Nissan Accelerates Roll Out of EV Quick Charge Network in Europe

Rolle, Switzerland, November 8 (ots/PRNewswire) -

- 400 quick chargers to be given away free by Nissan
- Installation in high profile locations starting February 2012
- Charge to 80% in 30 minutes

Nissan is accelerating plans for a European-wide Quick Charge
(QC) network for electric vehicles by giving 400 new quick charging
stations free of charge to EV charging operators.

Strategically located, these new points will boost existing
networks and give EV customers greater freedom and flexibility by
effectively extending the range of their car.

By recharging batteries in a fraction of the time usually needed
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.

http://www.newsroom.nissan-europe.com/EU/en-gb/Media/RelatedImage
s.aspx? mediaid=85551

Although a range between charges of up to 175km 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.

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 in Europe, all of which are enthusiastic
backers of the company's ambitious electro-mobility plans.

A selection process started on October 10th after which 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.

"With a significant number of QCs available across Europe, EV
owners will be able to recharge quickly no matter where they go. We
believe this is essential for the mass adoption of EVs," said Pierre
Loing, Vice President Product Planning & Zero Emission Business Unit,
Nissan International SA.

Quick Charge Technology

The new quick chargers are engineered to the CHAdeMo standard and
can deliver up to 50 kW of high voltage direct current (DC)
electricity. The CHAdeMO - Charge to Move - standard was developed
and agreed by a coalition of Japanese companies including Nissan,
Toyota, Mitsubishi and Fuji Heavy Industries. Nissan's QCs,
therefore, can be used not just by drivers of Nissan LEAF but also by
drivers of EVs from Mitsubishi, Citroen and Peugeot. The QC stations
are also 'AC ready' to support the arrival of EVs from Alliance
partner Renault designed to 43kW AC quick charge standards. The
Renault-Nissan Alliance is promoting infrastructure deployment based
on AC-DC Mix Quick Charger strategy.

Nissan in Europe

Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of
any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 12,500 staff across
locally-based design, research & development, manufacturing,
logistics and sales & marketing operations. Last year Nissan plants
in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 528,000 vehicles
including mini-MPVs, award-winning crossovers, SUVs and commercial
vehicles. Nissan now offers 24 diverse and innovative products for
sale in Europe today, and is positioned to become the number one
Japanese brand in Europe.

About Nissan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest Japanese
automotive company by volume, is headquartered in Yokahama, Japan and
is an integral pillar of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with
more than 150,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with
more than 4 million vehicles in 2010. With a strong commitment to
developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers
a comprehensive range of fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles
under the Nissan and Infiniti brands.

About Nissan LEAF

Winner of both the European and World Car of the Year awards in
2011, deliveries of Nissan LEAF are well underway in the UK, the
Netherlands, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal. Order
books have been opened in Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Denmark with
deliveries expected to start in those countries shortly.

The family hatchback, which has been awarded a 5 Star safety
rating by Euro NCAP, is powered by an in-house developed compact
electric motor and inverter in the front of the car which drives the
front wheels. The AC motor develops 80 kW of power and 280 Nm of
torque, enough for a maximum speed of 145 km/h. It comes fully
equipped with features such as air conditioning, satellite
navigation, a parking camera, a quick charge socket and innovative
smart-phone connectivity.

http://www.newsroom.nissan-europe.com

ots Originaltext: Nissan International SA
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Contact: David Jackson, Tel +44(0)7966-878-665,
david.jackson@nissan.co.uk; François Crisias, Tel +33-1-72-67-67-61,
fcrisias@nissan-europe.com