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07/10/2008 08:32 AM
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Nissan-Renault Electric Vehicles Headed to Portugal
SustainableBusiness.com News
Portugal has signed an agreement with Nissan Motor Co. (NISA.BE) and its electric vehicle partner Renault (RNL.F) to create a nationwide recharging system to encourage the adoption of the zero-emissions vehicles.
Similar recharging networks are being planned in Israel and Denmark through start-up company Project Better Place, but this agreement was arranged directly between the carmakers and the coastal European nation.
Portugal imports almost all of its transportation fuel. Due to the relatively small size of the nation and its growing renenwable energy supply, it is a promising match for an electric vehicle initiative.
The government and the automakers plan to immediately begin studying the viability of a nationwide network of charging stations for electric vehicles and the best way to encourage consumers to adopt them.
The Renault-Nissan alliance will mass market their electric cars in Portugal beginning in 2011. The nation will be one of the first to receive the all-electric vehicles, which are expected to have a range of about 160 km, enough to meet the daily driving needs of 90% of Portuguese drivers, according to studies.
Nissan and Renault have said they want to mass market the vehicles in the U.S. beginning in either 2011 or 2012.
