Nissan, Communauto plan electric buzz in Montreal
par Lynn Moore

MONTREAL - Nissan hopes to generate more than a buzz in Montreal when its all-electric Leaf vehicles arrive this summer.

The giant carmaker figures that a unique partnership with Quebec's car-sharing service Communauto will also serve as a public education program.

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"There are so many myths and rumours and stories about the vehicle that, to us, marketing is about (offering) a learning experience."

And Communauto can offer that in spades simply by following its own business model, the conference heard.

About 60 per cent of Communauto's clients learned about it through word of mouth, said Marco Viviani, Communauto's director of development and public relations.

Another 10 per cent joined after seeing the logo on cars.

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Communauto, which has about 23,000 users and 1,200 cars at 350 stations, is to receive the first of 50 Leafs in July. Most will be deployed in Montreal, some in Quebec City.

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Communauto's overriding objective is not to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of its fleet but to discourage private car ownership by encouraging other sustainable transportation systems and thus reducing emissions as well as road congestion.

That stance is reflected in the Communauto's user fees, which are proportional to time and distance travelled.

Surveys indicate a strong demand for electric vehicles but many Montrealers - and Communauto clients - don't have access to garages or exterior plugs to recharge electric vehicles, Viviani noted.

Fifty charging units will be installed at Communauto parking spots.

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© The Gazette 2011