Zero emissions

The

has announced a partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China (MIIT) to bring so-called zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) to the country.

The agreement follows the launch of a pilot programme by the Chinese government to roll out electric vehicles in the transport network of 13 cities. Nissan is to provide MIIT with electric-vehicle (EV) information, as well advice on battery-charging networks and programs for mass marketing EVs.

The deal could bring EVs to the country as early as 2011, making China one of the first countries to be supplied with vehicles from the alliance.

Toshiyuki Shiga, Nissan’s chief operating officer, said: ‘Nissan believes that zero emissions are the ultimate direction for alternative-energy vehicles. We are establishing innovative partnerships with governments, cities and agencies to promote EVs worldwide and in China we will work closely with our local partners to develop the EV market.’

The Renault-Nissan alliance aims to be the global leader in zero-emissions mobility and is already involved in zero-emissions initiatives in Israel, Denmark, Portugal, Monaco, Japan and the US.

Following a partnership with French utility EDF and Swiss electric utility Energie Ouest Suisse (EOS), Nissan and Renault plan to expand on these activities by mass marketing their EVs globally in 2012.