Renault is showcasing the diversity and versatility of its light commercial vehicle range at the CV Show 2015, which runs at the NEC in Birmingham from April 14 to 16.
The Renault pavilion contains a total of 17 modified versions of the Master, Trafic, Kangoo and even the Twizy, emphasising the bespoke conversion possibilities the company is able to offer to meet the needs of any customer. Two of the models on display – the Kangoo Z.E. Panel Van and Twizy Cargo Ambulance delivery vehicle – demonstrate the adaptability of Renault’s EV range.
Kangoo Van Z.E. Panel Van
Renault always intended that its electric vehicle range could be adapted for a multitude of uses, and this is ably demonstrated by the Kangoo Z.E. Panel Van. With its smooth and silent 44 kW electric motor producing no tailpipe emissions, and no need for a gearbox because of the 226 Nm of torque available immediately upon drive-away, it makes the perfect urban delivery vehicle, especially as it introduces no compromises in terms of carrying ability.
It has the same 650 kg payload as a combustion-engined Kangoo Panel Van and a range of comfortably more than 100 miles, which is more than adequate for most needs – the average Kangoo driver covers only 62 miles a day. If necessary, the batteries can be topped up during the day at one of the rapidly growing number of public charging points, but for most people the Renault-supplied wallbox will restore the batteries to full energy capacity at the user’s home or workplace overnight in a maximum of 7.5 hours.
A Kangoo Z.E. typically costs around 2p a mile to operate, depending on the owner’s electricity tariff, and attracts no road tax, no benefit-in-kind taxation and, in London, no congestion charge, while it also qualifies for the 100 per cent write-down allowance. Remote battery monitoring and the bespoke Z.E. instruments allow operators to keep a constant eye on battery usage and charge status, helping to promote an economical driving style, and Renault also offers full vehicle purchase or battery hire options so that owners can tailor their operating costs to suit their own circumstances.
With battery hire, owners pay for only the usage they need, from £33 per month, and Renault guarantees to replace any battery which can no longer hold at least 75 percent of its charge capacity and provides 24/7 roadside assistance, even if the driver runs out of battery charge.
– Body and chassis: Kangoo Panel Van, short wheelbase, front-wheel drive
– Powertrain: electric motor;
– Power and torque: 44 kW (60 hp), 226 Nm;
– Economy and CO2 emissions: Nil;
– Conversion: Factory model;
– On sale: Now;
– Price of display model: £12,995 plus VAT (after Plug-In Vehicle Grant)
Twizy Cargo Ambulance
There are parts of some cities where the roads are so narrow and congested that deliveries using even the most compact conventional vans are now impossible. Renault’s ingenious solution is the Twizy Cargo, a ‘final miles’ or ‘fast response’ vehicle based on the company’s two-seater urban runabout and developed by Renault Tech and Renault Sport Technologies.
M&L have taken the factory converted Twizy Cargo and provided a rapid response vehicle that looks the part and does the job. With ambulance livery, blue lights and siren and enough space to the back for life saving equipment this vehicle will soon be in use up and down a busy coastal town’s beach front ensuring nobody has to wait to receive life-saving treatment.
Because it is less than 2.4 metres long and only 1.19 metres wide it will squeeze through gaps that are too narrow for other vehicles, and it can be parked end-on in the tiniest of kerbside gaps so that deliveries can be completed without bringing an entire street to a standstill. Yet it has a lockable 180-litre boot and a payload of 75 kg, making it ideal as a call-out vehicle for anything from workplace food deliveries to emergency medical care – and all without producing a single gram of CO2 at the tailpipe thanks to its electric drive system.
To make this possible, the factory in Valladolid removes the rear seat to create a cargo deck and modifies the cut-out at the rear with a lockable door which opens to 90 degrees. Business operators can reclaim the VAT on the purchase price and battery rental, which starts at £30 a month. The Twizy Cargo is covered by a three-year powertrain warranty and two years on the rest of the vehicle. It is powered by the same 12.7 kW (17 hp) electric motor which drives the two-seater version, and offers the same range of up to 62 miles on a full charge – easily enough for a full day’s use with urban delivery companies.
– Body and chassis: Twizy Cargo
– Powertrain: electric motor
– Power and torque: 12.7 kW (17 hp), 57 Nm
– Economy and CO2 emissions: Nil
– Conversion: Factory model
– On sale: Now
– Price of display model: £6,242 plus VAT (after Plug-In Vehicle Grant)[wzslider height=”400″ lightbox=”true”]
