The Portuguese Prime Minister is the First Head of State in the World to use an Electric Car

LISBON, Portugal, December 23, 2010 - Portugal yesterday received delivery of the first 10 electric
vehicles in Europe from Nissan as recognition of the country's pioneering
work in electric mobility with the MOBI.E Programme.

(Photo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101223/428546 )

The Prime Minister José Socrates is one of the ten recipients
and will now travel exclusively by Electric Car for his official travels
around the capital city. With this Portugal becomes the first country in the
world to have a head of state using an electric car for official matters.

Prime Minister, Jose Socrates, said:

"Portugal is extremely proud of the introduction of the
electric vehicle. This initiative is only possible due the fast
implementation and development of the Portuguese MOBI.E Charging Network,
which is considered a leading example to the world of how to roll out
electric cars. Portugal is the first country in the world to have a
nation-wide smart grid for electric vehicles."

The other cars will be purchased by nine companies of the
technological consortium that developed the MOBI.E solution as a clear sign
of the need for a transition to Electric Mobility.

The cars were delivered Carlos Tavares, Vice-President of
Nissan, in a Ceremony that occurred in Parque das Nações, in Lisbon.

Portugal Pioneer on Electric Mobility

Portugal is the first country in the world to implement an
electric vehicle charging network at a national scale. The MOBI.E network,
which currently spreads over 25 municipalities throughout the country,
displays over 50 charging points already installed growing to more than 1300
normal charging points and 50 quick charging stations by mid-2011.

It is the only truly integrated system in the world, focusing
on the user and ensuring open-access and interoperability. Such approach has
drawn interest from many countries to the MOBI.E Programme.

The MOBI.E charging network is thus the first electric
mobility smart grid and has established itself as a world industry benchmark.

Portugal has therefore become the definite living lab for
electric mobility, and is well on its way for a more sustainable
oil-independent future.

MOBI.E and Renewables

By generating about 45% of total electricity consumption from
clean energies, Portugal is in the forefront of the renewables challenge.

Electric vehicles symbiotically enhance the renewable energies
potential since they may be regarded as a huge distributed storage system for
renewable electricity generated during the night (mainly from wind turbines)
which may be later reintroduced into the grid during the day at peak
consumption times , thus increasing the overall energy efficiency of the
national electric system.

Find out more in www.mobi-e.pt

Portuguese Office for Electric Mobility, gamep at meid.gov.pt, (+351)21-340-42-13