Istanbul Enerji, a subsidiary of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and French carmaker Renault signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement a program aimed at preparing for an electric car partnership.
The MoU is aimed at establishing a partnership to promote and implement electric vehicles in Istanbul, following the example of several other capital cities.
The partnership program will cover the deployment in the Istanbul municipality of a charging network for electric vehicles, which will be launched in 2011, and the rollout of corresponding services and developments.
The parties have decided to launch preliminary work with a view to encouraging the adoption and promotion of electric vehicles – set for launch in 2011 in the Istanbul municipality – in order to reduce CO2 emissions and the effects of climate warming.
A working group will be set up to obtain practical results on implementing an infrastructure for electric vehicle use in the city by 2011. The working group will be tasked with making proposals on:
• multiplying the number of projects that could favor the use of electric vehicles in Istanbul, especially those focused on charging networks,
• installing and developing a network of charging stations for electric vehicles,
• developing special projects for fleets, public spaces and cities,
• analyzing the regulations on installing and operating electric vehicle charging stations.
With its broad range of zero-emission vehicles, Renault is one of the world leaders in the development of electric vehicles.
Turkey plays a key role in this area, since Renault has a very strong position in the country in terms of both production and sales. Last October Renault announced it would be producing Fluence Z.E., one of its new electric vehicles, at the Bursa plant. Fluence Z.E. will be the first mass-produced electric vehicle in Turkey.
