Portugal Announces Electric Car Deal with Renault-Nissan

23 November, 2008 01:45:00

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Portugal will become the first European country to be supplied with electric cars by Renault-Nissan Alliance after signing an agreement to create 1,300 charging stations for electric cars by the end of 2011.

In July, Portugal and the Renault Nissan Alliance said they will work to promote zero-emission mobility across that country.

Under the agreement between Portuguese government and Franco-Japanese alliance, 320 electric vehicle charging stations will be built across the country by 2010, growing to 1,300 by the end of 2011. As part of the agreement, Portugal will also decree that 20 percent of all its public fleet vehicle purchases be zero-emission starting in 2011.

Renault-Nissan will supply Portugal with electric cars, with a range of 160km from early 2011. The Renault Nissan Alliance has plans to become a global leader in affordable electric vehicles. Nissan plans to introduce EVs in the U.S. and Europe in 2010 and two years later will mass market EVs globally.

Portugal’s prime minister said Jose Socrates said the state will provide an income tax benefit for private buyers of about 800 euros ($1,000) and also tax incentives for companies that convert to electric-powered vehicles. These benefits will start in late 2010 and will last at least five years.

The Renault Nissan Alliance has plans to become a global leader in affordable electric vehicles. Nissan plans to introduce EVs in the U.S. and Europe in 2010 and two years later will mass market EVs globally.

This year the alliance has announced partnerships with Israel, Denmark, Portugal, Spain, the City of Yokohama in Japan, the State of Tennessee and French utility giant EDF. Earlier this week, Renault-Nissan entered into a partnership with Monaco. State of Oregon in conjunction with utility company Portland General Electric and Sonoma County in Northern California.

Portugal led Europe for green car sales with average new car emission of 139.3g/km, compared to an average of 154.8g/km for new cars sold across 21 countries in Europe.

In January, Portugal and Spain signed an agreement to develop the first green car on the Iberian Peninsula. The Mobi-green car, as the vehicle is named, is being developed by two automotive research centers in Portugal and Spain using funds from both the public and private sectors.

[source: Reuters]

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