Northern Ireland´s Department for Regional Development (DRD), the Department of Environment (DOE) and the Renault-Nissan Alliance have inked an MoU to facilitate the introduction of electric vehicles in the UK province.
“Through this agreement, my Department and DOE will be working with Renault and Nissan and learning from their expertise and experience,” said Regional Development minister Conor Murphy.
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“This agreement is especially welcome as DRD and DOE will be submitting a bid for the `Plugged in Places` electric vehicle infrastructure initiative very soon. I think it will strengthen our bid and show that the North is an innovative and dynamic region that major companies want to work with.”
“I see the use of electric vehicles as an important alternative to fossil fuel-powered travel which will help to decarbonise transport and contribute to our climate change, air quality and noise objectives,” said Environment Minister Edwin Poots.
“Electric vehicles are an exciting part of our transport future and I think this agreement will help to ensure we start to enjoy the benefits that these vehicles bring sooner rather than later.”
In the MoU, joint working teams will be established to propose plans for an electric vehicle infrastructure network in Northern Ireland. The DRD and DOE also agreed to consider incentives to make electric vehicles easier for customers to buy and run, while the Renault-Nissan Alliance will share information and ideas relating to
charging networks, energy supply and electric vehicle training.
It will also help promote the development and use of electric vehicles in the region.
“Today’s agreement with Northern Ireland provides a unique opportunity to explore cross-border collaboration with the Republic of Ireland and access to its 1,500 charging points in the South,” said Renault UK managing director Thierry Sybord.
“This, coupled with the Northern Ireland Government’s commitment to renewable energy, makes Northern Ireland an ideal market for the Alliance’s range of zero emission 100% electric vehicles, including four Renault vehicles by 2012.”
The Plugged in Places bid, jointly led by DRD and DOE, will be submitted to the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) in London by 29 October.
This initiative will provide funding for electric vehicle infrastructure to a number of successful cities or regions. The bid is also supported by a consortium including local councils and representatives of the IT, motor and energy industries.
