Nissan to Announce Introduction of Zero-Emission Vehicles in San Diego

Nissan Electric Vehicle Prototype

Zero-emissions electric vehicle will go on cross-country test run and is set to debut in 2010

By Alex Ricciuti
March 23, 2009 5:00 PM
Filed Under: American, Electric Vehicle, Industry, Japanese, Nissan

Nissan will be showcasing its latest zero-emissions vehicle today at an event in San Diego held in cooperation with San Diego Gas & Electric. Nissan will then take the new electric vehicle across the United States on a coast-to-coast test run.

"This is not a glorified golf cart. This is a real, true electric vehicle and a vehicle you as a consumer would be happy to put in your garage today," said Mark Perry, Nissan's director of product planning and strategy, in a Signs on San Diego news story. The five-passenger car is a zero-emissions vehicle that runs on lithium-ion batteries powering an electric motor and takes about 4 hours to charge for a 100 mile (160 km) range. The car Nissan will premier today will be housed in the shell of the Nissan Cube (as the EV-02) but will later come as its own model, yet to be named. Nissan previously launched the EV-02 in Japan last August.

According to Perry, the model will be competitively priced and set to go up against similar offerings by Honda and Toyota.

In attendance on Monday will be San Diego Gas & Electric president and CEO Debra L. Reed, as well as Perry, who will be on hand to provide details on the car and, likely, answer questions during the 11:30 am press conference. The introduction of the new electric vehicle is being held for fleet managers, universities and municipalities who may be some of the early buyers of the car.

The event will take place at the Broadway Pier of the Port of San Diego and those participating will have the chance to take the car for a test drive throughout the day, between 9am and 4pm.

But, hey, where's Schwarzenegger?

Source: Signs on San Diego

Press Release (Click to expand)

THE RENAULT-NISSAN ALLIANCE FORMS ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE PARTNERSHIP IN SAN DIEGO

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (March. 23, 2009) - The Renault-Nissan Alliance today announced that Nissan and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), the utility company operating in the San Diego, Calif., region, are forming a partnership to advance zero-emission mobility by promoting the development of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network.

Nissan will introduce ZEVs in the United States in 2010 and will mass market ZEVs globally two years later. The announcement coincides with the first 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 in zero-emission mobility.

"Nissan through the Renault-Nissan Alliance has committed to being a global leader in zero-emission vehicles," said Dominique Thormann, senior vice president, administration and finance, Nissan North America. "Nissan and SDG&E have a shared belief that the introduction and expansion of electric vehicles is one of the best solutions to reducing CO2 emissions. This partnership is an important step in making zero emissions a reality in San Diego."

As part of the agreement, Nissan will assist SDG&E in EV acquisition as well as work with SDG&E to develop plans to promote a charging infrastructure for EVs. Together, Nissan and SDG&E will form a working team with area agencies, institutions and companies to work towards the implementation and maintenance of a battery charging network and establish and support education activities designed to promote the use of EVs.

"We are proud to be embarking on this clean transportation initiative with Nissan," said Debra L. Reed, president and chief executive officer of SDG&E. "This collaborative effort is the first step in making San Diego ‘plug-in ready.' We're excited about creating new job opportunities for our region and furthering San Diego's vision of being at the center of growth for clean technologies."

Lori Holt Pfieler, Mayor, City of Escondido and Chair, San Diego Association of Governments; Stephen Cushman, Chairman of the Board of the Port of San Diego; and SDG&E CEO Debra Reed joined Nissan representatives in announcing the partnership at a ceremony at the Port of San Diego.

"SDG&E's partnership with Nissan is another step toward making San Diego a national center for clean technology and green practices," said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. "The public and private sectors in this region are working hand-in-hand to promote innovation and adoption of environmentally friendly technologies."

The Renault-Nissan Alliance has begun ZEV initiatives in Israel, Denmark, Portugal, the Principality of Monaco, Kanagawa Prefecture and Yokohama city (Japan), and has formed partnerships with the French electric utility company EDF, the Swiss electric utility company Energie Ouest Suisse, the private-car hire service "greentomatocars" (UK) and with zero-emission transport system company "elektromotive" (UK). In the United States, the Alliance has agreed to ZEV partnerships in the State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon, Sonoma County, Calif., and Tucson, Ariz., to explore ways to promote zero-emission mobility and the development of an electric-vehicle infrastructure.

Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.infinitiUSA.com.

Renault-Nissan Alliance
The Renault-Nissan Alliance, founded in 1999, sold 6,160,046 vehicles in 2007. The objective of the Alliance is to rank among the world's top three vehicle manufacturers in terms of quality, technology and profitability.

San Diego Gas & Electric
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility's area spans 4,100 square miles. Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region's quality of life. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.