Not Your Average Van
Among other electric vehicles and eco-friendly green cars, the Kangoo ZE (for zero emissions) will be the first of four electric vehicles that Renault will launch by 2012. It will use lithium-ion batteries, sourced from a joint venture between Renault's alliance partner Nissan and Japanese electronics giants NEC. The batteries are expected to have a useful life of eight-ten years. After that they may have a further couple of years' life storing electricity from renewable sources in the home before being recycled.
Although customers will have the choice of lease or purchase of the van, leasing will initially be the only option for the batteries. Renault reckons this should ease fears about residuals.
The £16,990 starting price is around £5,000 more expensive than diesel models. Low re-fuelling costs will help to offset this. Against that, the Kangoo ZE is not eligible for the £5,000 electric vehicle grant, but will qualify for 100% write down in the first year.
Batteries are housed under the Kangoo load floor, leaving the load space unaffected. Although the batteries weigh 250kg, Renault has ensured that the 650kg payload is only around 17kg less than the standard diesel Kangoo. Fully charged, the batteries should give a range of around 100 miles. Recharging should take six to eight hours, In emergencies, fast charging can supply 80% charge ni 20minutes, but regular fast charging could damage the batteries and is not recommended.
The front-mounted flap covering the recharging connector is the only clue that this is not a standard Kangoo van. Similarly, the interior is much the same expect for an automatic-type gear selector and revised instruments.
Battery charge level is displayed in a gauge in the instrument cluster and a colour coded "econometer" shows how well the driver is conserving charge. The trip computer show remaining charge, range and energy consumption. Then the TomTom navigation system factors in range-related information and will permanently display the nearest battery charging point.
Driving the Kangoo ZE is just like driving an automatic, expect that it's even easier. Turn on. press the brake pedal, select "D" and drive. When you want to slow down, plan ahead, and let the regenerative braking help conserve your batteries by lifting off. Pressing the brake pedal steps up the regeneration too. Because it's designed to carry a load, the regenerative braking is quite pronounced on lift-off and it take a little while to judge when to ease off to avoid having to put the power back on again before you need to stop. We were running unladen, but obviously a load will help to counter this braking effect.
The most striking feature of driving the Kangoo ZE is the noise, or rather lack of it. Without an engine rumbling away, the most noticeable noise comes from the road. It all adds to the feeling that driving the Kangoo ZE is relatively effortless. But you soon become aware that pedestrians don't necessarily hear you coming. Renault is working on an audible warning that will sound until 20mph is reached - probably a "white noise" alarm.
VERDICT
The Kangoo ZE could not be much simpler to drive and could be an attractive purchase for an urban fleet, when it is launched in 2011. Cost will be key. The purchase price premium must be considered in relation to the lower cost of fuelling and battery lease price, probably around £50-£60 per month. It looks as though it could be a sensible proposition for urban fleets on "back-to-base" operations, but accountants will need to do their sums first. For the right fleet onthe right operation, it could offer several advantages.
