Hola! Renault-Nissan signs electric vehicle MOU with Barcelona; considers making batteries in France

Barcelona's green transportation options have recently expanded to include rental bikes and hybrid buses. A new memorandum of understanding between Barcelona and the Renault–Nissan Alliance – in which they promise to "work together to identify areas of co-operations in promoting the use of zero emission vehicles in the city" – will also bring zero-emission vehicles to the Spanish city. It's the latest of many MOUs the Alliance has signed with governments around the world. For Barcelona, the MOU is another step in a sustainable mobility program that aims to make all-electric vehicles a feasible alternative. The program offers EV tax breaks and special benefits for EV drivers and will also install almost 200 EV charge points in Barcelona by 2011. Also in 2011, Renault will build electric vehicles (as well as traditional gasoline sippers) at its plants in Castille and León. CEO Carlos Ghosn said recently that the Alliance is thinking of making electric vehicle batteries in France as well.

[Source: Renault-Nissan Alliance, Automotive News (subs req'd)]

PRESS RELEASE:

RENAULT-NISSAN ALLIANCE PARTNERS WITH BARCELONA TO PROMOTE ZERO-EMISSION MOBILITY

Barcelona, 28 October 2009, The Renault–Nissan Alliance and the city of Barcelona today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote the development of zero emission mobility in the Catalan capital. The two organizations will work together to identify areas of co-operations in promoting the use of zero emission vehicles in the city.

Barcelona has made environmental sustainability a key policy initiative through the use of renewable sources of energy and the reduction of CO2 emissions. Earlier this year, Barcelona made public its plans to implement a sustainable mobility program by creating the necessary conditions to make electric vehicles an alternative to traditional means of transportation. The scheme includes tax breaks for EV buyers, as well as dedicated EV-only zones and parking spaces. The plan also calls for the establishment of 191 charging points across the city by 2011.

At the recent Frankfurt motor show, Renault revealed four innovative electric vehicles that will enter the market between 2011 and 2013. In August, Nissan revealed the LEAF, a medium-size hatchback that will be launched in late 2010 in Japan, the United States and Europe.

City of Barcelona representative Jordi William Carnes said: "The city of Barcelona is driven by innovation and the zero emission mobility program is one of our commitments. Also, when considering the population density of the city, there is a need for concrete actions to promote sustainability."

"The Alliance is proud to partner with the City of Barcelona," said Manuel de la Guardia, Managing Director Nissan Iberia, S.A. "We have a long history and deep connections with this city and through the signing of the MOU we are opening a new chapter towards zero-emission mobility".

Ernesto Salas, Renault's Institutional Relations Director) confirmed, "This agreement strengthens the involvement of Renault promoting zero-emission mobility in Spain which represents a key market for us."

The Alliance's strong industrial presence in Spain is guided by a constant attention to environmental issues resulting in a total of seven ISO14001 certified-plants.

Renault recently announced the production of a fuel-combustion engine, an electric vehicle, as well as a fuel-combustion vehicle in Castille and León, between 2011 and 2013. Furthermore, its four plants in Spain (Valladolid, Seville and Palencia) are equipped with solar panels saving every year more than 160 tons of CO2. The Palencia plant, where Mégane is assembled, features the group's state of the art water treatment area. And the Valladolid engine plant recycles a 100% of its industrial waste.

On its hand, Nissan's Zona Franca plant created the largest solar panel structure for industrial use in Spain cutting CO2 emissions by 20%. In recognition of the moves made to improve its energy efficiency, Nissan has won the 2008 Carles Ferrer Salat Award, presented annually by Fomento del Trabajo Nacional, a confederation of Catalan businesses.

Barcelona is the hometown of Nissan Motor Ibérica SA (NMISA) where Nissan manufactures Pathfinder, Navara, Primastar and the newly introduced compact van NV200. In 2008 135,568 vehicles were produced at NMISA.

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The Renault-Nissan Alliance
The Renault Nissan Alliance, founded in 1999, sold 6,090,304 vehicles in 2008. The objective of the Alliance is to rank among the world's top three vehicle manufacturers in terms of quality, technology and profitability. Marking its tenth anniversary this year, the Renault-Nissan Alliance is leading a collaborative approach with both business and governments and has signed nearly 30 agreements worldwide with partners to launch its first electric vehicle starting in 2010 and to mass market a full range of electrical vehicles in 2012.