Japanese company Nissan today announced that its electric car the Leaf will perform at a support event for the round-the-clock race at Le Mans.

The announcement from Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. said that the Leaf NISMO RC will run at Le Mans Vers Le Futur later this month.

Based on the Nissan Leaf, the first all-electric production vehicle in the world, the Leaf NISMO RC was built specifically as a race-car.

The first ever zero emission racing production vehicle, it was unveiled at the 2011 New York International Auto Show in April. Two demonstration runs are planned, on Thursday June 9 and Saturday June 11.

* American electric car manufacturer Tesla has stepped up its campaign to convert US car users by dramatically expanding its presence at the Denver Park Meadows shopping centre in Denver, Colorado.

The company says that the store opening is designed to strengthen the message that electric cars represent a viable retail alternative for vehicle users.

Tesla says that the new store will give customers the chance to explore the technology and also challenge some of the myths about owning electric cars.

The company is stepping up the campaign in preparation for the arrival of Model S, the world's first premium electric sedan car, next year.

George Bankenship, Tesla VP of Sales and Ownership Experience, said: "We are trying to recreate the car-buying experience for the customer. We want visitors to take time to learn more about the benefits of owning a Tesla and to show them that the technology to go electric exists today."

Tesla says its aim is to produce a full range of electric cars, from sports cars to mass-market vehicles and reduce the cost to make them more viable. It has already delivered more than 1,600 Roadsters to customers in North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific Region.

Top Image Credit: © Nissan.