NEWS
Renault Kangoo ZE goes postal
Battery/electric van gets a trial run with Aussie PostThe zero-emissions version of the Renault Kangoo van will be evaluated by Australia Post over a 12-month period commencing from June.
Named Kangoo ZE ('Zero Emissions'), the light commercial vehicle is powered by the combination of an electric motor rated at 44kW and 226Nm and a 22kWh lithium-ion battery. Renault has been building the electric Kangoo since late 2011 and 14,000 examples have been sold around the world, to date. But this is the first time on Australian roads.
Australia Post will kick off the trial with two vehicles based at the Port Melbourne mail hub – with green (renewable) energy supplied to the charging station located there, and funded by the Victorian Government Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure. Subsequently Australia Post will operate two more vehicles in Sydney, closer to the end of the year.
Renault already supplies the Trafic and Master vans to Australia Post on a three-year contractual basis, with the option to extend the contract. This has paved the way forward for the Kangoo ZE trial, according to Renault Australia MD, Justin Hocevar.
"We are excited to broaden our existing relationship with Australia Post in rolling out this trial of the Kangoo Z.E. in Australia," said Hocevar in a press release.
"Renault is a global leader in electric vehicle technology with four models currently on the market worldwide and Kangoo Z.E. has already been a strong sales success globally. Incidentally Renault is currently the number one seller in Europe for both fully electric vehicles and light commercial vehicles.
"Through our partnership with Australia Post we are able to comprehensively investigate the business case for introducing the fully electric, Kangoo Z.E. van in Australia in the future."
For its part, Australia Post is right behind the exercise, which fits neatly with plans to enhance its sustainable operations.
"Operating the four electric vehicles in Melbourne and Sydney is an exciting step forward that tangibly demonstrates our commitment to the environment," said Australia Post Head of Environmental Sustainability, Andrew Sellick.
"The vehicles will be powered by accredited GreenPower from renewable energy sources to ensure we are maximising the potential to reduce our environmental impact.
"While at this stage we are working with Renault to prove this concept, if the vans perform well across the range of metrics we'll be measuring them on, the future potential is very exciting. We hope this initiative will ultimately help drive the commercialisation and acceptance of electric vehicles in this country."
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Written byCarsales Staff
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If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
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