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A 100-year-old man who started driving in 1930 has become a pioneer for cutting carbon emissions - after buying himself a new electric car.

The 100% electric and zero emissions Nissan LEAF is the first new car that John Walsh has ever bought and with average fuel savings of €1,400 per annum, his new EV would have netted him over €120,000 had the car existed during his motoring life.

John, from Clonmel, Tipperary, who is preparing to celebrate his 101st birthday on September 10, said: “I would never have dreamt of buying a car at this stage.

(Image: John D Kelly)

"My motivation was to do something to improve the environment and to conserve the supply of fossil fuels.

"The banks are paying no interest, so I decided to spend my money on an EV to do my own little bit to protect the environment."

The pioneering pensioner particularly enjoys being able to charge his new Nissan car at home.

His father, Richard, who was an electrician by trade, helped him to build his family home in 1949 and he was living there for almost three years before they witnessed the arrival of electricity in Clonmel.

The retired accountant with cider giants Bulmers said: “I love the car in so far as I drive it on trips into town and to visit friends.

"There are a few places that I’d like to visit soon like Dungarvan, Holy Cross or Mount Mellerary Abbey which is quite a special place and somewhere I used to visit quite a bit in earlier years."

(Image: John D Kelly)

John revealed that another goal is to make the 250 kilometre round trip back to Foynes to visit the place where he grew up and first sat behind the wheel of a car as a teenage driver.

The fact that his new Nissan LEAF can cover the distance on a single charge was also something which inspired him to buy the car.

He said: “I was about 15 or 16 years old when I first drove my father’s Ford Model T around the garage at the BP installation in Foynes where he was the manager.

"He had a few of them in his day and we used them to go back to Cork. It was a hell of a journey, 70 miles each-way, driving 20mph at best.

"We had two accidents and I wasn’t in either, which was quite the achievement."

John, even at the age of 100, is wary of global warming and hopes his change will help in the battle.

(Image: John D Kelly)

He said: “I am convinced that we have to do something about global warming and pollution.

"I am a late convert to environmental protection and a bit of a late starter driving an electric car but this is my way of playing my part."

James McCarthy, CEO of Nissan Ireland said: “Electric driving is changing the face of motoring in the same way that the introduction of the Ford Model T opened up car travel just over 100 years ago.

"John is a unique link between the two generations and we are exceptionally proud that he is a customer."

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