Nissan Announces First Fuel Cell Vehicle Lease in North America; 'Coca-Cola Zero(R)' X-Trail FCV Promotes Zero Emissions
November 24 2009 - 10:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nissan North
America, Inc. (NNA) today announced the lease of a X-TRAIL Fuel
Cell Vehicle (FCV) to Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc.
Nissan, which began development of fuel cell vehicle technology in
1996, has previously used FCVs in demonstration fleets in Japan and
in California through the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP),
but this is Nissan's first commercial FCV lease in North America.
The Sacramento Coca-Cola lease is for one year, with an option for
two additional years. (Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091123/CL16474 ) (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080506/NISSANBADGELOGO )
"Sacramento already has the beginning of a hydrogen infrastructure
in place, and Sacramento Coca-Cola has a track record of utilizing
low emissions cars, so the two companies share a green philosophy
as well as a common love of things 'zero'," said Eric Nozier, vice
president, Corporate Planning, NNA The zero emissions X-TRAIL FCV
is being used by the bottler for sales calls and public events in
the Sacramento area in promotion of its Coca-Cola Zero® soft drink.
"This is a big step in furthering our commitment to environmental
sustainability," said Bob Brown, executive vice president of
Sacramento Coca-Cola. "We are really excited about the promise of
fuel cell technology." Nissan's comprehensive fuel cell research
and development program is part of a range of eco-friendly
technologies -- including FCVs, electric vehicles, hybrid and
improved internal combustion engines -- being pursued under the
Nissan Green Program 2010, a plan focused on developing new
technologies, products and services leading to real-world
reductions in CO2 emissions, cleaner emissions and expanded
recycling of resources. The Nissan X-TRAIL FCV is based on the
X-TRAIL SUV, which is available in Mexico, Japan and Europe. It is
fitted with a Nissan-developed compact fuel cell stack, a compact
Lithium-ion battery and a high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinder.
Performance is close to that of a similarly sized internal
combustion engine-based vehicle. Versions of this generation
X-TRAIL FCV are capable of speeds in excess of 95 miles per hour,
with a cruising range of up to 300 miles. Sacramento-based Nissan
X-TRAIL FCVs have already logged nearly 300,000 miles in ongoing
internal tests, with one vehicle very close to the 100,000-mile
mark. "The future of sustainable mobility will depend on the
simultaneous development of many technologies. Test programs like
Sacramento Coca-Cola X-TRAIL FCV lease help us keep our momentum
going in this arena, even as we're getting ready to roll out the
new Nissan LEAF electric vehicle in the next year," said Nozier. In
addition to the current generation X-TRAIL FCV, Nissan earlier this
year announced testing of a next-generation fuel cell stack that is
25 percent smaller than the current model and will be less
expensive to build. Nissan North America recently opened a new Fuel
Cell Laboratory at the Nissan Technical Center in Farmington Hills,
Mich. The new lab will support other global Nissan research centers
and will work with suppliers and universities on various related
fuel cell projects. "Any 5th grade math student can tell you that
0+0+0=0, yet in this case zero (carbs) plus zero (calories) plus
zero (emissions) adds up to a great partnership and a great way to
promote both the Nissan and Coca-Cola Zero® brands," added Nozier.
"We are delighted to have this opportunity to team up with Nissan
to employ zero-emissions technology in a real life business
setting," said Don Quinn, Director of Operations for Sacramento
Coca-Cola. "What better way to showcase zero-emissions technology
than with North America's most popular new zero-calorie soft
drink?" For more information on Nissan Green 2010 activities,
please go to
http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/ENVIRONMENT/GREENPROGRAM_2010 About
Nissan North America In North America, Nissan's operations include
automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing,
sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is
dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green
Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions,
cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information
on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and
Infiniti vehicles can be found online at http://www.nissanusa.com/
and http://www.infinitiusa.com/. About Sacramento Coca-Cola
Bottling Co., Inc. Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc. is an
independent bottler and distributor of products of The Coca-Cola
Company, serving all or parts of nine counties in the Sacramento
and Modesto areas. Founded by Nathan Sellers in 1927, the company
has remained in the Sellers family for more than 80 years and is
now the ninth largest Coca-Cola bottler in the nation. "Coca-Cola
Zero" is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080506/NISSANBADGELOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091123/CL16474
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Nissan North America, Inc.
CONTACT: Colin Price, Nissan Public Relations, +1-615-725-6928, ;
Don Quinn, Director of Operations, Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling
Co., Inc., +1-916-928-2337, Web Site: http://www.nissanusa.com/
http://www.infinitiusa.com/
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