Electric motoring has reached an important milestone as Nissan announced 1,000 CHAdeMO quick chargers, which can charge a car from zero to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes, have now been installed in Europe.
When looking at the latest new car deals, motorists are often impressed by the great economy and green potential of electric vehicles (EVs), but many are still put off by a lack of supporting infrastructure.
Nissan's Leaf model has been one of the most successful all-electric cars so far and the company believes a bigger network of CHAdeMO chargers while help more people take advantage.
The landmark unit was installed in the Clacket Lane Services in Surrey, but the biggest impact the chargers have had has been in Norway – Europe's biggest EV market – where the number of EVs using the CHAdeMO-equipped E18 highway increased eightfold in an 18-month period.
Director of electric vehicles at Nissan Europe Jean Pierre Diernaz said: "This is a huge landmark for zero-emission mobility, allowing a range of EVs, including the Nissan LEAF and forthcoming Nissan e-NV200 electric van, to quickly extend their journeys. The UK charging network is expanding rapidly and through our partner Ecotricity, customers are able to 'refuel' their car for free with wind and solar generated electricity."
There are now 195 chargers in the UK as authorities attempt to lay the groundwork for a future in which electric motoring is integral and the rate of installation of CHAdeMO quick chargers across Europe increased rapidly last year. Back in 2010, there were just 16 quick charging points in Great Britain.
Although the 1,000th charger is an important milestone, the rate of deployment is expected to take a further jump over the next 12 months and by the end of 2014, an extra 800 chargers are due to be installed in Europe.
Posted by Bob Fletcher