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Posts Tagged ‘Renault Kangoo’

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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Van Thefts in UK’s Richest Streets

Monday, January 9th, 2012

For as long as there have been vans, there have been those that try to break into them, and the start of this year has seen a number of incidents already recorded.

Thieves have recently decided to target vans in one of the most expensive streets in the country. Following a number of thefts in Oxshott, police have been reminding van owners that they should not leave their tools in their vehicles.

Van thefts have always been a rather common occurrence, and it seems that they may be becoming even more common place in modern times, despite safer, securer locking devices. Perhaps the economic climate is leading to increased crime? Of course, financial difficulties are absolutely no excuse for committing crimes and these thefts must be dealt with by the police appropriately.

Lunch Time Robberies

On Tuesday 3rd January a total of five offences were recorded in Leys Road and Princes Drive between 12pm and 2pm. That is a remarkably high number of incidents within the space of two hours, and it is a shame that the thieves were not caught red handed by the police! Whilst the owners of the vans were likely to be hard at work, or indeed settling down to some lunch, they were unaware that their vehicles were being targeted.

Thieves reportedly got away with a range of items that they could then sell on, including three drills and two hand saws from a red Vauxhall Combo van that was parked in Princes Drive. A white Renault Kangoo van and a white Vauxhall Combo van were also targeted and broken into by thieves. Various tools were stolen and the villains got away.

Advice Given

Van owners have now been advised to remove all their tools from their vehicles, and Elaine Burtenshaw, an Elmbridge crime reduction adviser, has stated: “When tools are stolen it can cause a great deal of stress for the owner, particularly if they are self-employed. Apart from the hassle of trying to replace them, it is often very costly and can provide a major blow to small businesses .”

A cheap commercial van insurance quote will help to protect your van and you may find that your tools are indeed covered, however, as Ms Burtenshaw mentions, it can be a great hassle to get tools replaced, and the stress and strain that can be put on a small business is very damaging indeed.

So, we are asking, has your van ever been targeted? If you have indeed ever been targeted by thieves, did you manage to continue operating as normal, or, was there a substantial amount of disruption caused?

If there is any advice you can give to those who have been victims of these crimes, then please do let us know!

Tags: Cheap Commercial Van Insurance, Renault Kangoo, Van Crime, Van Insurance
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Commercial Vehicle Sales Rise

Monday, December 19th, 2011

It has been revealed that van and truck registrations in the UK have largely increased in recent months. From October 2011 to November 2011 there was an increase of 19.1%. That’s a huge rise from one month to the next! The year on year rise is also very positive at 18.6%.

Trending Upwards

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed the impressive information that gives evidence to the notion that the commercial vehicle industry has continued its upward trend. In the current economic climate this is very impressive and great news as it suggests that companies and businesses of all shapes and sizes are becoming more and more reliant on the use of a commercial van.

The amount of vans and trucks purchased here in the UK has shot up to 27,187 units in November. This has indicated that confidence is indeed returning to the market.

SMMT Upbeat

Paul Everitt, the Chief Executive of SMMT, has been commenting on the recent figures: “November saw the commercial vehicle market continue on its upward trend with 19.1% more registrations in the month. Both the van and truck market saw growth, building on the strong market we’ve seen throughout this year. London’s new Low Emission Zone comes into effect on 3rd January, requiring drivers of older vans and trucks to upgrade their vehicles, so we expect to see a slight last minute boost to registration levels.”

Mr Everitt is therefore feeling very upbeat with regard to the commercial vehicle market, and it seems that the number of van insurance quotes is likely to rise also, which is great news for insurers of commercial vehicles.

Great Competition

We’ve recently blogged about some fantastic new vans that have been launched, such as the Kangoo Z.E. and the Transit Connect amongst many others. With a growing choice within the commercial vehicle sector, and with some of the best manufacturers in the world producing some cracking vans, such as Mercedes, Volkswagen, Renault and Ford, it is not a great surprise to find that the number of sales in the commercial vehicle market is increasing. Long may this continue!

Tags: Ford Transit, Mercedes Vans, Renault Kangoo, SMMT, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, van insurance quotes, VW Commercial Vehicles
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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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