The Renault-Nissan Alliance has announced that Nissan is entering into an agreement with the City of Houston to advance zero-emission mobility in the city by promoting the development of an electric-vehicle charging network and policies to support widespread adoptions of electric cars.

The announcement, made at the Houston stop of the Nissan LEAF Zero Emissions Tour, helps pave the way for the 2010 introduction of Nissan LEAF, the industry's first all-electric, zero-emission car designed for the mass market.

Nissan already has a similar working agreement with Reliant Energy, of Houston, one of the largest competitive electricity providers in Texas. This announcement paves the way for public-private collaboration to foster electric-vehicle growth and development.

"For more than 100 years, Houston has pioneered advances in the energy field.

With the same spirit of innovation, Nissan and the Renault-Nissan Alliance are committed to lead the way in the field of zero-emission automotive technologies," said Carlos Tavares, Chairman, Nissan Americas.

"We are the only global automaker bringing an electric-vehicle lineup to drivers on a mass-market scale and at an affordable price."

As part of the agreement, Nissan and the City of Houston, along with Reliant Energy, will develop plans to promote a charging infrastructure for electric cars that encourages home and workplace charging, as well as a public-charging infrastructure.

The partners will work to coordinate the establishment of policies and help streamline charging infrastructure deployment. Nissan also has agreed to make available a supply of electric vehicles to the City of Houston and in and around the metropolitan area.

Houston is one of 14 cities that have joined the Clinton Climate Initiative C40 in a commitment to make their cities more electric vehicle-friendly. To that end, the city intends to add 25 electric vehicles this year, bringing to 40 the total number of plug-in cars in the city's fleet.

"The discovery of oil at Spindletop in 1901 catapulted Houston to its current title of energy capital of the world," said Mayor Annisse Parker.

"With ongoing research and development of wind, solar and electric fuel sources, we are on the cusp of becoming the alternative energy capital of the world. It is fitting that the city be a leader in increasing public awareness of environmentally friendly transportation alternatives like the LEAF."

Reliant Energy is working to make the broad adoption of electric vehicles simple by developing an ecosystem of charging infrastructure and services that makes fueling electric vehicles more convenient and affordable than the gasoline alternative.

"I want to congratulate the city of Houston and Nissan on this agreement," said Jason Few, president of Reliant Energy. "This important step builds on the agreement we reached with Nissan late last year and is critical to the success of electric vehicles in Houston.

"We are working to create the infrastructure, services and a whole new way to buy power by the mile. We are working with our parent company, NRG Energy, towards the widespread electrification of transportation. We want to make Texas the electric-vehicle capital of the United States, starting in Houston."

Nissan, along with alliance partner Renault, is the only automaker committed to making all-electric vehicles available to the mass market on a global scale. Nissan LEAF, a five-passenger all-electric car, will be available for private and fleet customers. It is being launched in the United States, Japan and Europe in late 2010.

Nissan has spearheaded a holistic approach to zero-emission mobility by working with states, municipalities, utility companies and other partners, to prepare markets and infrastructure.

Nissan has formed more than a dozen partnerships in the United States, in areas including State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon, Sonoma County, San Diego and San Francisco in California, Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., Washington D.C., Seattle, with the City of Orlando and the Orlando Utilities Commission, with Progress Energy in Raleigh, N.C., and with Houston-based Reliant Energy.

Nissan also is working with AeroVironment for the supply and installation of home charging stations, creating a one-stop shop for the Nissan LEAF and its charging equipment.

Through the 24-city Nissan LEAF Zero-Emission Tour, which stopped in Houston today, Nissan has been showcasing the electric vehicle and battery technology as well as the company's zero-emission mobility objectives.