(September 20, 2011) ROLLE, Switzerland  — Nissan has teamed up with leading European utility and electrical vehicle supply equipment companies to speed development of cheaper, smaller, quick chargers for electric vehicle batteries, and accelerate the installation of publicly-available Quick Charge points across Europe.

This agreement between Nissan, Circutor, DBT, Efacec, Endesa and Siemens is expected to result in a dramatic reduction in the price of the units — by over half  — paving the way for businesses such as service stations, car park operators and retail outlets to install quick chargers and run them profitably as a commercial enterprise.

This will mean Nissan Leaf drivers, and other quick charge enabled vehicles, could use their car for longer journeys and recharge the car's battery to 80% capacity in less that half an hour.

As a result, it is expected that there will now be thousands of quick chargers across Europe by the end of 2012, and tens of thousands by 2015. This infrastructure will open up Nissan Leaf ownership to a whole new spectrum of buyers who occasionally need to do longer journeys.

A quick charge allows the battery to be topped up in little more time than it takes to refuel a conventional car, and of course the owner can leave the Nissan Leaf while it is being "refueled"" to make calls, have lunch or take a break.

A Cha de Mo DC quick charger delivers 50 kW of high voltage direct current (DC) electricity straight to the battery, speeding up the charging process.

Nissan Leaf has a range between charges of up to 109 miles as tested over the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). Increased opportunities for quick charging will mean that a quick power boost will give Nissan Leaf customers greater driving opportunities.

"We are confident that the Nissan Leaf's range will be enough to satisfy most drivers' daily needs. However, with a significant number of QCs available across Europe, EV owners who need to drive longer distances will be able to do so with confidence, knowing they will be able to recharge no matter where they go, which we believe is essential for the mass adoption of EVs, " says Toshiyuki Shiga Nissan COO.

The challenge to build cheaper and smaller quick chargers will be met by combining the game-changing Nissan quick charging technology unveiled in the new Nissan DC quick charger, together with the regional strength of our European partners' know-how.

Compliant with charging policies of European countries, the quick chargers are also AC quick charge ready to support the arrival of AC quick charging cars.

Deliveries of Nissan Leaf have already begun in the UK, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal. Order books have also opened in Switzerland, Belgium Norway, Sweden and Denmark with customers in those markets expected to start receiving their cars shortly.