Istanbul Enerji and Renault to Implement a Program Aimed at Preparing for a Zero-Emission Partnership

AUTO CENTRAL – July 20, 2010: İstanbul Enerji, a subsidiary of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and Renault sign a Memorandum of Understanding to implement a program aimed at preparing for a zero-emission partnership. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is aimed at establishing a partnership to promote and implement electric vehicles in Istanbul, following the example of several other capital cities. The partnership program will cover the deployment in the Istanbul municipality of a charging network for electric vehicles, which will be launched in 2011, and the rollout of corresponding services and developments.

The MoU was signed by Adnan Çelik, Managing Director of İstanbul Enerji, İbrahim Aybar, Managing Director of Renault MAIS, and Tarık Tunalıoğlu, Managing Director of Oyak Renault, in the presence of Kadir Topbaş, Mayor of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Strengthened by the synergy created between Renault and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the parties have decided to launch preliminary work with a view to encouraging the adoption and promotion of electric vehicles – set for launch in 2011 in the Istanbul municipality – in order to reduce CO2 emissions and the effects of climate warming. To that end, a working group will be set up to obtain practical results on implementing an infrastructure for electric vehicle use in the city by 2011.

The working group will be tasked with making proposals on:

multiplying the number of projects that could favor the use of electric vehicles in Istanbul, especially those focused on charging networks,

installing and developing a network of charging stations for electric vehicles,

developing special projects for fleets, public spaces and cities,

analyzing the regulations on installing and operating electric vehicle charging stations