Nissan Growing European EV-Charger Network

Nissan is giving away 400 new quick-charging electric-vehicle stations to accelerate plans for a European-wide quick-charge (QC) network.

Installation of the stations, which can charge an EV in 30 minutes, will begin in February in high-profile locations across Europe.

Nissan says the stations will give EV owners greater freedom and flexibility by effectively extending the range of their car.

Countries across the continent have been asked to make proposals for locations of the chargers, and the selection process already is under way.

Winners will be awarded chargers based on how closely they meet a strict list of criteria developed by the auto maker. These include convenient and accessible charger locations, and free or discounted charging for owners of the all-electric Nissan Leaf for at least a year.

“With a significant number of (quick chargers) available across Europe, EV owners will be able to recharge quickly no matter where they go,” Pierre Loing, vice president- International Product Planning and Zero-Emission Business Unit, says in a statement.

“We believe this is essential for the mass adoption of EVs.”

Nissan U.K. says it has submitted a bid for 65 chargers that would be strategically located at selected service stations along the motorway network, creating a pathway on major routes across the country.

The auto maker has been in contact with the U.K.’s three largest motorway service-station chains, which have a total of 100 outlets. Quick chargers also will be located in some city centers and other key locations such as airports.

Nissan U.K.’s network of 32 EV dealers include 26 already equipped with quick chargers. The other six will be the U.K.’s first to offer the new, smaller units now becoming available. These chargers cost up to 50% less than those currently in use.

The total number of dealers with quick chargers is expected to reach 150 by the end of 2012.

The auto maker says it believes recharging batteries faster will help attract more customers to EVs such as the Leaf. Its advanced lithium-ion battery can be recharged from zero to 80% capacity in just 30 minutes using a quick charger.

Although a range between charges of up to 110 miles (176 km) will be enough for most Leaf owners, Nissan says the spread of quick chargers will allow drivers to travel longer distances in a day.

“Our vision is to create a ‘pathway charging network’ which would remove so-called range anxiety and open up pure EV ownership to a whole new spectrum of drivers,” Nissan Motor (GB) Managing Director Jim Wright says in a statement.

The move follows an agreement between the auto maker and five of Europe’s biggest utility and EV infrastructure-supply companies to speed up availability of next-generation quick chargers developed by Nissan.

The target is to have several thousand quick-charge units across Europe by the end of 2012, and tens of thousands by 2015.