28 Mar 08 14:34
Renault has announced that it is to sell electric vehicles in Europe in 2011.
The cars will initially go on sale in Denmark, where the infrastructure is better-developed to support electric vehicles and where the government will provide tax incentives for their purchase.
Renault-Nissan is working with the Israel-based initiative Project Better Place, which is to construct and operate a recharging grid across Denmark. The batteries for the cars have been developed by Nissan, which is to put its own-brand electric vehicle into production by 2010.
Renault has been considering production of an electric version of the Megane in Israel, as well as electric Kangoo MPVs and vans. The Israeli government is debating whether to make electric cars tax-free and is to give tax breaks to manufacturers.
Project Better Place, headed by tech entrepreneur Shai Agassi, intends to help nations establish an infrastructure for supplying, recharging, maintaining and supporting electric vehicles and their use, including 'battery swap' stations for instant recharging. Agassi plans to sell and lease EVs on contracts similar to those used in the mobile phone industry, with the fixed-term all-in service contracts based on the recharges and the car itself discounted or even free. Project Better Place says it is in discussions with 30 countries in Europe, the US and Asia for further programmes.
Ford, meanwhile, has announced this week that it is to run a three-year project with the Californian Electric Power Research Institute to study integration of plug-in electric hybrids into the national grid system. Tests on Escape SUV-based prototypes will be carried out in New York and New Jersey as well as the 20-strong fleet of plug-in Escape hybrids already on test in Los Angeles.
