Japan its first Leaf models and now so does Europe after Portuguese electric mobility consortium MOBI.E took delivery of nine of the all-electric cars from Nissan this week.
The consortium becomes the first commercial customer in Europe to take delivery of the car dubbed the world’s ‘first mass-market, full electric vehicle’.
The keys to the cars were handed over to the CEO’s of the nine companies belonging to the consortium by Carlos Tavares, Executive Vice-president of Nissan at a ceremony in Lisbon.
At the ceremony, Tavares also handed over a set of keys to the Portuguese government which receives one Nissan LEAF on loan for test-drive purposes.
Prime Minister José Sócrates, who accepted the keys on behalf of the government, said:"We are extremely pleased to be introducing the electric vehicle in Portugal.
“By combining in a pioneer manner our commitment to renewable energies, the implementation of the smart charging network and the introduction of electric vehicles, Portugal will be in the lead of the transition to a more sustainable future."
Portugal was the first country in Europe to establish a direct electric vehicle partnership with the Renault-Nissan Alliance in November 2008, signing an agreement to build a widespread recharging network at Portugal and to promote the benefits of zero emission mobility. MOBI.E, which is installing the network, has already set up charging points in 25 cities across the country Another 1,300 normal chargers and 50 fast chargers will be set up by Summer 2011.
Deliveries to customers have already begun in Japan and the United States while in Europe, deliveries to Portugal, Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands will start in the first quarter of 2011.
