The B2B platform for full-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: Industry News

Renault-Nissan have confirmed that their second European battery production site will be in Aveiro, Portugal. The plant’s annual capacity will amount to 60,000 units of lithium-ion batteries.

After Sunderland in the north east of England, Aveiro will host Nissan’s second European battery production site. Both facilities will produce lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles manufactured by Renault-Nissan. Construction of the Portuguese plant will start next year at the Renault CACIA (Companhia Aveirense de Componentes para a Indústria Automóvel) industrial complex, about 250km north of Lisbon. Production is scheduled to start in 2012, with a projected annual capacity of 60,000 units.

Infrastructure for zero emission mobility

The new battery factory fits nicely into Portugal’s ambition to develop a nationwide charging network for EVs by reinforcing the country’s role as a place to research, produce and test components and solutions for EVs.

In 2008, the country had announced plans to implement a zero emission mobility programme in collaboration with Nissan. Starting in January 2011, the car maker will supply electric vehicles while the Portuguese government will oversee the provision of an extensive network of 1,300 recharging stations, installed across the country over the next two years.