----- Original Message -----
From: Walter & Olive Sergeant
To: Edward Ellyatt
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 7:46 AM
Subject: FYI
Electric Nissans Planned in U.S. by 2010
By EDWARD TAYLOR
May 2, 2008; Page B2
CASCAIS, Portugal -- Nissan Motor Co. Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said he is
preparing to take advantage of a "mass market" in electric vehicles he expects
to emerge by 2012.
Nissan, an alliance partner of Renault SA of France, will launch electric
vehicles in the U.S. and Japan in 2010, and globally by 2012, Mr. Ghosn said at
a Nissan event in Portugal. He said he expects the market for electric vehicles
to grow strongly due to high oil prices, a new awareness of environmental
issues and breakthroughs in battery technology.
Eventually, Nissan "will have a whole lineup of electric cars," he said. "The
electric car is not a niche product for us."
Mr. Ghosn said battery-technology advances have given the electric car
sufficient range to make it a viable mode of transport for the shorter journeys
often made by commuters in big cities. Globally about 10 million vehicles are
being used in this way, he said.
High oil prices and the willingness of governments to give tax incentives for
so-called zero-emission vehicles can change the economics of owning an electric
car and make it "cheaper than gasoline," Mr. Ghosn said.
Nissan and Renault are in talks with "companies, governments and cities," to
see what kind of incentives can make the introduction of zero-emission vehicles
more attractive, he said.
Mr. Ghosn expects new areas of business will open as electric vehicles become
more widespread, including making the batteries and providing access to
batteries and electricity. Moving beyond merely making cars could see "a change
of the business model" in the auto industry.
"In some ways it could move more toward how a mobile-phone operator works,
because there the handset is only one part of the business; the rest is
providing services to customers," said Mr. Ghosn.
One drawback of electric vehicles has been battery capacity, limiting their
range. Another is that recharging a battery traditionally takes hours, far
longer than to refuel a car with gasoline. Nissan and Renault are looking at
ways to fix that. Renault will use a battery provided by Nissan for an electric
vehicle to be launched in Israel, Mr. Ghosn said.
Mr. Ghosn reiterated that Nissan is open to expanding its alliance with Renault
to other car companies, but he said that would happen only if it created value
for Renault and Nissan's stakeholders.
Write to Edward Taylor at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
_______________________________________________
Florida EAA mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.floridaeaa.org
