The partnership agreement between Renault and the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region covers a number of areas:

• Equipping vehicle fleets in the Region – The region agrees to promote the acquisition of EVs by the local authorities within its geographical area. To set an example, the region will acquire Renault EVs for its own fleet.

• Providing charging infrastructure – The region will pay for a significant part of the infrastructure studies conducted by local authorities and will contribute to financing, with particular emphasis on business areas and public car parks. Supplying charging infrastructure with renewable energies and/or via shorter circuits will be a systematic priority.

• Promoting electric vehicles (EV) – The Nord-Pas-de-Calais Region undertakes to promote the use of EVs with the local authorities within its geographical area. To this end, the region has decided to introduce a Regional Plan for the Development of Electric Vehicles.

The region will look to also enhance business access to electric vehicles. In the first instance, this support will focus on the self-employed and on very small companies, with assistance from the Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Chambers of Trade.

At the same time, the partners are committed to helping consumers acquire electric vehicles. An ad hoc working group will be set up specifically to address this subject.

• Appointment of an “Electric Vehicle Project Manager” – As part of the operational implementation and management of this agreement, Renault and the Region will each appoint a project manager.

• Scientific input, training, development, innovation – The plan will be supported by the MEDEE (Maîtrise Energétique des Entraînements Electriques), a research unit set up to develop technological innovation with the emphasis on energy efficiency, in coordination with the I-TRANS unit, set up to promote innovative forms of transport. Particular emphasis will be placed on training and innovation.

Renault has already announced its plans to launch a range of electric vehicles from 2011. These include the Renault Kangoo Express ZE, which is being produced at Renault's MCA plant in Maubeuge – one of the four plants operated by the brand in the the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region.