A global survey by Nissan Formula E Team has found that over half of young participants want to drive electric cars to aid environmental protection, reflecting a shift towards sustainable mobility.
Nissan Formula E Team, in collaboration with OnePoll, conducted the comprehensive global survey, which tapped into the environmental inclinations and aspirations concerning vehicle choices of 6,000 young individuals, aged between 8 and 16, across six countries: Brazil, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the UK, and the US.
Reflecting a strong inclination towards environmental conservation, the survey revealed that over half of the respondents expressed a desire to drive electric cars as a means to help protect the environment. Additionally, 68% of the participants acknowledged the importance of combating climate change, indicating a clear shift towards sustainable mobility among the younger population.
The findings dovetail with Nissan Formula E Team’s promotional campaign, “Department of Futures”. In an engaging and playful video campaign rolled out on Nissan’s global social media channels, young children aged 7-10 engage with key team members, including drivers Oliver Rowland and Sacha Fenestraz, and team principal Tommaso Volpe. This interaction underscores the children’s expectations for a future dominated by electric vehicles and holding the brand accountable for its environmental commitments.
The “Department of Futures” campaign supports Ambition 2030 pledge, which includes the introduction of 27 new electrified vehicles by the decade’s end. It positions the automaker as a frontrunner in the shift towards electrification and resonates with the youth’s aspirations for a sustainable future. The campaign also highlights Nissan’s role in educating the younger generation about eco-friendly practices, addressing the finding that almost half of the young respondents were unsure about the meaning of being ‘eco-friendly’.
Reflecting on the survey and campaign, Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal of the Nissan Formula E Team, expressed the company’s responsibilities towards the younger generation. “The survey proves the desire of young people to help the environment through their choice of vehicles,” Volpe commented. “We at Nissan Formula E Team are committed to developing the necessary technologies to ensure they can enjoy a greener, better future.”
Nissan’s engagement in the Formula E Championship underlines its broader ambition toward electric innovation. The Japanese automaker made its all-electric racing debut in Season 5 (2018/19) and has since fortified its involvement, pledging long-term participation into the Gen3 era (2022/23 to 2025/26) and beyond. Notably, in the 2024 announcement preceding the Tokyo E-Prix, Nissan committed to the Gen4 era running through to 2030, thereby reinforcing its electrification goals aligned with Ambition 2030.
Nissan’s strategic acquisition of the e.dams race team in April 2022 marked a significant milestone, granting full control over its Formula E operations. Furthermore, a partnership with McLaren Racing, supplying Nissan EV powertrain technology for the entire Gen3 era, exemplifies Nissan’s commitment to advancing electric vehicle technology.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, now recognised for its net zero carbon footprint since inception in 2020, serves as a high-stakes testing ground for electric vehicle innovations. It brings together leading manufacturers competing on urban circuits globally, aimed at promoting sustainable mobility and demonstrating the viability and excitement of electric vehicles.
