A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed among the Rio de Janeiro state government and leaders from Brazil’s public-private sectors to accelerate zero-emission transportation in Rio de Janeiro. The partners for the deal are Renault-Nissan Alliance, Petrobras Distribuidora, Light, Ampla and Rio Negócios.
As part of the MoU, the parties will study the possibility of producing electric vehicles in the state, as well as the entire infrastructure necessary for running such cars. The project is part of the Rio Capital Energy Programme, coordinated by the State Department of Economic Development, Energy, Industry and Services of Rio de Janeiro.
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“We want to make sure Rio de Janeiro will be a world’s reference in energy for the twenty-first century, repeating the vocation that Rio already has in the area of traditional energy,” said the secretary of the State Department of Economic Development, Energy, Industry and Services, Julio Bueno, commenting on the programme.
Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are currently rolling out pilot programmes that use the Nissan LEAF as part of the cities’ taxi fleets.
Renault and Nissan have been consistently committed to zero-emission technology. The companies have invested EUR4bn (US$5.35bn) in the past two decades to develop electric cars that consume no petroleum and can be recharged on pure renewable energy.
The first fully electric mass-produced vehicle to hit the market was the Nissan Leaf, which debuted in December 2010. Renault recently launched the ZOE subcompact and has a range of other zero-emission options including the Fluence ZE sedan, the Twizy urban two-seater, and the Kangoo ZE van.
The Renault-Nissan alliance has sold nearly 100,000 zero-emission cars, more than all other major automakers combined.
“Renault-Nissan is in the vanguard of electric vehicles. This new initiative reaffirms our global commitment to offering sustainable urban mobility that is fun to drive,” affirmed Carlos Ghosn, the Renault-Nissan alliance CEO.
Petrobras Distribuidora is in charge of the feasibility studies for the implementation of the recharging infrastructure at Petrobras’ service stations in Rio. “Therefore, we remain faithful to our position as market leaders, in the vanguard in terms of technology and sustainability,” said José Lima de Andrade Neto, president, Petrobras Distribuidora.
Rio Negócios will take part in the workgroup for the EV development, representing the municipality to promote the city as a business destination in the emerging technological and industrial sector. Its mission is to identify project opportunities and portfolios, and develop the industry to consolidate the intelligence of this new activity in the country.
“We accelerate projects and facilitate the installation of businesses in the city, serving as a liaison between the public and private sector. In terms of investments for the EV technology, Rio will be at the forefront of industrial innovation,” Marcelo Haddad, president, Rio Negócios.
Light is an electricity distribution and retailing company with 4m customers in 31 cities of the Rio de Janeiro State. It will also back the development of this project and contribute to promote feasibility studies aimed at the implementation of the recharging infrastructure. “Light is committed to this initiative in line with sustainability principles”, says Paulo Roberto Pinto, president, Light.
Ampla is a company controlled by Endesa Brasil (Enel Group). It will study the implementation of a technological and innovative infrastructure to ensure a sustainable supply of energy. “Being part of an EV project confirms our strategic bet on the R&D of smart power grids based on the new energy model”, Marcelo Llévenes, president of Ampla and Endesa Brazil.
