Renault-Nissan Alliance EV Battery Executive Calls for Public and Private Sector Cooperation on Electric Vehicles

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Toshiaki Otani, managing director of the Renault-Nissan Alliance EV Battery Business, called on both the private and public sectors to work together for the successful uptake of electric vehicles around the world at a recent Rio+20 electric mobility conference in Rio de Janeiro.

Speaking at the "Global Forum on Electric Mobility: Greening Transport for Sustainable Development" on June 18, Otani noted that the age of electric-vehicle mobility has just begun but that "policymakers can help accelerate this trend and take us to mainstream adoption."

"The countries that get most respect for their 'green' initiatives are actively encouraging clean cars: They provide incentives. They let EVs use bus lanes, they let them park for free and they give tax benefits to people who buy them," said Otani, who is also Senior Vice President of the Global Zero-Emission Business Unit and the Battery Business at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. "Let's continue this dialog and use it as a chance to drive toward a sustainable society," he added.

About Rio+20
Rio+20 - the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development Conference - took place from June 13-22. The world's largest environmental summit saw more than 50,000 delegates from around the world gather to adopt sustainable policies to reduce poverty, create jobs and promote more sustainable energy policies.

The "Global Forum on Electric Mobility" was co-organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Brazilian Electric Vehicle Association and Electrobras Furnas, Brazil's leading renewable energy maker, among others.

The Alliance at Rio+20
Nissan LEAF, Renault Fluence and Twizy which were on display at Electrobras Furnas where the electric mobility conference was held, allowing participants a close-up look at the Alliance's EVs.

The Alliance EVs were also visible on the roads of Rio during Rio+20. A fleet of EVs was used to transport UN delegates in and around Rio during this time, the first time the UN has used a dedicated fleet of EVs for shuttling its delegates. The fleet was made up of Nissan LEAF, Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Z.E. vehicles. The EVs were also available for test driving by the delegates and the public.

More videos related to the Alliance's activities at Rio+20 can be found at www.blog.renault-nissan-alliance.com

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Mia Nielsen
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