Renault-Nissan Alliance signs agreement with Catalan Government

The Alliance between Renault and Nissan continues to team-up with different authorities in different countries to promote and incentivate the use of zero-emission electric vehicles (EVs) in the years ahead. This time the Alliance joined efforts with the Catalan region of Spain and the Barcelona City Council.

The three parties have signed an Agreement for Cooperation which will see the Catalan Government and Barcelona City Council support the use of EVs, while the Alliance will be responsible for the introduction of EVs to the region and active promotion of their use.

The agreement was signed by Jose Montilla, President of the Catalonia Government, Jordi Hereu, Mayor of Barcelona and Manuel de la Guardia, Managing Director of Nissan Iberia.

This further extends and strengthens the relationship between the region, Barcelona and the Alliance, as Catalunya is already home to Nissan's Spanish industrial operations.

The Catalan Government and Barcelona City Council will be responsible to undertake a promotion of the use of EV through incentives for their purchase and use and to organize campaigns to publicize the advantages of zero-emission mobility.

The Government of the Catalunya Region will have the task to promote and expand a publicly accessible charging infrastructure to allow owners to charge their vehicles away from home or their place of work. The objective is to achieve the 175 recharging points in operation by June 2011, 300 by December 2011 and 1,170 by December 2012. A network of 12 Quick Charging points before December 2012 is also part of the plans.

At the same time, the Government will promote private and domestic charging infrastructures offering incentives to users and fleet operators to facilitate the move to EVs.

By the first half of 2011 the Barcelona City Council already expects to have more than 250 charging points installed. In order to promote zero emission mobility, the council will also develop incentives and actions, such as: 75% reduction in vehicle circulation tax, free public parking and preferential access to restricted zones.

On the Alliance side, Nissan has agreed to start sales of Nissan LEAF during 2011 via a network of EV distributors and service operators. The Japanese brand will also organize and host a ‘Roadshow' event to introduce Nissan LEAF and zero-emission mobility to potential customers.

"The Alliance has developed credible electric vehicles, including Nissan LEAF, which goes on sale here in 2011. But such cars need a recharging infrastructure to work efficiently while incentives are needed to help customers make the switch. Only by working together with forward thinking partners such as the Catalan Government and the Barcelona City Council can a zero-emission future be achieved in our cities," said Nissan Iberia's de la Guardia.