Renault-Nissan Alliance and Italian Utility A2A to Test Electric Mobility in Lombardy

Renault-Nissan Alliance and Italian Utility A2A to Test Electric Mobility in Lombardy

By Scott Doggett March 17, 2010

The Renault-Nissan Alliance and the Italian utility company A2A have finalized an agreement on the joint development of electric mobility in the Lombardy region of Italy following the memorandum of understanding they signed in 2009.

The pilot project, "E-Moving," the first electric-vehicle experimentation in Italy, will start in June in the cities of Milan and Brescia and is scheduled to run for one year. The objective is to test the components of the electric mobility model designed in partnership by Renault and A2A.

More specifically, the tests will focus on:

• Technology and distribution of charging infrastructures;
• Commercial processes and offerings (sales and rental solutions for electric vehicles);
• Interaction between the charging network and the vehicles;
• Electricity supply for the vehicles and associated invoicing systems;
• Battery management;
• Electric vehicle maintenance.

As part of this project, consumers and businesses will be able to test the first 60 Renault EVs to arrive in Italy. The two models included in the test will be the Kangoo Express Z.E., a light utility vehicle for business use, and the Renault Fluence Z.E., a family sedan (pictured in Milan).

During the pilot phase, both electric vehicles will be available for an exclusive monthly rental comparable to that of a diesel car of the same size and performance.

The two cities will be the first in Italy to gain a complete charging infrastructure for EV, with a total of 270 charging stations installed. 

Scott Doggett:  is an AutoObserver.com Associate Editor.