Los Angeles Auto Show

Nissan announces electric car deal with Oregon

Christine Tierney / The Detroit news

Carlos Ghosn, head of the Renault SA-Nissan Motor Co. alliance, said Wednesday that the French-Japanese partnership will supply the state of Oregon with electric cars starting late in 2010 the latest in a series of agreements aimed at encouraging demand for the ultra-clean vehicles.

The Renault-Nissan alliance formed a similar deal with Tennessee earlier this year to establish the conditions to encourage the use of electric cars in the central part of the state where Nissan has its U.S. headquarters. The alliance also has concluded accords with Israel, Portugal, Denmark and a prefecture in Japan.

"This partnership represents a major step toward reliable zero-emission mobility in the state of Oregon," Ghosn, CEO of both Nissan and Renault, said in a speech at the Los Angeles car show.

"Together, we are creating conditions that will encourage consumers to consider an electric vehicle as an attractive choice that is also good for the environment."

Electric vehicles do not emit pollutants, but they have smaller driving ranges than gas-powered cars. Nissan and other automakers are working on developing more powerful and reliable batteries to increase the convenience of electric cars.

Under the terms of the partnership announced Wednesday, the state of Oregon and the Portland General Electric utility will develop a network of charging stations.

The Renault-Nissan alliance aspires to be a global leader in the production and sale of zero-emission vehicles and is focusing on electric-car technology. Nissan plans to introduce zero-emission electric cars in the United States in 2010 and will mass market them globally two years later.

You can reach Christine Tierney at (313) 222-1463 or ctierney@detnews.com.