Four hundred quick chargers for electric cars are to be given away for free by Nissan as part of efforts to grow Europe’s recharging network.
The Japanese car maker is giving European countries to chance to bid for the free charging points, with 65 quick chargers already secured for the UK. These new high tech quick chargers-which can charge an electric car battery up to 80 per cent capacity in just 30 minutes-will be strategically placed at selected service stations along the country’s motorways, creating an interconnected network for electric cars to travel, free from range anxiety.
Already three of the largest motorway service station chains, with a total of 100 stations between them, have been contacted with a view to installing the chargers.
In addition, Quick Chargers would be located in some city centres and other key locations such as airports.
Nissan currently has a network of 32 EV dealers, 26 of which already have a Quick Charger (QC) installed. The remaining six dealers will be the first in the UK to install these new smaller units, the total number of dealers with QCs is expected to be 150 by the end of 2012.
It is widely expected that a network of quick chargers would help significantly boost the sales of electric cars, as the chargers reduce charging times from an average of eight hours to just half an hour. With a 30 minute charging time, motorists would find that their car’s batteries could be refreshed in the same time they would typically spend at a service station, taking a break with a coffee.
The move follows an agreement between Nissan and five of Europe’s leading utility and EV infrastructure supply companies to speed up the provision of the latest quick chargers developed by chargers, which are cheaper – up to half the previous price – and smaller than before. The target is to have a network of quick charge stations across Europe with several thousand units in place by the end of 2012 and tens of thousands by 2015.
A selection process has already started and winners will be awarded chargers according to how they fulfill a strict list of criteria developed by Nissan. These include convenient and accessible charger location, installation starting February 2012 and free or discounted charging for all Nissan Leaf customers for at least one year.
“With a significant number of QCs available across Europe, EV owners will be able to recharge quickly no matter where they go. We believe this is essential for the mass adoption of EVs,” said Pierre Loing, Vice President Product Planning & Zero Emission Business Unit, Nissan International SA.
