2024/06/24
On the 23rd, Nissan Motor Co. and Asahikawa Nissan Motor Co. together with Biei-cho, Hokkaido, announced the specific measures of the 'Blue Project', which aims at the theme of the next 100 years and depicts the beautiful future of Biei 100 years from now while generating various actions.
In January of this year, all three parties signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement to utilize electric vehicles (EVs) for the future beautiful future of Biei, announcing the promotion of the 'Blue Project'. At an event held in the Shirakin area of Biei-cho on the 23rd of this month, details of the 'Beautiful Road, Rich Forest Project', the pillar of this project, were announced, and a symbol tree was planted to commemorate the birth of 'Biei x NISSAN Blue Switch Forest'.
Biei-cho, which has the Daisetsuzan National Park and beautiful hills, was recognized for its efforts towards zero-carbon, including promoting this project, and was officially registered as a Zero-Carbon Park by the Ministry of the Environment on the 16th of this month. We will accelerate the full-scale operation of this project and cooperation toward zero carbon, starting with this registration.
Overview of the Blue Project
![Poster for the 'Beautiful Road Project' (three Nissan EVs parked on a tree-lined road with the Tokachi Range and blue sky in the background)](https://newsfile.futunn.com/public/NN-PersistNewsContentImage/7781/20240624/0-e81df7db598be98d44978e0cf6b6220f-1-6dcc17fb5fdbc93cef00bf87a0ea4c1f.jpg/big)
![Poster for the 'Rich Forest Project' (a forest nestled in the magnificent Tokachi Federation)](https://newsfile.futunn.com/public/NN-PersistNewsContentImage/7781/20240624/0-e81df7db598be98d44978e0cf6b6220f-2-28f7b6348bf9b873b5f37aa4198b12da.jpg/big)
CO Reduction by promoting EVs with zero emissions and the promotion of sustainable tourism activities.2We will also work on building charging infrastructure, such as expanding the number of EV chargers, for EVs in the area and local residents.*1 Virgin material: Made using only new materials
This project is an activity with EV owners and residents of Biei that aims to create a beautiful and rich forest to see through the next 100 years. 2
To commemorate the birth of the 'Blue Switch Forest', a birch tree, which will be a symbol tree of cooperation to replace the famous Ken and Mary tree in Nissan Skyline commercials, was planted with the children of Biei, who are the future generation of Biei. We will continue to inherit this tree.
As part of this project, we will hold regular events where supporters of this activity, including local residents and EV owners, gather in this forest and watch the trees, including the symbol tree, grow into a rich forest.
Nissan Zero Emission Fund
The planting of the Blue Switch Forest and forest conservation efforts will be carried out using the Nissan Zero Emission Fund. This fund covers the amount of CO2 not discharged when the EVs of agreeing EV owners travel.*22It is a mechanism that aggregates, utilizes the country's "J-Credit System" for financing, and returns it to society and EV owners through activities related to decarbonization.
In the future, Nissan will continue to use this fund for social activities and resources related to decarbonization, such as forest conservation, environmental education, and support for EV proliferation.
Sustainable promotion of the Blue Project
The "Blue Project" is an activity that works towards sustainability for a beautiful future in Biei, based on the idea of "transition" from the current state to the next state and the concept of "regeneration" that creates new value through coexistence, circulation, and regeneration with nature.
Changing shape from "Skyline and Ken and Mary's tree collaboration" to "Forests grown with everyone with EV" along with changes in environmental awareness and the times, we will continue to work on sustainable actions together with the local community and visitors in the future.
Through the promotion of the Blue Project, Biei Town and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and Asahikawa Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. will further strengthen their cooperation towards a beautiful future of Biei 100 years from now, where zero-emission EVs travel on beautiful roads throughout the town and rich forests are nurtured by everyone, while achieving zero carbon in the town.
*1: Rapid charging equipment will be installed at the Roadside Station Biei "Shirogane Birke" in 2025
Nissan Zero Emission Fund:https://n-link.nissan.co.jp/MANUAL/EV/ZEFUND/index.html
Above.
Zero Carbon Park (Biei Town), Ministry of the Environment: https://www.env.go.jp/nature/post_134.html
First Contact Nissan Technology:https://www3.nissan.co.jp/first-contact-technology.html
Japan Electrification Action "Blue Switch":https://www3.nissan.co.jp/first-contact-technology/blue-switch.html