Energie Ouest Suisse and Renault-Nissan Alliance to build zero-emission future in Switzerland

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed recently, the two parties will study ways of implementing and maintaining a battery-charging network throughout the country. The MOU also intends to define the terms and conditions for the supply by the Alliance of electric vehicles to EOS for use in its fleet.

EOS and the Alliance will also create and support educational activities to promote the use of electric vehicles.

EOS, which produces 85% of its electricity from hydropower, is the first company for the Alliance to tie up with in Switzerland - the headquarters of Nissan's European operations - for a zero-emissions programme.

"For EOS, the introduction of electric vehicles brings a forward-looking response to Switzerland's energy and climate challenge," said Hans Schweickardt, CEO of EOS. Indeed, as the second-largest emitter of CO2 after heating (43%), transportation accounts for 33% (16 million tons) of the country's total green-house gas emissions.

Replacing 15% of Switzerland's cars by 2020 with electric vehicles would reduce CO2 emissions in the transportation sector by 1.1 million tons per year, or a reduction of around 7%.

"We are delighted to be partnering with a clean energy specialist like EOS and look forward to working together to create the infrastructure and conditions for zero-emission mobility in Switzerland," said Carlos Tavares, executive vice president of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

In Europe, the Renault-Nissan Alliance has begun zero emission initiatives with Israel, Denmark, Portugal, the Principality of Monaco and the French utility company EDF. In the US, the Alliance has partnered with the State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon and Sonoma County in northern California. In Japan, the Alliance has a partnership with the Prefecture of Kanagawa and the City of Yokohama in Japan.

[B]Renault[/B]

The Renault Group generated global revenues of 40,682 million in 2007. It designs, engineers, manufactures and sells passenger and light commercial vehicles throughout the world. The Renault Group is present in 118 countries and sells vehicles under its three brands - Renault, Dacia and Samsung. The Renault Group employs 129,000 people worldwide.

[B]Nissan[/B]

Nissan Motor Co. generated global net revenues of 10.824 trillion yen in 2007. Nissan is present in all major global auto markets selling a comprehensive range of cars, pickup trucks, SUVs and light commercial vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. Nissan employs over 220,000 people worldwide.

[B]The Renault-Nissan Alliance[/B]

The Renault Nissan Alliance, founded in 1999, sold 6,160,046 vehicles in 2007. The objective of the Alliance is to rank among the world's top three vehicle manufacturers in terms of quality, technology and profitability.

[B]Energie Ouest Suisse[/B]

The EOS Group is the strategic holding company that groups together the largest power stations, the shareholders being the principal electricity generating companies in western Switzerland. It is the result of the transformation in 2002 of the joint-stock company Energie de l'ouest-suisse (EOS), which was established in 1919. With its three business units Energy, Transport and Commerce & Trading, the EOS Group focuses on its three core businesses, which are hydroelectricity generation, high- and very high-voltage transport and marketing of electricity in Switzerland and abroad for its own account and for the account of its shareholders. Its production facilities in Switzerland rank it among the most flexible power generation companies in Europe, 85% of them being hydroelectric power stations. The Group, whose registered office is in Lausanne, employs a staff of about 710, including those within HYDRO Exploitation SA.

Credits: JRC