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Renault-Nissan Alliance signs electric vehicles partnership with city of Kita-Kyushu in Japan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and the City of Kita-Kyushu today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly promote zero emission mobility, under a project that would put the city on the frontiers of environmental sustainability. The project named "Kita-Kyushu; Environment and Technology Town ‘e-Frontier Project’", aims to create a low-carbon society through the mass introduction of zero emission electric vehicles.

The zero-emission partnership will initiate a joint-study focused on the following areas.

1. To position the city as a "Global Eco Capital" through greater regional development in sustainable way.
* Develop an efficient and effective charging network, and encourage private enterprises to install charging stations.
* Introduce preferential incentive measures to promote the adoption of low-carbon vehicles, such as EVs, among consumers and private sectors (business fleet).
* Conduct educational programs for consumers through events such as eco-car fairs. Educate consumers on the benefits of eco-driving via the Nissan ECO Drive Support Service.
* Establish low carbon model communities in specific areas such as Yahata Higashida and Jono.
2. To position the city as the "Technology capital in Asia" through sustainable technology innovations.
* Jointly develop new technologies with local companies and universities focused on three areas: Information Technologies to ensure more informative EV navigation, charging technology using renewable energy, as well as the reused battery application.
* Encourage the manufacturing sector to adopt technologies that will contribute to reduced emissions by increasing productivity and efficiency.
3. Promote awareness on the environment
* Collaborate with local educational institutions and NPOs to study the implementation of eco-education in schools.
* Collaborate with the Joint Graduate School Car Electronics Course to implement instructor exchange programs and internship opportunities.

Nissan Senior Vice President, Hitoshi Kawaguchi, said in the signing ceremony held at the Guest Hall in the Nissan Kyushu Plant, "In our efforts to achieve a sustainable future for our planet, it is necessary that we take action and find partners, like Kita-Kyushu city, to collaborate in the areas of environment, technology and society."

The Renault-Nissan Alliance aims to be a global leader in zero-emission mobility. To-date the Alliance has signed zero-emission partnerships with 40 governments, municipalities and companies worldwide. Nissan will introduce the LEAF electric car in Japan, the United States and Europe in FY2010 followed by global mass marketing in 2012.

http://www.nissan-zeroemission.com/