Barcelona has made environmental sustainability a key policy initiative through the use of renewable sources of energy and the reduction of CO₂ emissions. Earlier this year, Barcelona made public its plans to implement a sustainable mobility program by creating the necessary conditions to make electric vehicles an alternative to traditional means of transportation. The scheme includes tax breaks for EV buyers, as well as dedicated EV-only zones and parking spaces. The plan also calls for the establishment of 191 charging points across the city by 2011.

At the Frankfurt motor show in September, Renault introduced four electric vehicles that will enter the market between 2011 and 2013. (Earlier post.) In August, Nissan revealed the LEAF, a medium-size hatchback that will be launched in late 2010 in Japan, the United States and Europe. (Earlier post.)

The Alliance has a strong industrial presence in Spain. Renault recently announced the production of a fuel-combustion engine, an electric vehicle, and a fuel-combustion vehicle in Castille and León, between 2011 and 2013. Its four plants in Spain (Valladolid, Seville and Palencia) are equipped with solar panels saving every year more than 160 tons of CO₂. The Palencia plant, where Mégane is assembled, features the group’s state-of-the-art water treatment area. The Valladolid engine plant recycles a 100% of its industrial waste.

On its hand, Nissan’s Zona Franca plant created the largest solar panel structure for industrial use in Spain cutting CO₂ emissions by 20%. In recognition of the moves made to improve its energy efficiency, Nissan won the 2008 Carles Ferrer Salat Award, presented annually by Fomento del Trabajo Nacional, a confederation of Catalan businesses.

Barcelona is the hometown of Nissan Motor Ibérica SA (NMISA) where Nissan manufactures Pathfinder, Navara, Primastar and the newly introduced compact van NV200. In 2008 135,568 vehicles were produced at NMISA.