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Renault Kangoo Z.E. voted International Van Of The Year 2012


WEBWIRE

-- Kangoo Z.E., Renault’s full-electric van, has been voted International Van of the Year 2012 by a jury of 22 European journalists specializing in light commercial vehicles.

-- It is the first time that an electric vehicle has won this prize, competing against numerous internal-combustion vans.

-- The jury chose Kangoo Z.E. for its zero-emission* virtues, as well as for its practical and economical qualities.

-- Kangoo Z.E., launched in Europe in late October, has already picked up three awards. Along with International Van of the Year 2012, it has won prizes in Denmark and Ireland.



With 104 points out of a possible 168, Kangoo Z.E. has won the coveted International Van of the Year prize, beating the Iveco Daily, Fiat Ducato and VW Caddy. The award was presented to Jean-Marie Hurtiger, director of Renault’s Light Commercial Vehicle division, at the inaugural evening of the 14th International Trailer Show in Belgium. Jury chairman Pieter Wieman explained: “With the Kangoo Z.E. Renault brings the electric van within the reach of the normal European van user,” he said, “thereby delivering a major contribution to environmental sustainability, one of the most important issues of the transport of goods by road nowadays.”

Commenting, Jean-Marie Hurtiger said: “This prize rewards the work of the people at Renault who have worked for several years on the Kangoo Z.E., one of Renault’s four electric vehicles. All of the company’s functions were involved in the adventure, including the design office, the Maubeuge plant and Sales. They met the challenge in a remarkable manner, showing determination, creativity and, above all, an excellent team spirit that has now produced results.”


Kangoo Z.E., a light commercial vehicle by Renault

Renault, the European leader in light commercial vehicles (LCVs) since 1998, has extended its line-up with Kangoo Z.E., the electric version of Kangoo. It is the first full-electric van produced entirely in-house by a vehicle manufacturer.

By fitting the battery under the floor of Kangoo Z.E., Renault has kept the same load capacity and dimensions as the internal-combustion version. Kangoo Z.E. comes in two lengths and three versions, all of them produced at the MCA Maubeuge plant in France on the same line as its fuel-powered sister: Kangoo Z.E., Kangoo Z.E. Maxi two-seater, and Kangoo Z.E. Maxi five-seater. This diversity responds to the varied needs of professionals, with load volume ranging from 3 m3 to 4.6 m3 and goods and passenger transport both possible.


The first widely-accessible Z.E.

Kangoo Z.E., the very first vehicle in the Renault Z.E. range, arrived in Renault dealerships on October 28. It is available starting at €20,000 excluding VAT in Europe (without government incentive) and priced at €15,000 excluding VAT in France thanks to the €5,000 government bonus. The battery is rented for €72 excluding VAT a month for 36 months and 10,000 km.


Environmental advantage

In France, electric vehicles boast extremely low well-to-wheel emissions, including emissions from the production of electricity. The total comes to only 12 g/km of CO2. For the Van of the Year jury, the fact that Kangoo Z.E. is mass produced contributes that much more to CO2 reductions.


Just released and already distinguished

The International Van of the Year is the culmination if a series of prizes rewarding Kangoo Z.E. Following Van of the Year in Denmark, voted by a jury of motoring journalists, and Fleet Transport Green Commercial in Ireland, selected by the Fleet Transport Awards jury of experts, it’s the third trophy won by Kangoo Z.E. in Europe.

*in use


ANNEX: Kangoo Z.E. conversions

Like all Renault LCVs, Kangoo Z.E. can be converted by Renault-approved coachbuilders. Conversions include:

-- Kangoo Z.E. Pick up, for municipal technical services, for example (conversion by Durisotti)
-- Kangoo Z.E. Ambulance, for transport between buildings of a same campus (conversion by BSE)
-- Kangoo Z.E. Iso Frigo, for zero-emission urban deliveries (conversion by ECP and Gruau-Isberg)

Approved coachbuilder status was introduced by Renault in 2010, enabling certified coachbuilders to make any number of conversions on all Renault vehicles for a three-year period. The system ensures a diverse range of conversions – and so responds to all the needs of professionals – and top-quality vehicles, since they are certified by Renault.

For Kangoo Z.E., coachbuilders are also trained and certified, giving them the capacity to repair, convert and ensure the safety standards of Kangoo Z.E.



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