http://4wheelsnews.com/images/2010/february/tesla/model-s/2011_tesla_model_s.jpg" alt="2011 Tesla Model S" />When someone mentions the electric-car revolution, we doubt that Houston would be one of the places that come to mind.
That‚ probably because Houston has so many oil and gas companies that it has been nicknamed the Petro Metro and currently has the title of the "Energy Capital of the World." Those names make it quite unexpected that Houston is competing with cities such as San Francisco to be the nation's electric car capital. Last Feb. 5, newly elected Mayor Annise Parker was at an event to promote the Nissan Leaf.
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She acknowledged that the city‚ reputation as the Petro Metro but adds that it is also a car city. She said that an electric vehicle ‚Äúthat appeals to a car culture will make the real difference for market penetration." The
Nissan Leaf is an all-electric, 5-passenger vehicle that can travel 100 miles on a single charge.
Nissan Motor Co. has signed a deal where Houston and utility Reliant Energy will put up several public charging stations where electric car drivers will be able to recharge their cars.
In North America, Nissan has entered deals with states like Tennessee and Oregon and cities like San Diego, Seattle and Orlando to build public charging stations. These agreements are crucial for consumers to be confident that they won’t run out of power before they reach their garage charging stations.
Electric cars are a way for U.S. automakers
General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. to boost market share. Meanwhile, William Hederman, a senior vice president at Concept Capital's Washington Research Group, said that Detroit “needs something to be exciting and new.”
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