US govt's green funds for Leaf plant
The American Department of Energy is advancing Nissan a US $1.4 billion loan for its EV factory in TennesseeNissan and the American government have finalised an agreement for the US Department of Energy to fund modification of Nissan's factory in Smyrna, Tennessee.
Steven Chu, Secretary for the Department of Energy (DOE), announced in a speech at the Washington Auto Show last month that Nissan would secure a $1.4 billion loan from the government to modify the Smyrna plant for production of the Leaf electric vehicle later this year.
During the course of his speech, Chu covered a number of environmental subjects, according to Autoblog, including the DOE's US $13 billion advanced vehicle technology budget and hydrogen infrastructure.
Nissan welcomed the announcement, which could generate as many as 1300 new jobs, once the Smyrna factory is operating at up to full capacity. That would mean a production threshold as high as 150,000 cars per annum. The modifications funded by the DOE include a new battery plant, which will produce as many as 200,000 batteries for the Leaf.
"Nissan applauds the Department of Energy's support of the development of innovative, advanced vehicle technologies and the creation of clean energy jobs," said Scott Becker, senior vice president, Administration and Finance, Nissan North America. "Nissan is committed to zero-emission mobility. This loan, which will bring production of the Nissan LEAF to Tennessee, is a significant step in sustaining American jobs and American manufacturing."
The Leaf will go on sale in the US, Japan and Europe later this year.
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