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Posts Tagged ‘electric vehicles’

Electric Kangoo

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Recently we have blogged a lot about commercial vans that run on alternative fuels and today, in keeping with the current theme, we are again thinking about those vans that are running on different fuels.

Renault Revolution

Last week we explained how electric vans were undergoing trials in Germany and that they were performing very well indeed. However, my concern was whether they would suit the everyday van drivers schedule as they have a limited range.

Well, it seems that Renault have been hard at work in pushing out their new electric powered Kangoo ZE. It is due to roll out on our streets in the North East this week.

Benfield Renault, in Newcastle, was chosen by the French manufacturer to be the number one retailer and supplier of the groundbreaking electric vehicle.

Hopes are High

They are hopeful that the electric van will sell well amongst small to medium sized businesses, and they are also hoping, in particular, that tradesman, such as plumbers for example, will be interested in the light commercial vehicle.

Of course, the government is now also offering a subsidy of up to 20% on the price, and Renault are also confident that other factors, including the relatively cheap running of the vehicle, lower tax and a pretty reasonable van insurance quote, will further attract potential customers.

History of Great Vans

Furthermore, we know Renault make great vans and the Kangoo has already won the prize for the 2012 Van of the Year, so we have no doubts that the electric Kangoo will sell well and become a regular appearance on our streets in future years.

Mark Squires, Chief Executive at Benfield, is looking forward to getting the Kangoo ZE on the streets: “This is fantastic news for Benfield Renault and our customers. As a family-owned business, we are delighted to be at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution, and to be chosen to retail the first commercially available electric van to hit Newcastle is very exciting and a piece of history in the making.”

Meanwhile, UK Managing Director, Thierry Sybord, has been saying: “I’m delighted to see Benfield embracing this new era of electric transport.” All at Renault are unsurprisingly very excited to see the Kangoo ZE finally being offered to customers.

Tags: electric Vans, electric vehicles, Kangoo ZE, Renault Kangoo, Van Insurance, van insurance quote
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The 2012 Van of the Year is…

Friday, December 9th, 2011

The ‘Van of the Year 2012’ has already been announced, and it is the Renault Kangoo Z.E. A panel of twenty two journalists that specialise in commercial vehicles decided the winner. It’s a great result for the French manufacturer and it is also the first time an electric vehicle has won the coveted prize. This simply emphasises the magnitude of the triumph by Renault.

Worthy Winner

The Kangoo was up against some very stiff competition, including the likes of the Volkswagen Caddy, the Fiat Ducato, and Iveco Daily. The Renault scored a total of 104 points out of a possible 168.

The Director of the Renault Light Commercial Vehicle division, Jean-Marie Hurtiger, has expressed his joy and pride at winning the prestigious award: “This prize rewards the work of the people at Renault who have worked for several years on the Kangoo Van Z.E., one of Renault’s four electric vehicles to be launched in the next ten months. All of the company’s functions were involved in the adventure, including the design office, the Maubeuge plant and sales.”

He went on to add further praise: “They met the challenge in a remarkable manner, showing determination, creativity and – above all – an excellent team spirit that has now produced results.”

Great Value

The Kangoo Z.E. is available in two body lengths, both of which come with the same internal dimensions as the diesel powered version. The electric van can also carry the same weight in the back and is also relatively cheap. It starts at just £16,990 plus VAT, which isn’t bad value for money! However, the batteries are not included as these have to be “hired” from the manufacturer.

Electric vehicles are also known for lowering insurance premiums, and so it is likely that you will save money in the long run on a commercial van insurance quote. All in all the electric Kangoo looks to be a brilliant little package, and Renault are confident that consumers will be making their way to their local dealerships in due course.

Tags: commercial van insurance, electric Vans, electric vehicles, Renault Kangoo, Renault Vans, Van Insurance
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Renault hope to stay ahead of their competitors

Thursday, November 24th, 2011

Up until now it has been very difficult for manufacturers to persuade firms to change over to electric light commercial vehicles. This has been down to a combination of high prices, unknown range and a lack of information about what predicted residual values will be.

Kangoo ZE ready to lead from the front

The economic pendulum may well be about to change in favour of zero emission commercial vans after the successful launch of the Renault Kangoo ZE. Renault have not just priced the van at under half the cost of their nearest rival, but they have also launched a new strategy that they firmly believe will persuade the United Kingdom’s fleet operators that electric vans are at least worth trying before dismissing them. Renault decided two years ago that they wanted to be the world leader in electric vehicles, in the same way that Toyota did with their impressive hybrid technology they anticipate UK companies to take out fleet insurance on the Kangoo ZE in their droves.

Innovative pricing structure will attract custom

Renault feel that after 9,000 miles each year their van will be much cheaper to run than a diesel equivalent and at the forefront of their strategy is a unique pricing structure. Some electric vans are sold outright and some are only available for leasing, Renault however will sell the Kangoo ZE as an outright purchase but will also rent the batteries in a move that will cut out any worries about the cost of a replacement. Despite Renault saying the battery will last at least eight years before they need replacing, they will change them all as soon as they lose a quarter of their efficiency. They hope that this will see many firms with vans that are protected by commercial vehicle insurance making the switch to electric.

Brave new world

Renault is wary of predicting sales volumes as the market is a totally new one but Fabien Goulmy, Renault’s small LCV range director, predicts that within five years 10% of vehicles on the roads of the UK will be electric and zero emission. It may be a brave prediction but he is confident of the technology and wants Renault and the new Kangoo to be at the forefront of the revolution.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, electric vehicles, Renault, Van Insurance
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Drivers are slowly being convinced of the merits of electric vehicles

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

Results from a multi-million pound trial of low carbon vehicles found that electric vehicles are ready to meet almost all of the daily transport requirements. However, the limited range still remains the number one concern of fleet drivers.

Drivers quick to adapt

Analysis of the trials of over three-hundred vehicles throughout the United Kingdom found that drivers were able to adapt very quickly to the change from fuel to electric power. The results also found that drivers who took part in the trials had to make very few changes to their daily driving habits, and companies who took part in the trail have indicated that they are interested in changing their vans to electric ones before protecting them with cheap commercial van insurance. They will however have to do this in stages due to the cost of changing over.

Range a big issue

The £25m Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles Demonstrator programme started two years ago by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) who had the task of being in charge of the business-led innovation. The programme involved nineteen manufacturers covering electric cars, hybrids and fuel cell vehicles. Tracking data and interviews with every driver showed that learning how to use the new vehicle was easier than the drivers had thought before the trial started. Range anxiety was still a problem for drivers but the number of those concerned went down from 100% before the trail started to 65% after the trail had finished. Delivery drivers in particular wanted reassurance that electric vehicles would have range to cover their extensive daily mileage, saying they would ideally like a range of 120 miles for their daily trips.

Board delighted with results

The results have delighted the TSB who expected more resistance from the participants. A spokesman for the TSB explained that change is difficult to accept for the great majority of us and for 1 in 3 professional drivers to say they would be quite happy to take out online van insurance on the new breed of vehicles was a resounding success. The spokesman believes the drivers relaxed when they realised they didn’t have to alter from their daily routine at all and is confident that once the infrastructure is in place and charging points are commonplace then concerns about range will disappear.

Tags: commercial van insurance, Drivers, electric vehicles, environment, Online Van Insurance
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Fleet companies may hold the key to EVs

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

In what will come as welcome news for motor manufacturers investing massively on the new generation of green vehicles, the people pulling the purse strings in major fleet organisations seem to becoming convinced that electric vehicles (EVs) may be the way ahead.

Good news at last

The multi buying actions of fleet companies are a great attraction to the manufacturers of EVs and news that these companies are showing greater interest in the new technology will compensate for the bad press the new cars have received in recent months. Vehicle’s that attract commercial vehicle insurance now account for around 50% of new vehicles bought and these cars and vans maybe the secret to opening up the mass market to EVs.

Companies prepared to spend more

According to a report by car leasing firm Lex Autolease, financial directors of fleet companies are now considering getting fleet van insurance on low emission motors. Over half of those questioned said they would invest in the new technology if the vehicles were as efficient as the more conventional models, while well over a third said they would be prepared to pay a little more for low emission vehicles.

EVs well suited to typical fleet routine

There is no doubt that electric vehicles are well suited to urban situations and the sort of companies that have fleets of vans and cars doing the same repetitive short journeys day after day will benefit most from the new breed of vehicles. It will allow the vehicles to perform to their maximum and at the same time give the owners the benefits bestowed on EVs by the Government, such as zero road tax, and preferred parking status, and of course the massive bonus of cheap fuel.

High visibility could do the trick

Manufacturers will also be hoping that the uptake of EVs by fleet companies will make the new cars and vans much more visible to the general public, which will in turn get them down to the forecourts and showrooms of garages selling them. It has not proved easy to persuade private buyers to purchase the new cars, even with a £5,000, subsidy so it may well prove to be the little vans and company cars that slowly introduce the public to a technology that is proving difficult to sell.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, electric vehicles, EVs, Fleet companies, fleet insurance, Van Insurance
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Eco rally attracts the stars

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

With the focus of commercial transport ever more polarising on sustainable energy, the fifth running of the Bridgestone Eco rally last weekend gave green vehicles designed for buyers with an interest in commercial van insurance the perfect opportunity to advertise their suitability for today’s market.

Clutch of celebrities

The rally that started off in Oxford and finished in Pall Mall was run in conjunction with START and featured all manner of vehicles whose prime function is to deliver low or zero emission motoring. The vehicles included cars, vans, motorbikes and trucks and featured such notable manufacturers as Aston Martin, Ford, Lotus, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Honda. Determined not to be outdone by mere engines a whole phalanx of celebrities took part in the rally or greeted the finishers in Pall Mall. They included the ubiquitous Mayor of London, Boris Johnson and other motoring fans such as Quentin Wilson, Lucy Siegle, Kevin McCloud and past Formula 1 driver Eddie Irvine.

Leaf and Connect the main focus

The notable gathering saw the first generation of mass production line electric vehicles make their bow with special focus on the Nissan Leaf, which has been on general sale for six months, and the first mass produced all electric van on the roads of the UK, the Ford Transit Connect Electric. It is in the interest of all motor manufacturers that these two models attract plenty of interest from prospective buyers, and it will come as a relief to Ford and Nissan if the two models start attracting attention from companies prepared to bulk buy and cover with vehicle insurance.

Public yet to be convinced

It is no accident that the Nissan Leaf is being advertised as being capable of travelling 100 miles for just £2 when the current price of fuel is nudging £1.50 a litre for commercial users. The Leaf which is almost £30,000 before the Government subsidy of £5,000 and the Ford Transit connect electric at almost £40,000 are considerably more than their conventionally fuelled counterparts, and until the price of the new breed of eco warriors comes down, the public may well take a lot more persuading to come on board than was originally thought.

Tags: Bridgestone Eco rally, commercial van insurance, electric vehicles
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Utility firms look to cash in on electric vehicle market

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

Utility firms in the United Kingdom are locked in a battle to attract customers who are changing over to an electric vehicle (EV). British Gas have announced that electric vehicle owners may only have to pay as little as 1.25p per mile to run the vehicle under their brand new tariff. This represents a potential saving of £1200 per year compared to the cost of running the vehicle on petrol.

Plan appeals to business users

The news comes hot on the heels of rival utility firm npower announcing plans to launch an environmentally friendly tariff which will also offer cheap charging rates for EV owners. The British Gas offer will also give any customer signing up to the tariff, cheaper off-peak electricity during the night hours, which is the perfect time to charge the vehicle ready for the next day. British Gas also revealed there has been plenty of interest from firms who want to sign up to the deal. Many firms with vans covered by commercial vehicle insurance are finding the current price of fuel hard to cope with and the changeover to EV’s will definitely appeal if there are big savings to be made. In a competitive industry any savings made can give a company that vital edge over a rival, just one reason why cheap fleet insurance for example is so craved for.

Considerable savings, home and away

According to analysis carried out for British Gas (based on their current prices) it costs over £65 to fill a 50 litre tank, whereas electric vehicle owners would only pay just £6 to charge the vehicle and cover the same amount of mileage. With an average of 10,000 miles each year, this would reduce an owners annual fuel costs by £1200. The British Gas deal will also give priority installation of a smart meter to anyone signing up to their deal.

Along with the cheap tariff, the British Gas scheme will also supply customers with a smart meter to place in their home. The meter will offer the opportunity of further savings to be made apart from those of their transport by giving an accurate room by room, appliance by appliance, reading of energy usage. Van drivers accustomed to the readings in their vehicle cabin will soon understand the workings of a smart meter in their home.

Tags: British gas, commercial vehicle insurance, electric vehicles, Npower, van quote
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