Renault to test electric cars in Paris, Milan

July 03, 2009 11:37:28 AM

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Renault-Nissan will hold large-scale tests for its new electric cars in the Paris and Milan regions next year ahead of planned mass production from 2012, the Franco-Japanese auto group said Thursday.

The tests include a try-out in the Paris region of a new car charging network being developed in conjunction with French electricity giant EDF.

"One hundred electric cars from the Renault-Nissan alliance... will be tested from September 2010 for a year by individuals, companies and local authority employees" around Paris, Renault-Nissan and EDF said in a statement.

People testing the cars will be able to recharge them in their homes, at their workplace, in car parks and along roads, the companies said.

Renault-Nissan also announced a separate agreement with Italian energy group A2A to launch electric car tests in Milan's Lombardy region in 2010.

Renault-Nissan and EDF paired up last year to develop an "electric mobility operator" -- a full network providing charging spots and battery exchange stations for electric vehicles across France.