Recharge Wrap-up: Renault-Nissan at COP21, fast charging viability
Tue, Dec 15 2015
Nissan and Renault's combined fleet of 200 EVs drove over 175,000 kilometers (about 108,700 miles) during the COP21 environmental summit in Paris. The largest fleet of EVs for any international conference served as shuttles for attendees, saving almost 182 barrels of oil and 18 tons of CO2 emissions. In addition to providing the Nissan Leaf, Nissan e-NV200, and Renault Zoe EV shuttles, the Renault-Nissan Alliance also set up a network of 90 chargers to support the fleet. 13 of the 27 quick and semi-quick chargers will remain in place for public use. Read more in the press release below.
Siemens names Ann Arbor, Michigan for its first Center of Excellence for Intelligent Traffic Technology. The company will implement new and upgrade existing traffic technologies in the city, including cloud-based traffic management software, local controller software and an adaptive traffic control system designed to improve traffic flow and safety. In a college town with highly varying numbers of students and visitors throughout the year, "the need to move traffic in and out of the city efficiently is crucial not only for economic and environmental impacts, but for quality of life for Ann Arbor residents," says Marcus Welz, president of Siemens Intelligent Traffic Systems. Many Ann Arborites (your author included) would surely agree. Read more at Green Car Congress, or in the release from Siemens.
A study in Ireland found that public fast charging could soon become commercially viable. The researchers found parking spots to be the most popular public charging locations, and that fast chargers saw the most frequent use, suggesting commercial viability for the infrastructure in the short- to medium-term. The study also found that most drivers prefer to charge at home, and do so during peak hours. Incentivization could be necessary to break people from this habit. Read more at Green Car Congress.
• Fleet of 200 electric vehicles saves 18 tons of CO2 from being emitted into the air during two-week global summit
• Fleet represents the world's largest EV fleet ever provided for an international conference
• Renault and Nissan employees volunteered as drivers for the fleet, which featured Renault ZOE, Nissan LEAF and Nissan e-NV200
PARIS (15 December, 2015) — Electric vehicles from the Renault-Nissan Alliance shuttled more than 8,000 VIP delegates, media and negotiators and traveled at least 175,000 kms during the Paris climate talks — without emitting any CO2 tailpipe emissions and without using any petroleum whatsoever.
The fleet of 200 electric vehicles, which transported delegates during the two-week United Nations annual climate change conference in Paris, saved nearly 182 barrels of oil or 18 tons of CO2 not emitted while driving.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance was the official passenger-car shuttle provider for COP21, which ran from Nov. 30 through Dec. 11. The Alliance EV fleet was the world's largest electric-vehicle fleet ever provided to an international conference.
The EVs made more than 3,800 transfers shuttling accredited delegates to and from hotels to the Bourget conference venue north of Paris. The fleet featured the Renault ZOE subcompact car, the Nissan LEAF compact car and the 7-seater Nissan e-NV200 van. Renault and Nissan employees volunteered as drivers and electric vehicle ambassadors for the cars, which were available to COP21 delegates as a complement to public transportation.
COP21 marked the first time the U.N. used a 100% electric fleet for its entire passenger-car shuttle at a climate summit. COP21 also resulted in the Paris Declaration on Electro-Mobility and Climate Change Call for Action, an agreement that aims to increase EVs and their charging infrastructure. The Renault-Nissan Alliance signed the action plan, which aims to keep the transport sector in line with the COP21 promise to reduce the impact of climate change.
Quick charge stations available for public use
The Renault-Nissan Alliance set up network of 90 quick and standard charging stations in strategic locations to recharge the cars. The stations were powered by low-carbon electricity provided by French electric utility company EDF. The residual emissions were offset under an accredited U.N. carbon offsetting program.
Thirteen of the 27 quick and semi quick chargers installed will remain and are available for the public to use. These include two quick chargers at Charles de Gaulle Airport, two on the principal highway surrounding Paris, and one at Orly Airport. The quick charging stations are able to charge an EV from 0 to 80% capacity in about 30 minutes.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance is the global leader in zero-emission vehicles, accounting for half of all EVs on the road today. Together, Renault and Nissan have sold more than 280,000 electric vehicles since the Alliance's first electric vehicle Nissan LEAF went on sale in late 2010.
Featured Gallery Renault-Nissan Alliance at COP21
- News Source: Renault-Nissan Alliance, Green Car Congress, Siemens, Green Car Congress
- Image Credit: Olivier Martin Gambier / Renault-Nissan Alliance
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By John Beltz Snyder
See also: Renault, Nissan limit French government interference, Renault, Nissan limit French government interference, Recharge Wrap-up: Renault EV movie, H2 fueling in Paris.