Nissan Australia could have a choice of up to three models when the carmaker introduces electric vehicles (EV) into Australia from 2012.
We've already confirmed the carmaker will launch a "family car" EV overseas in 2010, and Nissan has gone on record stating it will mass market the car across the globe starting 2012 (more here). Now Renault-Nissan chief, Carlos Ghosn, has intimated the car company could have as many as three EV models by 2012.
"We will bring a smart, substantial alternative to ordinary cars -- and not just one car, but a lineup of electric cars to meet a variety of customers' needs. From small cars for cities, to minivans, to 4x4s," the joint Nissan Renault CEO said during his LA Auto Show keynote speech.
Later talking to Australian journalists he elaborated.
"First you're going to see probably a family car coming out from Nissan and then the line-up will start to unfold in 2012.
"Frankly, I think giving you a plan today for 2015 today would not be very credible. [But] What I'm telling you is the first car coming in 2010 will be a family car and then in 2012 we're going to be mass-marketing it. Plus we're going to see at least a couple of other electric cars coming out of Nissan. Then after this -- well, it depends on how the market will unfold."
According to Ghosn, the company decided against showing an early EV at Los Angeles.
"We don't want to show an electric car under an old skin.
"We didn't want to show a Cube with an electric motor -- we want to show you the electric car the way it is, so we have decided even though we are very advanced in development, not to show an electric car in an old skin. This is not the case with other manufacturers," he gibed.
"If people see we have made an electric car and it is ugly, we have lost," said he alliance chief. "Being an electric car should be the cherry on top."
During his LA appearance, Ghosn confirmed Nissan would look to alternatives to selling batteries to consumers -- at least in the early stages of EV development.
"We have no intention of being a seller of batteries," Ghosn said, explaining the EV batteries would be leased so early customers could take advantage of the predicted rapid improvement in battery technologies.
Ghosn said infrastructure was key to the success of Nissan's EV strategy and reiterated the company's commitment to work with governments and third parties to ensure charging station or battery swap-out centres are in place for the 2010/2012 launches.
At LA he announced a new partnership with the US state of Oregon. There the government has pledged to more than triple the existing $1500 tax incentive to promote the purchase of EVs as well as committing to build infrastructure and changeover much of its fleet to low or zero emission vehicles.
Closer to home, Nissan Australia boss, Dan Thompson has confirmed the company has commenced discussions with both state and federal governments and will also talk to potential third-party infrastructure supplier, Betterplace.
"For us in Australia it's just the beginning of the discussion… In Sydney, in addition to the EV press event [at the Sydney motor show, see link at top], we had a separate business leader and government discussion.
"We realise the next two to three months is a critical time for us to make progress with federal state and local governments. It [the Sydney meeting] was basically an introduction to our plans to give them a bit of timing, a bit of product information to start to engage interest," Thompson explained.
He confirmed that the participants include representation from the South Australian, Victorian, NSW and Federal governments. Discussion on tax breaks and incentives are still to commence he said.
Thompson said Nissan had not been blindsided by Betterplace's Australian infrastructure announcement. Nissan is a global partner of the Palo Alto (California) based organization, according to its website.
"Since the [Betterplace] announcement (more here) we have coordinated meetings with them to get a better understanding of what exactly their plans are to see whether they will work for us or not," Thompson explained
"I wouldn't say we're in the dark. When it works for both parties we will pursue a collective partnership but we're not at the level where we've built a joint plan with them or had discussions to go any further.
"Even though we [Nissan] have an alliance in Israel, every market is a different case and we're both going our own separate ways to study what's in the best interests for each of our companies," Thompson said.
Thompson would like Australia to be one of the first markets to launch Nissan's EVs after the initial US and Japanese roll out. At Los Angeles he was tempering expectations, however.
"I think there's still a bit of scepticism, whether Australia is ready [for EVs] -- whether there is enough true commitment to infrastructure and tax incentives to get it off the ground. But at the same time we have enough momentum for it to be further explored so that's what we have to tap into. Only after that point will we see whether we kick off in Victoria, New South Wales, or some other location.
Thompson said government support is key.
"We can't do it alone. [But] I'm quite confident we'll get enough government support -- it will be at just what scale. We hope there's good support at federal level to progress things along at very local level -- it just may not be at the same time or scope."
"That [infrastructure] will drive where we launch. We'll be focussed on where it works and where it is technically feasible. And as the technology evolves we'll then roll it out.
"We're still very confident 2012 will be the year we see electric cars on sale in Australia -- even if it is just business and academia at first," Thompson concluded.
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