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Nissan is accelerating plans for
a European-wide Quick Charge
(QC) network for electric
vehicles by giving away 400 new
quick charging stations free
of charge.
These new points will boost
existing networks and give EV
customers greater freedom and
flexibility by effectively
extending the range of their
car.
Countries across Europe have
been asked to pitch for a
charging network and the best
‘bids’ will win an allocation of
chargers. In the UK, Nissan has
put in a bid for 65 chargers
which would be strategically
located at selected service
stations along the motorway
network, creating a ‘pathway’ on
major routes across the UK.
Contact has already been made
with the three largest motorway
service station chains who have
a total of 100 stations across
the country.
In
addition, Quick Chargers would
be located in some city centers
and other key locations such as
airports.
Nissan currently has a network
of 32 EV dealers, 26 of which
already have a Quick Charger
installed. The remaining six
dealers will be the first in the
UK to install these new smaller
units, the total number of
dealers with QCs is expected to
be 150 by the end of 2012.
By
recharging batteries in a
fraction of the time, this
radical step will help drive
more customers towards electric
vehicles such as the Nissan
LEAF. The advanced lithium ion
batteries in Nissan LEAF can be
recharged from 0 to 80% capacity
in just 30 minutes using a quick
charger.
Although a range between charges
of up to 110 miles will be
enough for most Nissan LEAF
owners, the spread of Quick
Charger networks will allow
drivers to travel longer
distances in a day. Recharging a
Nissan LEAF with a quick charger
takes a little longer than it
takes to refuel a conventional
car and is significantly
cheaper.
Jim Wright, Managing Director,
Nissan Motor (GB) Limited said:
“While we are confident that the
LEAF’s range will satisfy most
customers’ needs, we understand
that some will need to make
occasional longer journeys. 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.”
The move follows an agreement
between Nissan and five of
Europe’s leading utility and EV
infrastructure supply companies
to speed up the provision of the
latest quick chargers developed
by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., which
are cheaper – up to half the
previous price – and smaller
than before. The target is to
have a network of quick charge
stations across Europe with
several thousand units in place
by the end of 2012 and tens of
thousands by 2015.
To
kick start this ambitious
programme Nissan is now
announcing it will give 400
units away to Zero Emissions
Mobility partners and
volunteering companies across
Europe, all of which are
enthusiastic backers of the
company’s ambitious
electro-mobility plans.
A
selection process has already
started and winners will be
awarded chargers according to
how they fulfill a strict list
of criteria developed by Nissan.
These include convenient and
accessible charger location,
installation starting February
2012 and free or discounted
charging for all Nissan LEAF
customers for at least one year. |
