Electric Milestone
Renault Samsung announced that the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the world’s leader in zero-emission mobility, has sold its 250,000th electric vehicle (EV).
The Alliance reached the historic milestone four and a half years after the launch of the Nissan LEAF, the world’s first mass-market zero-emissions vehicle. The figure accounts for half of the electric vehicles sold worldwide. In particular, the Alliance sold about 31,700 EVs from Jan. through May this year, which is up 15 percent over the same period last year.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance, which sells a total of six models, claims to be the only global car group with a “full range” of pure electric vehicles. In addition to the Leaf, Renault sells the Zoe compact hatchback, the Kangoo ZE van, the SM3 ZE sedan, and the Twizy two-seater urban vehicle. The company started selling its first EV model, the Kangoo ZE, from Oct. 2011, and has sold about 65,000 EVs in France, the U.K., and Norway, so far.
In Korea, Renault Samsung is opening the age of EVs with the SM3 ZE, the only domestic sedan-type EV model. From next month, a total of 40 units of the SM3 ZE will be run as EV taxis in Seoul. Taxi drivers of the SM3 ZE will be able to charge their vehicles in an hour at medium and high-speed charging stations which can be installed in a small space, like a transport café.
Meanwhile, the Renault-Nissan Alliance plans to provide 200 zero-emissions EVs to the COP21, which will be held in Paris of France from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. Among them, the Renault Samsung SM3 ZE, which is produced in its Busan Plant, is the only sedan-type EV model of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, and will be used as the state vehicle for the heads of each country. The model is the nation’s typical EV, which are widely used as EV taxis, car sharing and government vehicles.