Most people at COP17 in Durban have never driven an electric - let alone seen one up close - so the appearance of Renault Fluence Z.E., Renault Twizy and Nissan LEAF here is causing quite a stir. At our booth, we are busy explaining the cars to a steady stream of visitors, as well as signing them up for test drives. Shuttle services in Renault Fluence and Nissan LEAF are also available for COP17 delegates from various points in the city to the International Conference Center, where the climate change negotiations are taking place.

To see our COP17 photos, go to our multimedia library or click here to download them.

A fleet of zero-emission vehicles from Renault and Nissan is being used to shuttle delegates to and from the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, from Nov. 28-Dec. 9. The Alliance is at COP17 to demonstrate that our zero-emission vehicles - the first mass-produced EVs to ever run on the streets of Africa - offer a real affordable solution for drastically reducing CO2 emissions.  

Watch our video report from Durban

--First time for a fleet of mass-produced, 100% electric vehicles to take to the road in Africa--

DURBAN, South Africa (Nov. 24, 2011) – For the first time ever, a fleet of mass-produced, zero-emission vehicles will take to the streets of Africa.

A dozen electric cars from the Renault-Nissan Alliance will highlight the benefits of green transportation and will provide zero-emission* shuttle services for delegates at the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, Nov. 28-Dec. 9. The 17th annual Conference of Parties (better known as COP17) aims to “stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.”

All multinational corporations have had their share of crises in the past three years -- particularly those with a substantial footprint in Asia.

In a keynote address to the Japan Society in New York last week, The Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn described what he’s learned in wake of the global liquidity crunch that began with the Lehman Brothers collapse in 2008; the March 11 earthquake and tsunami; Thai floods; the relentless strength of Japan’s currency; and Euro zone financial turmoil.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is the world-leader in electric-vehicle technology and the only car group worldwide offering a range of vehicles that consume no gasoline whatsoever. The Renault-Nissan Alliance plans to sell 1.5 million zero-emission cars by 2016. Nissan has already sold more than 18,000 LEAFs on three continents, making it the most popular EV in the world. Renault just began selling the Kangoo Z.E. minivan. The Fluence Z.E. family sedan will go on sale shortly followed by the Twizy urban 2-seater and the ZOE compact hatchback next year.

The Alliance partners have an ambitious target to be the world’s leading provider of zero-emission vehicles by 2016 with cumulative sales of 1.5 million vehicles.The ambition is set out in Nissan’s new mid-term environmental plan, announced today, and comes as Renault begins sales across Europe of its Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Van Z.E. and as sales of Nissan LEAF approach their first anniversary.

The critically acclaimed movie “Revenge of the Electric Car” debuts in Europe this week as a featured documentary in the Festival du Cinéma Américain de Deauville.  (Click here for the full schedule.)

“Revenge” follows Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn and other protagonists in their quest to commercialize electric vehicles. The crew gained unprecedented access for three years inside Nissan, from the board room to the factory floor as engineers, executives and assembly workers brought the Nissan LEAF from concept to reality.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance wants to make it easier for people to switch to zero-emission vehicles. The Alliance aims to help policymakers and civic leaders worldwide understand the technological, political and environmental benefits of EVs.

Yves Rossy (aka Jetman) came to TED Global 2011 with perhaps the most exciting presentation and profile, after all he embodies one of the oldest aspirational dreams for humans: the desire to fly! Powered by four jet boosters he has taken the passive gravity-driven experience of free-fall and extended ‘flight’ times with his ground-breaking daring and equipment.

Finding and talking to people at the TED Global conference is not hard- we even carry on our giant name tags suggested topics for ‘ice-breaking’ conversations. Finding and talking to someone you really want to at a particular time is harder; a lot harder…