Nissan Testing Electric Car Infrastructure In Tennessee
Posted on: Wednesday, 23 July 2008, 00:35 CDT
Nissan Motor Co and the state of Tennessee announced the formation of a collaborative effort in hopes of discovering new information about the necessary infrastructure for the roll-out of electric cars starting in 2011, Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said on Tuesday.
"We are forming a partnership with the state of Tennessee to promote zero-emission mobility," Ghosn said at the opening of the Japanese automaker's new headquarters in Nashville.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, a federally controlled utility that ranks as the nation's largest, supplying electricity to residents in seven states, will be involved in the new alliance.
By 2010, Nissan plans to start testing an all-new electric car being developed in Japan. It is expecting the battery-powered car to hit the global market in 2012.
Among things being studied, the agencies will look at how to support the possibility of setting up charging stations, said Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.
The partnership is one of several between automakers, electric power utilities and government agencies. Ford Motor Co and General Motors Corp both have tie-ups with the utility industry to cooperate in electric vehicle development.
Ghosn said government partnerships would allow Nissan to boost the timetable of being able to release an electric car.
Nissan has already signed agreements with Portugal for the creation of a national recharging network. The company’s French alliance partner Renault SA have made similar deals in Israel and Denmark.
"We are seeing a lot of political interest, which is very supportive," Ghosn said. "What's driving zero-emissions today are cities and countries. It's not companies."
Nissan’s new battery-powered car will not be reliant on a back-up combustion engine, Ghosn said.
"I am insisting that I want a pure electric car," Ghosn said, adding that Nissan's car would be an all-new, small car built for more than just limited city driving.
Ghosn also said that he wants Nissan to become a major battery supplier to other automakers as well through a joint venture with Japan’s NEC Corp.
Honda is concentrating on its next-generation hybrid models. GM, meanwhile, is racing Toyota to bring the first mass-market rechargeable hybrid cars to market by 2010.
GM's Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid, is being designed to have a 40-mile (60 kilometer) battery-powered range with an onboard gas engine that will be used to recharge the battery for longer trips.
---
On the Net:
Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports
Related Articles
- Remy International, Inc. Launches HVH250 Creating Standardized Electric Motor for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
- Nissan Debuts Their All-Electric, Zero Emission Car
- Lithium-Ion Battery Maker EnerDel Teams With Nissan to Research Key Electric Vehicle Battery Material
- Valeo and Michelin Announce Their Collaboration for the Development of Systems for Electric and Rechargeable Hybrid Vehicles
- Electro Energy Inc. To Provide Hybrid Auxiliary Power Technology to Trucking Industry
- Energy Savings Enters Into Ontario Electricity Retailing Alliance With Bruce Power
- Car bomb kills seven in Baghdad market: police
- Ener1 Inc. To Discuss Its Hybrid Battery and Fuel Cell Technology at Next Generation Energy Conference; Batteries to Provide More Power in Less Space for Hybrid Cars
- Car bomb kills 6 Iraqis in Baghdad market
- Electrical & Optical Backplanes - A Worldwide Market and Technology Review 2005-2010
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds