Renault-Nissan will hold large-scale tests for its new electric cars in the Paris and Milan regions next year ahead of planned mass production from 2012, the Franco-Japanese auto group said on Thursday.

The tests include a try-out in the Paris region of a new car charging network being developed in conjunction with French electricity giant EDF.

"One hundred electric cars from the Renault-Nissan alliance... will be tested from September 2010 for a year by individuals, companies and local authority employees" around Paris, Renault-Nissan and EDF said in a statement.

People testing the cars will be able to recharge them in their homes, at their workplace, in car parks and along roads, the companies said.

Renault-Nissan also announced a separate agreement with Italian energy group A2A to launch electric car tests in Milan's Lombardy region in 2010.

Renault-Nissan and EDF paired up last year to develop an "electric mobility operator" — a full network providing charging spots and battery exchange stations for electric vehicles across France.

AFP

RSS
Digg
de.li.cious
facebook
A big fat zero It's not often you hear of a company that wants a zero score - but Renault's plans depend on it.
Ronaldo makes it slick Tired of dumbed-down ads for car products? Try this one by footballer Ronaldo for size.
Old tricks, new name A new craze among US drivers to employ fanatical fuel-saving methods is coming to a road near you.