Nissan is accelerating plans for a European-wide Quick Charge (QC) network for electric vehicles by giving away 400 new quick charging stations free of charge.

It's hoped that these new points will boost existing networks and give EV customers greater freedom and flexibility by effectively extending the range of their car.

As a result of the initiative, countries across Europe have been asked to pitch for a charging network and the best `bids' will win an allocation of chargers.

In the UK, Nissan has put in a bid for 65 chargers which would be strategically located at selected service stations along the motorway network, creating a `pathway' on major routes across the UK.

Contact has already been made with the three largest motorway service station chains, who have a total of 100 stations across the country. In addition, Quick Chargers would be located in some city centers and other key locations such as airports.

Nissan currently has a network of 32 EV dealers, 26 of which already have a Quick Charger installed. The remaining six dealers will be the first in the UK to install these new smaller units, the total number of dealers with QCs is expected to be 150 by the end of 2012.

Jim Wright, Managing Director, Nissan Motor (GB) Limited said: "While we are confident that the Leaf's range will satisfy most customers' needs, we understand that some will need to make occasional longer journeys.

"Our vision is to create a `pathway charging network' which would remove so called `range anxiety' and open up pure EV ownership to a whole new spectrum of drivers."

The move follows an agreement between Nissan and five of Europe's leading utility and infrastructure supply companies to speed up the provision of the latest quick chargers, which are cheaper - up to half the previous price - and smaller than before.

The target is to have a network of quick charge stations across Europe with several thousand units in place by the end of 2012 and tens of thousands by 2015.