VIDEO REPORT: New world record set with the Nissan LEAF in the lead

Editor’s note: The Guinness World Record attempt was sponsored and organized by the San Francisco BayLEAFs, the Electric Auto Association of Silicon Valley and SAP. Drone video footage courtesy of Frank Mokaya, San Francisco BayLEAFS and the Electric Auto Association of SV.

CUPERTINO, Calif. – California has witnessed the world’s largest ever parade of electric vehicles (EVs), 507 cars in one place ... and most were Nissan LEAFs. This new record was set during Plug-in America’s National Drive Electric Week, at a time when EV sales continue to climb for Nissan.

"We are currently at around 61,000 sales in the United States since the launch of LEAF four years ago. It is number one in the market (and) number one in the world. It is a natural fit for an opportunity like this to come out and be at this event and set a Guinness World Record on largest number of electric vehicles in a parade at any given time," said Toby Perry, director, Nissan EV marketing.

As the exclusive automotive sponsor for National Drive Electric Week this September, Nissan had a message to share: EV sales are rising – and the trend is going to continue.

"The fact that there are more manufacturers coming in now proves that it is a viable alternative out there and that we are doing the right thing. To see Kia coming into the market – now Volkswagen in a couple of months – they will be very mainstream vehicles, and it makes us look even stronger as the leader," said Perry.

National Drive Electric Week is a nationwide grassroots celebration of electric vehicle technology. The annual event shows the fun, convenience, clean-air benefits and cost-savings of electric vehicles through activities taking place from Hawaii to Vermont.

"So many cities came to us and said ‘we can’t do it on a Saturday or a Sunday,’ and so we made this an entire week for greater flexibility," said Zan Dubin Scott, communications director, Plug In America.

"I love it. I save so much time and money on not having to go and fill up with gas. And I just charge at Google, where I work, so it is awesome," said Christiana Bush, EV parade participant, Nissan LEAF owner, on the benefits of driving an electric vehicle.

Plug In America reported that plug-in vehicle sales hit the first quarter-million mark in the U.S. on Sept. 10, as a record number of cities were preparing to celebrate this week’s events.

"We want to get people to drive electric, to try it out and get the electric smile – to see how awesome it is and leave gas behind. Join the future man," said Nicholas Littlejohn, EV parade participant.

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