Israel (TGW) – The Renault-Nissan has signed a deal to begin mass producing electric cars for Israel.



The cars will be designed to have a range of 60 miles in the city and 100 miles on the highway, will accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 13 seconds and have a top speed of 70 miles per hour – similar to many gasoline powered cars.



The reason Israel was chosen for the project, Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said, is because 90% of Israelis drive less than 43 miles each day, and every major urban center is within 90 miles of each other.



The company expects to sell 10,000 to 20,000 of the cars, starting in 2011.



"It will be the most environmentally friendly mass-produced car on the market," Ghosn said at a Fuel Free Transportation ceremony at the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, adding the main appeal of the cars is that they were as "normal as possible" while operating quietly.



The electric cars will have comparable costs to gasoline powered cars, Ghosn added.



The cars will eventually join the market in the United States, Ghosn said.



Via :: Reuters