Houston to develop electric vehicle charging network

February 7, 2010

Nissan is working to develop a charging infrastructure in the US ahead of the launch of its LEAF later this year

The City of Houston has agreed to work with motor manufacturer Nissan and power utility Reliant Energy to foster a charging network for electric vehicles.

The deal came this week as Nissan continued its promotional tour of key cities in the US, which is raising the profile of its LEAF electric vehicle ahead of its launch later this year.

It will see the City gaining an extra 25 electric vehicles from Nissan, taking its EV fleet up to 40.

Officials and staff at Reliant Energy have pledged to draw up policies to help ease the introduction of vehicle-charging infrastructure in Houston, including public, business and residential charging systems.

Mayor Annisse Parker said: “With ongoing research and development of wind, solar and electric fuel sources, we are on the cusp of becoming the alternative energy capital of the world. It is fitting that the city be a leader in increasing public awareness of environmentally friendly transportation alternatives like the LEAF.”

“For more than 100 years, Houston has pioneered advances in the energy field. With the same spirit of innovation, Nissan and the Renault-Nissan Alliance are committed to lead the way in the field of zero-emission automotive technologies,” said Carlos Tavares, Chairman of Nissan Americas.

Reliant Energy is working to make the broad adoption of electric vehicles simple, the companies said, by developing an “ecosystem” of charging infrastructure and services in Houston and surrounding areas.

Jason Few, president of Reliant Energy, said: “We are working to create the infrastructure, services and a whole new way to buy power by the mile. We are working with our parent company, NRG Energy, towards the widespread electrification of transportation. We want to make Texas the electric-vehicle capital of the United States, starting in Houston.”

Nissan’s LEAF, a five-passenger all-electric car, will be available for private and fleet customers in late 2010 within the US.