Renault-Nissan Alliances Forms EV Partnership in Phoenix Metro Area; Beginning of a Phoenix-Tucson EV Charging Corridor

16 April 2009

Nissan and the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), which represents the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan region, are forming a partnership to advance zero-emission mobility by promoting the development of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network. ECOtality Inc. will participate in the partnership by initiating its EV Micro-Climate program in the Phoenix region to promote sensible policies, intelligent deployment of charge infrastructure, and strong public awareness to foster the successful consumer adoption of grid-connected electric vehicles.

In March, Nissan announced a similar partnership with ECOtality and the Pima Association of Governments, in the Tucson, Ariz., area, to promote a charging network infrastructure. (Earlier post.) ECOtality plans to link the Phoenix and Tucson Metro areas by implementing strategic fast-charge stations along Interstate 10 (I-10) to create the first implementation of an EV Corridor in North America. (Phoenix is about 116 miles (187 km) from Tucson via the 10.)

The new partnership supports the goals of the MAG Regional Council, which voted to support efforts to develop a universal electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support plug-in vehicles.

This partnership with Nissan and ECOtality enables us to consider strategic initiatives to support the introduction of electric vehicles in our region and to encourage individuals to incorporate green technology into their lives. Our goal is to work to develop regional policies that improve the quality of life in our region.

—MAG Chair Peggy Neely

As part of the agreement, Nissan and ECOtality will develop plans to promote a charging infrastructure for EVs. MAG will provide a forum for Nissan and ECOtality to promote the deployment, operation and maintenance of the charging network. ECOtality will support the efforts of Nissan, MAG, utilities and other agencies to coordinate the establishment of policies and help streamline the deployment of an EV infrastructure.

In conjunction with these efforts, Nissan has committed to make available a supply of electric vehicles to the Region’s public and private fleets in 2010, the year Nissan’s electric vehicle will be ready for the commercial market.

Nissan will introduce zero-emission vehicles in the United States in 2010 and will mass market them globally two years later. The announcement coincided with the Phoenix stop on a coast-to-coast tour of Nissan’s EV Prototype, a vehicle that’s powered by Nissan’s lithium-ion battery pack and zero-emission electric motor. While this vehicle does not represent the design of Nissan’s electric vehicle that will be sold in 2010, the EV Prototype is an indicator of what’s to come. (Earlier post.)

The Renault-Nissan Alliance has begun ZEV initiatives in Kanagawa Prefecture and Yokohama in Japan, as well as in Israel, Denmark, Portugal, Monaco, the UK, France, Switzerland and Ireland. In the United States, the Alliance is exploring ways to promote zero-emission mobility and the development of an EV infrastructure in the State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon, Sonoma County and San Diego in California, and Tucson, Arizona.