When it comes to buying a van, the case for electric looks better and better. Business-owners may be anxious about cost and range but, as Renault's Andy Heiron points out, manufacturers like Renault are now using their expertise and size to produce really competitively priced vans, with all the advantages electricity brings.
"We're very proud that we produced the Kangoo Z.E. which, at about £17,000, is really competitive with the diesel stablemates, particularly when you take into account all the tax benefits, and the lower fuel costs," says Heiron. "Fuel costs, in particular, can be a real concern for a business; with electric vehicles you know those costs are going to be extremely low." He also points to Renault's battery hire scheme, which will see people hiring batteries rather than buying them as part of the car.
So far in the UK big industry names such as JCDecaux, one of the world's leading outdoor advertising companies, have already jumped at the chance to add the Kangoo Van Z.E. to their fleets.
Mark Cooper, group operations director from JCDecaux, says: "We have always been at the forefront of innovation within our industry and have integrated carbon-reduction programmes across our operations. We believe that, in the major cities where we operate, the transfer of our fleet from fossil fuels to electric is a significant step forward in evolving this even further.
Our extensive field workforce spend a large proportion of their working day in commercial vehicles, so it's important that we provide them with the most effective tools to carry out their tasks, especially in heavily congested urban areas. Those fortunate to have sampled the Kangoo Van Z.E. have rated its performance and lack of noise very highly. They were also struck by how easy to drive and comfortable it is."
Darren Payne, director of fleet and commercial vehicle operations at Renault UK, says: "The fact that a company of JCDecaux's size and reputation has invested in six Kangoo Van Z.E.s is a fantastic third-party endorsement of our commitment to zero-emission vehicles. We're committed to driving down CO2 emissions, which in turn helps our fleet and business customers to reduce their carbon footprint and their vehicle budgets. Our new and totally electric Kangoo Van Z.E. van offers extremely affordable running costs with zero compromise on the basics of load capacity and payload."
Green car blogger and co-founder of Businessgreen.com Lem Bingley highlights the considerable financial benefits that come with electric vans. "Although they're not eligible for the Plug-In car grant, they are eligible for a huge range of other financial benefits, such as exemption from London's congestion charge, zero road tax, and 100% year-one capital allowances." That means that a business can balance 100% of the upfront capital cost of buying the van against their year-end profits until 2013.
Moreover electric van owners are also exempt from paying 'benefit in kind' tax, and class 1a national insurance contributions. Bingley also points out that businesses are likely to have the ideal infrastructure in place to look after EVs. "They've got forecourts where fleet cars can be charged up overnight, unlike many households, who worry about hanging extension leads out of their window in order to charge up their vehicles. It does all add up to quite a good deal," he concludes.
Meanwhile the van itself, with a range of 106 miles thanks to its lithium ion batteries and a handy 226Nm of torque, is turning out to be a hit with motoring journalists. Gavin Conway of the Charging Point called it "simplicity itself" to drive, and pointed out that for people spending a lot of time in their vehicles, "hours in the smooth and quiet pure-electric Kangoo are vastly less stressful than in a clattery diesel manual-shift version."
In recognition, it was named Van of the Year in the What Van? Awards 2012, the first time the top prize has been awarded to an electric model. Judges praised the combination of financial and operational common sense and driver ease of the Kangoo Van Z.E., noting that electric vehicles have "gone from future technology to present appeal." It has also been named International Van of the Year 2012.
"It comes into its own in the city," agrees Heiron, stressing the benefit to businesses in particular. "You're not using power when the engine idles, you're not messing around with gear-changing, and you've got plenty of torque when you want to get moving." He pauses. "I don't want to sound boastful, but honestly? I think we're going to outsell a lot of cars out there."
The Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. range is available now, priced £16,990 to £18,690 excluding VAT, plus £59 a month battery hire, based on 9,000 miles/4 years.
More information on Renault's Z.E. range is available at renault-ze.com
