker to mark its 90th birthday, the LEAF finishing at number 19 on the list.
EVs specifically were voted as the innovation that holds the most promise for the future of UK sustainability while a third of those polled also believe the motor industry has undergone the most exciting changes over the past nine decades – compared to aviation, rail and cycling.
More sustainable road travel (38 per cent), scientific advancement (16 per cent), and employment opportunities (11 per cent) were also seen as the biggest opportunities within the EV industry.
Since its inception at the end of 1933, Nissan has been a pioneer of electric vehicles, performance cars and crossover models that illustrate its spirit of innovation.
The Nissan Hyper Urban concept model
From the 1947 Tama electric vehicle, via the LEAF to recently revealed future EV concepts like the Hyper Punk and Hyper Urban, the company has aimed to help create a cleaner and safer world.
And to mark its 90 years, Nissan commissioned a OnePoll survey of 2,000 UK adults to find out people’s opinions on a list of other significant transport innovations of the last 90 years.
The opening of the Channel Tunnel, Concorde’s first flight and the invention of satnav came out on top, while the electrification of the London Underground, the first modern hovercraft and the first zebra crossing also ranked in the top 30.
Looking to the future, the study showed that 69 per cent think that new technologies will play a big part in reducing the environmental impact of transportation in this country.
Nissan’s first electric car, the Tama from 1947
The survey also revealed that 27 per cent are in favour of introducing artificial intelligence into the car industry, while 29 per cent hold the same views for public transport.
And with AI becoming increasingly commonplace in everyday life, Nissan has utilised the technology to bring its heritage to life by imagining transport scenes that compare the Tama, its first ever electric car in 1947, to the modern-day Ariya EV.
Nissan GB chief Andrew Humberstone said: “Over the last 90 years, we’ve always dared to do things differently at Nissan and have delivered some truly ground-breaking innovations along the way.
“We’re so proud of this pioneering spirit and the people who make up our incredible global team at Nissan – I look forward to sharing more automotive design, technology and driving excitement with our customers in the future.”
TOP 30 transport innovations:
- 1976 – Concorde makes first passenger-carrying supersonic flight
- 1957 – First flight of a commercial jet airliner
- 1994 – Opening of the channel tunnel
- 1958 – First commercial jet airliner
- 1981 – Maiden flight of the space shuttle
- 1960 – Launch of the first Sat Nav
- 1951 – Creation of power steering
- 1988 – First airbag
- 1934 – Introduction of the Driving Test
- 1955 – Creation of the Hovercraft
- 1959 – The first three-point seat belt
- 2022 – First zero-emissions electric flight takes place
- 1939 – First practical helicopter built
- 1949 – First zebra crossing
- 1971 – The Lunar Roving vehicle is used on the moon
- 1964 – Launch of the Bullet Train
- 1939 – Creation of automatic transmission
- 1967 – Automatic train operation: London Underground
- 2010 – Launch of the world’s first mass-produced electric car
- 1984 – Driverless cars
- 1953 – First air conditioning in a car
- 2022 – First railway line run by hydrogen-powered trains
- 1971 – ABS technology first used on a car
- 1940 – First electric bus delivered
- 2003 – First automatic parking
- 2016 – First hydrogen-powered flight
- 1984 – First car with a CD player
- 2001 – First hands-free Bluetooth kit
- 2018 – First driverless trams tested
- 1958 – Creation of cruise control
