Nissan Forms EV Partnership with State of Massachusetts

Electric Car News | admin | February 10, 2010 at 8:36 am

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is entering into an agreement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to advance zero-emission mobility throughout the state by promoting the development of an electric-vehicle charging network and policies to support widespread adoptions of electric cars.

The announcement was made at the Museum of Science in Boston, a stop on the Nissan LEAF Zero Emission Tour, and helps pave the way for the 2010 introduction of Nissan LEAF, the industry’s first all-electric, zero-emission car designed for the mass market.

As part of the agreement, Nissan and the State of Massachusetts will develop plans to promote a charging infrastructure for electric cars that encourages home and workplace charging, as well as a public charging infrastructure. The partners will work to coordinate the establishment of policies and help streamline charging infrastructure deployment. Nissan also has agreed to make available a supply of electric vehicles statewide.

The agreement is part of the Commonwealth’s broad initiative to encourage development and deployment of electric-vehicle technology, consistent with its leading commitment to greenhouse-gas emission reductions.

Separately, the Alliance has formed another formed a partnership to explore the development of a Zero Emission Vehicles program in Christchurch City in New Zealand.

The two organizations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which a working group of representatives from the Christchurch City Council, electricity suppliers, Nissan and other interested parties will be established to identify areas of co-operation to successfully introduce and promote the use of zero emission vehicles in Christchurch City.