Nissan, Electric Industries Team to Install EV Chargers Across Europe
Alliance members envision businesses such as service stations, parking lots and retail outlets installing quick-chargers and operating them for a profit.
Nissan and major players in Europe’s electric-vehicle sector form a partnership aimed at installing tens of thousands of EV battery quick-chargers throughout the continent by 2015.
The auto maker says the alliance will put publicly available quick-charge points in place more quickly and cut the E10,000 ($13,714) cost per unit by more than half.
Nissan says quick-charger extends Leaf’s range.
Nissan says the agreement with five energy firms is expected to pave the way for businesses such as service stations, parking lots and retail outlets to install quick chargers and run them as a profitable commercial enterprise.
The companies include:
Circutor, a designer, manufacturer and marketer of electrical-energy-efficiency equipment.
DBT CEV, an engineering company specializing in EV infrastructure solutions.
Efacec, involved in charging infrastructure, management systems and smart-grid integration, as well as powertrains for EVs.
Endesa, one of the world’s largest electric-power companies and Spain's largest utility.
Siemens, a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering.
The auto maker says this means drivers of its Leaf and other quick-charge EVs could use their car for longer journeys and recharge its battery to 80% capacity in less than half an hour.
A quick-charger using CHAdeMO technology delivers 50 kW of high-voltage direct-current electricity straight to the battery, speeding the charging process.
The CHAdeMO – or Charge to Move – standard originally was established by a group of Japanese companies, including Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi and Fuji Heavy Industries, working with Tokyo Electric Power. The coalition now includes representatives from more than 150 companies worldwide, as well as local governments.
The quick-chargers are compliant with European countries’ charging policies and can service AC quick-charging cars as well.
“We are confident the Nissan Leaf's range will be enough to satisfy most drivers' daily needs,” Nissan Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga says in a statement.
“However, with a significant number of QCs available across Europe, EV owners who need to drive longer distances will be able to do so with confidence, knowing they will be able to recharge no matter where they go, which we believe is essential for the mass adoption of EVs.”
Nissan says Leaf deliveries have begun in the U.K., Netherlands, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal, while order books are open in Switzerland, Belgium Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
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