Renault has completed a large-scale operation to promote electric transport in Slovenia. In partnership with CONOT, the Slovenian centre for the development of low-carbon technologies and member of National Chemical Institute, ZOE was tested under real-life driving conditions throughout the country over an eight-month period.
The survey found that ZOE could replace around 20% of cars on the Slovenian roads. Renault’s all-electric model has an NEDC-cycle range of 210 km (with the Q210 power unit) or 240 km (with the R240), which amounts to around 100 km-170 km under real-life driving conditions. This is sufficient to fully meet the everyday needs of 20% of Slovenian motorists.
During the operation Renault also took part in a two-month project with the Ljubljana section of the Slovenian Forestry Commission, responsible for managing the forests, greatly appreciated by the local population, in the region around the Slovenian capital. Slovenia has the third largest forest cover of any European country, with woodland accounting for 60% of the national territory.
Forestry Commission personnel tested Kangoo Z.E. under the toughest conditions, on hilly terrain and poor road surfaces, throughout the winter. The results were highly positive, showing that the Kangoo ZE range (170 km NEDC, or 80-125 km actual) easily met the everyday working needs of the forest guards, and confirming Kangoo Z.E.’s capabilities to handle rough terrain. The quiet-running van was also appreciated by walkers in woods.
This highly instructive project also proves that electric cars are not exclusively confined to urban usages, and that they are perfectly capable of duty under difficult conditions.
Ljubljana will be Green Capital of Europe in 2016, in recognition of the Slovenian city’s work on environment awareness, sustainable development strategy, urban ecology measures, and public transport.
