EDF and the Renault-Nissan Alliance strengthen their partnership for electric vehicles

Two years after signing a collaboration contract with a view to preparing the electric mobility of the future, EDF and the Renault-Nissan Alliance are confirming and extending their activities with today’s agreements, notably in three areas that are essential for developing a mass market for electric vehicles:

– Cooperation on lithium ion batteries: tests, management of the first and second lives of batteries

– Conducting pilot projects to test electric vehicles and innovative charging infrastructure

– Creation of mobility offers for electric car customers.

Starting in 2011, EDF and the Renault-Nissan Alliance will put their know-how and resources together in order to give customers easy access to simple, practical and economical recharging equipment.

A person buying an electric Renault or Nissan vehicle will be put in contact, via the vehicle dealership, with one of EDF’s partner electricians present across the country and selected for the quality of their services. The service will include monitoring the customer’s electric equipment and, where necessary, ensuring it complies with prevailing standards and fitting an electric socket adapted to the recommendations of Renault and Nissan.

For businesses and public authorities looking to use electric vehicles, their Renault or Nissan sales advisor will put them in direct contact with an EDF group contact, who will advise them directly on the charging infrastructures they need as well as on their electricity supply contract for EDF customers.

During the press conference, Henri Proglio said, ‘’With the agreements we are signing today, EDF is committing itself to accompany Renault and Nissan’s electric vehicle customers so that they can fully enjoy their new acquisition, with electric energy up to five times less expensive per kilometer than gasoline or fuel, while contributing to preservation of the environment without any emissions of noise, pollution or odors.’’

Carlos Ghosn commented, ‘‘Our shared aim is to make electric cars a rational alternative to internalcombustion engined vehicles. We want motorists to see the electric vehicle as a solution that respects the environment, and that is economical, reliable and simple. Through this partnership, the Renault-Nissan Alliance and EDF are pooling their expertise to make electric mobility a reality, and to make France a pioneer in the development of electric vehicles.’’

The EDF Group, one of the leaders in the European energy market, is an integrated energy company active in all businesses: generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading. The Group is the leading electricity producer in Europe. In France, it has mainly nuclear and hydraulic production facilities where 95% of the electricity output is CO2-free.

EDF’s transmission and distribution subsidiaries in France operate 1,285,000 km of low and medium voltage overhead and underground electricity lines and around 100,000 km of high and very high voltage networks. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to more than 38 million customers around the world, including more than 28 million in France.

The Group generated consolidated sales of €66.3 billion in 2009, of which 49% in Europe excluding France. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and is a member of the CAC 40 index.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance, which was formed in 1999, aims to be a global leader in zero-emission mobility. To date, the Alliance has entered into more than 60 partnerships worldwide with countries, cities, organizations and other key stakeholders to prepare the markets and necessary infrastructure for the successful adoption of electric vehicles around the world.

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