Renault and Nissan put Zero Emission Cars on the Road in Denmark in 2011
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TOKYO — Renault and Nissan plan to put zero-emission cars on the road in Denmark in 2011.The alliance partners said earlier this year they would start selling such battery-powered cars in Israel in the same timeframe. It is part of the companies’ aim to head straight into pure electric automobiles and gain an advantage over rivals such as Toyota, which is betting on hybrid cars.
In Denmark, Renault will supply vehicles with performance similar to that of gasoline-powered cars. Nissan will provide lithium-ion batteries through its partner NEC.
To spur demand for electric vehicles, the Danish government has agreed to give tax incentives on the cars, the companies said.
Meanwhile, a third company, Better Place Denmark will construct and operate an electric recharging grid across the entire country.
When unveiling the Israel project, the companies said the electric cars will have the driving performance of a 1.6-liter gasoline engine. In Israel, drivers will pay for the car but lease the lithium-ion battery and pay for electricity on a monthly basis.
Renault and Nissan did not specify how the system would work in Denmark.
Renault and Nissan are lagging behind in a green-car race dominated by hybrid vehicles such as the hot-selling Toyota Prius (pictured above). Nissan currently buys its hybrid equipment from Toyota, and Renault has said it will stick with diesel technology as its clean car alternative.
A successful move into electric vehicles could put the companies at the forefront.
Nissan has sees battery powered vehicles as a top option for crowded cities like London, Paris or Tokyo, where short distances and stop-and-start traffic rule.
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