Nissan has selected the Seattle-area as one of the first regions in the country to introduce a pure electric five-passenger hatchback in 2010. The vehicle will go 100 miles on a single charge and will charge in four to eight hours using a 220-volt line.

A home charging unit would be hard-wired in a garage and installed by an electrician. Nissan is also working to foster the development of quick-charging, which will fully charge the vehicle in about 26 minutes.

Under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding, the city and Nissan will work together to promote electric vehicles in Seattle. Nissan’s role includes:

• Make all efforts to supply electric vehicles in Seattle.
• Establish teams of governments, businesses and nonprofits to propose a battery-charging network across the Seattle area.
• Promote electric vehicles.

Seattle will pledge to help consumers who purchase electric vehicles get permits quickly for installing home charging stations. Also, the city intends to:

• Consider offering incentives to owning an electric car.
• Consider establishing incentives for a network of charging stations across the Seattle area.
• Consider leasing or buying Nissan electric vehicles for the municipal fleet.

The city’s partnership with Nissan is not exclusive.