Thanks to consumer preferences and technological advances, the Renault-Nissan Alliance is making zero-emission mobility a reality for consumers around the world.In December 1898, the battery-powered Jeantaud Duc became the world's fastest car with a speed of 63.15 km/h. Electric cars were seen as modern, safe and convenient. But within a couple of decades, oil companies had created an ecosystem of wells, refineries and pumps to take advantage of the energy density and abundance of petroleum. Carmakers shifted focus, concentrating overwhelmingly on the gasoline-powered internal combustion engines that dominated the twentieth century.No trend can last forever. In the past decade, political tensions among oil-producing and oil-consuming nations have exposed the danger of relying on one single, non-renewable fuel source. Air quality has eroded to dangerous levels in some cities. Noise pollution escalates. Irrefutable evidence of climate change accompanies rising CO2 emissions. Socially and environmentally responsible citizens - particularly young people - are demanding clean alternatives to conventional cars. Automakers have achieved admirable increases in fuel efficiency by improving internal combustion engines and by introducing hybrid cars that occasionally switch to batteries. But the only way to significantly reduce CO2 emissions from the transportation sector is to build vehicles that do not consume any petroleum whatsoever. Fortunately, advances in lithium-ion technology allow us to move into the era of zero-emission transportation - starting right now. Unlike gasoline-powered cars, electric vehicles consume nearly any form of energy - including abundant hydropower and the growing supply of renewable solar and wind power. As these renewable energy sources increase, CO2 emissions will shrink further. Climate change, consumer preferences and advances in technology: these are some of the reasons the Renault-Nissan Alliance decided to mass-produce electric vehicles, becoming the first car group in more than a century to make zero-emission cars affordable, convenient and fun.At the end of 2010, after a decade developing the compact laminated lithium-ion battery pack, we started selling the Nissan LEAF. More than 25,000 people on three continents have driven more than 35 million miles in Nissan LEAFs, saving at least 800,000 gallons of petrol. That is the equivalent of 7,300 tons of CO2 that have not been emitted. And most people who buy the Nissan LEAF say that it has replaced their conventional car for daily use. In 2011, Nissan sold more than 22,000 LEAFs, now the most popular zero-emission car of all time. Renault introduced two additional zero-emission models for Europe and Israel - the Renault Fluence Z.E. and the Renault Kangoo Z.E. van. We also started trials of a Nissan light commercial vehicle, the e-NV200. In 2012, we are introducing Renault's Twizy urban two-seater vehicle and Renault ZOE subcompact. By 2016, the Renault-Nissan Alliance is aiming to have sold 1.5 million battery-powered vehicles. Our long-term vision is to help create a sustainable society where zero-emission ? Pictured: (Above) Renault's line-up of electric cars for 2011-12 From left to right: Twizy, ZOE, Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Z.E.(Left) The all-electric Nissan LEAF was named 2011 World and European Car of The Yeartransport and mobility 123

Pictured above: The LEAF to HOME system developed by Nissan is coming soon. It can provide a power source for homes in times of power blackouts and can help shift towards a non-peak power /smart electricity use pattern that can be coordinated with solar power generation in the future. Pictured facing page: Carlos Ghosntransportation is mainstream. This is our ethical imperative - and a calculated business move based on consumer preferences and tougher environmental mandates. By 2020, the EU wants CO2 emissions cut by 20 per cent compared to 1990 levels. By 2020, the US wants CO2 emissions cut by 17 per cent compared to 2005 levels. Given these trends, the status quo is no longer tenable: Zero-emission transportation will play an important part in a sustainable planet. The Renault-Nissan Alliance's vision is larger than zero-emission cars themselves. We are refining vehicle-to-grid technology, which allows an idle EV to return power to the grid at peak times and recharge with cheaper, off-peak electricity. We will help customers use their batteries to power their homes and, eventually, recycle their batteries. We are making even longer-range batteries more affordable. Furthermore thanks to a strategic cooperation with Daimler, we are bringing fuel-cell vehicles closer to reality every year.We work closely with governments, universities, utility companies and non-profit organisations. Many countries offer cash rebates for customers who buy zero-emission vehicles. Such subsidies boost consumer awareness and acceptance of clean cars. Other incentives include free parking, the use of bus lanes, free electricity for EVs and EV-only zones in cities. In the short term, such benefits make zero-emission vehicles competitive with conventional vehicles, whose costs have been amortised for a century. As manufacturers ramp up production of zero-emission vehicles, economies of scale will reduce the need for incentives. Electricity is abundant. Communities are adding charge points in office complexes, parking structures, residential areas and along highways. Forward-thinking governments, universities, multinational corporations and entrepreneurs are building fast charging networks or even battery switch systems, so drivers can "charge and go" in about the same time it takes to gas up. Utility companies are adding renewable resources to the grid, making the carbon footprint of electric cars lower and lower. We are optimistic about the future. Despite economic turbulence since 2008, governments have not slashed incentives or eliminated investments in critical infrastructure upgrades. Debt crises and unemployment will no doubt dominate discussions at the G8 summit in Chicago 124 transport and mobility