Nissan International SA has joined Renault SA's partnership with German electric utility RWE Efficiency GmbH to promote electric mobility in Germany.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance aims to become the world's leading manufacturer of zero-emission vehicles and Germany is expected to become a major market for such products.
RWE plans to set up an extensive charging network in Germany with about 1,000 stations to be set up across Germany by the end of 2010 focused mainly on the Berlin and Ruhr areas. Together with other partners, RWE plans to extend the charging infrastructure to other major cities and regions in Germany shortly thereafter.
RWE's charging technology stands out for its ability to allow customers to simply, comfortably and quickly charge their electric vehicles with electricity derived from renewable energy sources.
Under Nissan's agreement with RWE, Nissan will supply electric vehicles to Germany in autumn 2011, starting with the Nissan LEAF compact family car. Renault has already said it will supply electric vehicles to Germany in the second half of 2011 starting with the Fluence Z.E. sedan and Kangoo Z.E. light commercial vehicle.
Renault and Nissan customers will be offered an affordable RWE e-mobility package, which will include a safe solution for charging vehicles at home and easy access to the public charging infrastructure.
"With Nissan, we have gained another significant partner who will contribute to the success of electric mobility in Germany," said Carolin Reichert, Manager E-Mobility, RWE Efficiency GmbH.
"We look forward to developing the market for electric vehicles in Germany together with RWE and our alliance partner Renault, who helped lay the foundations for us to join this partnership," said Pierre Loing, vice president of product strategy and planning at Nissan International SA and head of the company's zero emission business unit in Europe.
"The Nissan LEAF is the world's first affordable mass-marketed pure electric car. We are confident German customers will be impressed by its smoothness, acceleration and handling - not to mention its zero-emission transport footprint," he added.
The Nissan LEAF goes on sale in Japan, the US and selected markets in Europe in December 2010. Global mass-marketing activities will begin in 2012.
RWE and Renault Deutschland AG are active members of the "E-mobility in commuter traffic" development project for the Rhine-Ruhr Model Region which is closely studying the application of electric mobility in this area. The dedicated project fleet consists of 150 electric vehicles, including 40 pre-production Renault Kangoo Z.E.s and Renault Fluence Z.E.s.
