As well as promoting the benefits of zero-emission mobility to its public, the French authorities are practising what they preach: they are buying more than 17,000 electric vehicles from Renault for use by the government and public authorities.

For Nissan LEAF owners in the Netherlands, charging is about to get faster and easier. Drivers will soon benefit from a new network of 38 electric vehicle quick-charge stations across the country thanks to a partnership between Nissan and The New Motion, a Dutch company that specializes in mobility solutions powered by renewable energy.

Drivers of the future are getting a taste of the car of the future. Driving instructor Paul Tomalin has taken delivery of a pure electric Nissan LEAF, becoming the first in the UK to use an EV to teach learners how to drive.

--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.”

The auto industry is probably better known for its intense competitiveness; companies finding more on which to disagree than agree. Trade associations such as the SMMT in the UK, ACEA in Europe and JAMA in Japan do create forums where automakers can debate areas of common interest and present a unified view on a specific issue.

Last year The World Economic Forum, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, helped to bring some of the major automakers together to make a unique but simple request to policy makers: we are ready to start working together to solve the environmental issues associated with vehicle transportation. Initially, the letter was signed by the CEOs of Daimler, Ford, the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Toyota. Last month, the CEOs of Audi, Hyundai and Volkswagen added their names to the list, and we expect more to follow.