SMMT News

Nissan moves to speed up electric vehicle charging infrastructure

20 September 2011 #SMMT News

Nissan has teamed up with leading European utility and electrical vehicle supply equipment companies to speed development of cheaper, smaller, quick chargers for electric vehicle batteries, and accelerate the installation of publicly-available Rapid Charge (RC) points across Europe.

The agreement, between Nissan, Circutor, DBT, Efacec, Endesa and Siemens, is expected to drive down the cost of charging units by more than half-paving the way for businesses such as service stations, car park operators and retail outlets to install RCs and run them profitably as a commercial enterprise.

As a result, it is expected that this will spark the infrastructural development of RCs across Europe, with thousands expected to be installed by the end of 2012 and tens of thousands by the end of 2015.

The RC charges can deliver 50kW of high voltage direct current (DC) electricity straight to the battery, allowing it to be topped up, up to 80% capacity in less than half an hour.

Commenting on the planned roll-out of Rapid Charge cars across Europe, Toshiyuki Shiga, Nissan COO said “with a significant number of QCs available across Europe, EV owners who need to drive longer distances will be able to do so with confidence, knowing they will be able to recharge no matter where they go, which we believe is essential for the mass adoption of EVs.”

To download SMMT’s Electric Car Guide 2011, click here.

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