E.Leclerc And The Renault-Nissan Alliance To Promote the Use of Electric Vehicles In France

PARIS – October 11, 2010: The E.Leclerc Centers and the French carmaker Renault today signed a letter of intent with the aim of developing a program to equip the centers’ parking lots with charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. The Renault-Nissan Alliance will accompany E.Leclerc in equipping its parking lots with charging stations for electric vehicles. As such, 50 E.Leclerc centers will be equipped by 2011, 150 by the end of 2012 and nearly 500 by 2015.

This unique partnership is proof of a joint ambition: The Renault-Nissan Alliance aims to be the global leader in electric vehicles; E.Leclerc intends to promote among customers practices which lead to more responsible consumerism and are therefore more respectful of the environment.

E.Leclerc and the Renault-Nissan Alliance will work together on launching a program to equip the store’s parking lots with charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, and on studying the implementation of new services related to these vehicles in the E.Leclerc Centers, for example, short-term rental of electric vehicles. In this perspective, working groups will be set up to:

Choose the type of charging installation that will match the needs of electric vehicle owners (standard charge: 3 kW, quick charge: 45 kW, or both)

Identify the number of charging spots to install at each center in order to best meet the needs of the customers

Accompany the E.Leclerc centers in their charging infrastructure implementation plans

Renault estimates that electric vehicles will represent around 10% of automobile sales in France by 2020. This agreement will facilitate sustainable mobility for all, with access to simple, practical and quick charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Michel-Edouard Leclerc, President of the E.Leclerc Centers, said, “The millions of consumers who patronize our stores travel by car and park in our lots. Developing responsible consumerism also implies reducing the impact of transportation on the environment. The partnership that we are signing with the Renault-Nissan Alliance will encourage the use of electric vehicles in France.”

Patrick Pélata, COO of Renault, said, “I am delighted to partner with the E.Leclerc Centers which will allow us to grow the network of charging spots in France, with their 500 stores across the country.”