CV Show 2015 - Renault showcases its large range of LCV vehicles at Birmingham.

• 13 Converted vehicles emphasise versatility of Renault LCVs
• Bespoke UK conversions complement factory-converted models
• 30 UK Approved Converters
• Trafic and Master lead with seven converted versions of each
• Kangoo Z.E. and Twizy demonstrate adaptability of Renault EVs
• On sale via all dealers and 38 Renault Pro+ business specialists

Renault is showcasing the diversity and versatility of its light commercial vehicle range at the CV Show 2015, which runs at the NEC in Birmingham from April 14 to 16.

The Renault pavilion contains a total of 17 modified versions of the Master, Trafic, Kangoo and even the Twizy, emphasising the bespoke conversion possibilities the company is able to offer to meet the needs of any customer. Two of the models on display – the Kangoo Z.E. Panel Van and Twizy delivery vehicle – demonstrate the adaptability of Renault’s EV range.

Every vehicle on display will be available by July 2015 and comes with Renault’s four-year, 100,000-mile warranty with roadside assistance.

Renault is able to satisfy around 75 per cent of the conversion demands of customers straight from its factories, but it also has a network of 30 UK-based Approved Converters who are highly skilled in building specialist vehicles on demand to Renault’s high standards.

Converted Renault vans are available from any of the company’s 151 UK sales and service outlets, but there are also 38 Renault Pro+ dealers who specialise in business sales, including converted vehicles. These are located throughout the country and have dedicated business sales and aftersales teams with extended working hours to meet the demands of business customers.

Steve Wilson, LCV Product Manager, Renault UK commented: “Renault recognises that every business is unique and has specific requirements. We are committed to providing vehicles to fit those needs. 

“We try to tailor our range to suit the greatest needs with our factory-built conversions so there is only one invoice and one contact, but for customers who require something more specific to their needs, our network of Approved Converters is skilled in building specialist and bespoke converted vehicles.”

Renault at the 2015 CV Show

Trafic and Master lead the way at the CV Show, with seven conversions of each on display. There are also combustion-engined and EV versions of the Kangoo Van, plus the Twizy Cargo. Most of the Trafic and Master vans highlight the business advantages of Renault’s ENERGY dCi diesel engines.

Renault’s CV Show 2015 line-up is made up of a Welfare Bus and a Ready4Work (made-to-measure shelving) vehicle based on the Master Panel Van; two catering vehicles on the Master Luton Loloader; a horsebox from the Master Platform Cab; a Master Double Cab Tipper; and a Master Chassis Cab grounds keeping vehicle.

From the All-New Trafic range, there are the brand new Sport+ pack, , Campervan and refrigerated vehicles based on the Panel Van; and nine-seater Minibus and Hackney carriage models using the Trafic Passenger platform, plus the first factory-standard Trafic Wheelchair Access Vehicle to be shown in the UK and the first All-New Trafic High Roof vehicle to be shown, and will be fitted with the Ready4Work racking system.

The Kangoo is represented by a Maxi Crew Van and the electric Z.E. Panel Van.

The extensive Renault warranty package with roadside assistance carries no mileage limit in the first two years and then adds a further two years of cover up to a maximum of 100,000 miles. Any material or assembly defects will be rectified free of charge. There is also a three-year paintwork warranty and six years’ cover against corrosion.

Roadside Assistance also lasts for four years and is available all day, every day. If the vehicle cannot be repaired at the roadside or outside the owner’s home it will be towed to the nearest dealer. Onward travel with European cover is included for three years.

Renault Pro+

The Renault Pro+ network reinforces Renault’s commitment to its professional and commercial vehicle customers, by providing a ‘one stop shop’ where specialist commercial vehicles sales and after sales advisors, extended service hours for business users, within the hour diagnostics and a maximum 48 hours lead time for service and repair ensure that your business minimizes unproductive time off the road.

Renault LCV Sales

Renault LCV sales in the UK rose by 36.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2015 to 5,477 vehicles and a 5.5 per cent market share.  This builds on a 2014 full year performance of 18,244 vans – up 39.3 per cent on 2013.

The Renault conversions on display at the CV Show 2015 are:

1 Master Panel Van FWD LM35 ENERGY dCi 135 Business+ Welfare Bus

A Quality Welfare Bus designed to ensure workers have everything they need on site. It features five rear crash-tested seats and full mess facilities, including a tea boiler, water heater, microwave oven and sink with washing facilities. A toilet with washing and drying facilities can be accesses through a separate rear door. The model on display is fitted with an optional rear step.

It is powered by the 2.3-litre ENERGY 135 dCi turbodiesel engine and is based on the new front-drive, long-wheelbase Medium Roof Van platform, introduced in 2014. Its overall length is 6,198 mm, while the wheelbase is 4,332 mm. The conversion work was completed by O & H Conversions, of Goole, East Yorkshire.

Key standard equipment includes air conditioning, rear parking sensors, a hands-free key, a wide-view mirror, a pivoting seat-back table with a dual-split underseat storage compartment and one-touch electric front windows.

Body and chassis: Master Panel Van, long wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: 2.3-litre ENERGY dCi 135 engine, six-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 135 hp, 340 Nm

Conversion: O & H Conversions, Goole

On sale: Now

Price of base model: £28,620 plus VAT price excluding cost of conversion

2 Master Platform Cab FWD LL35 ENERGY dCi 165 Business Horsebox

This horse transporter, based on the Master Platform Cab, was converted by Alexanders Prestige, a high-end horsebox manufacturer located in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire.  Specific conversion work includes the addition of a steel reinforced bulkhead, toughened boarded walls with five standard ventilation points, sufficient height for an eight-foot horse, a ramp with non-slip steps and a full tacking area.

Standard equipment in the passenger area includes a DAB radio, Bluetooth, a trip computer, a height-adjustable driver’s seat and electric front windows and door mirrors. The vehicle is fitted with ESC stability control with Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend. Options on the display vehicle include air conditioning, rear parking sensors, a wide-view mirror, a CAN interface unit and the Converter Pack 1 of battery interface, B-pillar wiring connection point and long wiring loom.

It is powered by a 2.3-litre dCi ENERGY diesel engine and

Body and chassis: Master Platform Cab, long wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: 2.3-litre ENERGY dCi 165 engine, six-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 165 hp, 360 Nm

Conversion: Alexanders Prestige, Boroughbridge

On sale: Now

Price of display model: £27,360 plus VAT

3 Master Double Cab Tipper RWD LL35TW dCi 125 Business

Nothing demonstrates the versatility of Renault’s Master conversions like the Tipper, which is available with front-wheel drive, single or twin rear-wheel drive and a single or double cab. The model on display is the double-cab version with twin rear-wheel drive. It features, like all Renault Tippers, a durable lightweight high-strength steel body and the comfort of the new Renault Master cab, while its twin rear-drive layout gives it a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes and a payload of almost 1.2 tonnes.

The hot galvanised steel load deck is 2 mm thick, there are 400 mm tall side and rear panels, while an aluminium grid with a rack for ladders or other long objects protects the cab. The rear body tips backwards at an angle of up to 45 degrees.

The display model has been prepared to go to one of our Corporate Partners, Hertz after the show, and is powered by a 2.3-litre dCi engine. Standard equipment includes a DAB radio, Bluetooth, a trip computer, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, electric front windows and door mirrors and ESC stability control with Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend. Options fitted are manual air conditioning, a speed limiter (56 mph) and a wide-view mirror.

Body and chassis: Master Chassis Cab, long wheelbase, double rear-wheel drive

Powertrain: 2.3-litre dCi 125 engine, six-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 125 hp, 310 Nm

Economy and CO₂ emissions: to be confirmed

Conversion: VFS, Eastleigh

On sale: Now

Price of display model: £30,910 plus VAT

4 Master Panel Van FWD MM35 dCi 125 Business+ Ready4Work

Another outstanding example of the versatility of the Master range comes in the form of a Panel Van fitted with the Ready4Work lightweight racking system from Bristor, of Hixham in Staffordshire, and fitted at Renault UK’s Import Centre. The vehicle arrives at the dealership, as the name suggests, ready to be put to work immediately.

The racking system makes it ideal for plumbers, joiners and electricians who need to store tools neatly, safely and securely to minimise down time when working. There are two shelving systems available – both similar in overall design, but one providing drawers to contain specialised tools and service equipment. Both have a non-slip plywood-based phenolic floor which fits precisely into the vehicle without the need for drilling.

The display model is based on the medium-wheelbase (3,682 mm) Panel Van, powered by the dCi 125 2.3-litre turbodiesel engine. Standard features include air conditioning, rear parking sensors, a hands-free key, a wide-view mirror, one-touch electric windows and a pivoting seat-back table with dual-split under-seat storage compartment. The racking system costs between £1,250 and £1,570 fitted plus VAT.

Body and chassis: Master Panel Van, medium wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: 2.3-litre dCi 125 engine, six-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 125 hp, 310 Nm

Economy and CO₂ emissions: 36.2 mpg, 207 g/km

Conversion: Renault Import Centre using Bristor, Staffordshire, racking system

On sale: Now

Price of display model: £28,530 plus VAT

5 Master Chassis Cab FWD LL35 ENERGY dCi 125 Business Grounds Keeping Vehicle

The Grounds Keeping Vehicle has been built for ISS, one of Renault’s largest corporate customers, and will be pressed into service as soon as the CV Show is over. It is built on a Master Chassis Cab and includes a Beavertail rear design with a ramp so that lawnmowers can be driven straight onto the deck. It also features a cage around the rear. The conversion work is by TGS, of Bristol.

The body is a single chassis cab based on the long wheelbase (4,332 mm) platform. Power comes from the Renault dCi 125 2.3-litre turbodiesel unit.

The vehicle has a full steel bulkhead between the carrying deck and the cab, and comes with ESC stability control, Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend. Other standard features include a DAB radio, Bluetooth, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, electric front windows and door mirrors and a trip computer. Options fitted to the display vehicle are air conditioning, a wide-view mirror, rear parking sensors, a CAN interface unit and the Converter Pack 1 of battery interface, B-pillar wiring connection point and long wiring loom.

Body and chassis: Master Chassis Cab, long wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: 2.3-litre dCi 125 engine, six-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 125 hp, 310 Nm

Conversion: TGS, Bristol

On sale: Now

Price of display model: £25,310 plus VAT

6 & 7 Master Luton Loloader FWD LL35 ENERGY dCi 135 Business Catering Vehicles

There are two catering vans on display at the CV Show, both of which have been converted by Wilkinsons Mobile Catering Systems, of Darwen in Lancashire. They contain almost everything a caterer needs to deliver hot and cold food in virtually any location. There is a griddle, an oven, a commercial-standard refrigerator, full washing and cleaning facilities and a stainless steel counter, and the vehicle side opens out to form a servery.

The vehicles are based on the Master Luton Loloader chassis, which comes as standard with the long (4,332 mm) wheelbase. The power unit is the 2.3-litre ENERGY dCi 135 turbodiesel engine.

Standard equipment includes a DAB radio, Bluetooth, a trip computer, a height-adjustable driver’s seat and electric front windows and door mirrors, plus ESC stability control with Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend. This is supplemented in the display vehicle with optional air conditioning, rear parking sensors, a wide-view mirror, a CAN interface unit and the Converter Pack 1 of battery interface, B-pillar wiring connection point and long wiring loom.

Body and chassis: Master Luton Loloader, long wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: 2.3-litre ENERGY dCi 135 engine, six-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 135 hp, 340 Nm

Economy and CO₂ emissions: to be confirmed

Conversions: Wilkinsons Catering Systems, Darwen

On sale: June

Price of display models: £34,010 plus VAT

8 Trafic Panel Van SL27 ENERGY dCi 140 Sport+

The All-New Trafic Panel Van is already available in Sport trim, offering standard features like 17-inch Cyclade alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel, a brilliant black high-gloss logo surround, a premium chrome grille and the Renault MediaNav 7-inch touch-screen navigation and infotainment system among a host of additional equipment not found on Business and Business+ models. But at the CV Show Renault is demonstrating how the All-New Trafic can be made to look even sportier.

The UK Import Centre has kitted out the display model with the Sport+ Pack, additional LED running lights, running boards, leather upholstery, a rear spoiler, Sport mats, special decals, plylining in the cargo area and an interior roof rack to produce a working vehicle that perfectly suits the image of companies involved in any form of sporting activity – or those that just like to stand out from the herd.

It is based on the shortest and lightest version of the Trafic Panel Van, the SL27, and powered by the most potent engine available in the range, the 1.6-litre ENERGY dCi 140, which has been developed with the collaboration of the team that creates the Renault F1 engines that have won four of the last five constructors world titles.

Body and chassis: Trafic Panel Van, short wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: 1.6-litre ENERGY dCi 140 engine, six-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 140 hp, 340 Nm

Economy and CO₂ emissions: 46.3 mpg, 160 g/km

Conversion: Renault UK Import Centre

On sale: Now

Price of display model: £24,415 plus VAT

9 Trafic Panel Van LH29 ENERGY dCi 120 Business Ready4Work

Renault is proud to be able to bring the first High Roof All-New Trafic to the CV show for its UK debut. Boasting an impressive 8.6m³ load volume, 1,200kg payload and 1,898mm of headroom, the All-New Trafic High Roof is perfect for customers who require the extra storage space or head room.

The All-New Trafic High Roof is also fitted with Ready4Work. The company which supplies made-to-measure racking systems for the Renault Master – Bristor, of Hixham in Staffordshire – has also created two options for the All-New Trafic both available in SWB and LWB options.

Both feature a plywood-based phenolic-coated floor which requires no drilling to fit, racking made from lightweight high-strength dual-phase steel, load- and crash-tested extruded aluminium floor rails and brackets which connect to the integral load lashing points, and one adds telescopic drawer units for the neat and secure storage of valuable and sensitive tools and equipment. The All-New Trafic can therefore be turned into a well-ordered mobile toolbox for plumbers, carpenters and electricians.

The Bristor shelving systems are fitted at the Renault UK Import Centre so that the vehicle arrives at the dealership ready to be put to work. The model on display is powered by the 1.6-litre ENERGY dCi 120 diesel engine and finished in Business trim, which brings as standard a DAB radio, electric windows and door mirrors, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, a trip computer, a steel bulkhead and ESC stability control with Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend.

Body and chassis: Trafic Panel Van, long wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: 1.6-litre ENERGY dCi 120 engine, six-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 120 hp, 320 Nm

Economy and CO₂ emissions: to be confirmed

Conversion: Renault UK Import Centre using Bristor, Staffordshire, racking

On sale: Now

Price of display model: £22,745 plus VAT

10 Trafic Panel Van SL29 ENERGY dCi 120 Sport Campervan

Renault also has a network of accredited partner companies, who work with Renault to produce innovative and bespoke conversions, and the new Trafic-based Campervan on display at the CV Show is a prime example. This conversion of a short-wheelbase, low-roof Trafic Panel Van was carried out by Hillside Leisure, of Derby.

It features a pop-up canvas roof, turning the vehicle into a four-berth motorhome, plus cooking facilities, a refrigerator and table and extensive storage areas. This goes hand-in-hand with the car-like driveability and handsome lines of the All-NewAll-New Trafic, yet costs around £8,000 less than the competitor model which dominates the campervan market.

It is based on the Trafic Sport, which comes as standard with the Renault MediaNav 7-inch touch-screen navigation and infotainment system, air conditioning, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights and wipers, metallic paint, 17-inch Cyclade alloy wheels, cruise control with a speed limiter, body-coloured bumpers and mirrors and a chromed grille, and is powered by the ENERGY dCi 120 diesel engine, delivering outstanding touring performance and refinement with exceptional economy. Options fitted to the display model include a conversion interface box and 180-degree glazed rear doors with wipers and heaters.

Body and chassis: Trafic Panel Van, short wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: 1.6-litre ENERGY dCi 120 engine, six-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 120 hp, 320 Nm

Economy and CO₂ emissions:

Conversion: Hillside Leisure, Derby

On sale: Now

Price of display model: £22,445 plus VAT

11 Trafic Passenger 9-seat Minibus LL29 ENERGY dCi 140 Sport

Renault produces three standard bodies for the All-New Trafic – a Panel Van, a Crew Van with glazed rear doors and a Passenger version which is fully glazed at the sides and has seating for up to nine people – plus a Platform Cab. The full complement of seats is fitted to the Passenger model on display, which comes straight from the factory.

With the All-New Trafic, passengers benefit from its increased length of almost 5.4 metres and, in long-wheelbase form, 3,498 mm of space between the front and rear wheels. This creates increased legroom and still leaves four cubic metres free for luggage. Access is easy through the left and right side-loading doors, while the seats, upholstered with Java cloth trim in the Sport model, are comfortable and supportive.

The vehicle comes as standard with manual air conditioning with a pollen filter, the MediaNav 7-inch touch-screen navigation and infotainment system, a smartphone cradle for the driver, a DAB radio and Bluetooth. The display model also has optional additional rear heating and a rear-facing parking camera. It is powered by the strongest engine available in the All-New Trafic, the 140 hp ENERGY dCi 140 1.6-litre diesel unit.

Body and chassis: Trafic Passenger, long wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: 1.6-litre ENERGY dCi 140 engine, six-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 140 hp, 340 Nm

Economy and CO₂ emissions: 45.6 mpg, 164 g/km

Conversion: Factory model

On sale: Now

Price of display model: £25,345 plus VAT

12 Trafic Passenger 9-seat Minibus LL29 ENERGY dCi 120 Sport Taxi

To demonstrate that there is scope to adapt even the nine-seater Trafic Passenger, Voyager MPV of Crewe has produced a Hackney carriage based on the All-New model. It comes complete with a perspex screen, jump seats, an intercom and wheelchair access, and is finished, perhaps not surprisingly, in Jet Black.

Based on the long-wheelbase Sport model, it comes with easier access and far more creature comforts than most taxis – left and right side-loading doors, three-point height-adjustable seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters for every occupant, comfortable seats upholstered in smart Java cloth and manual air conditioning, while the safety of passengers is taken care of by all-round disc brakes with ABS and Electronic Brake Force Distribution and ESC stability control with Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend. There are ISOFIX child-seat mounting points on the two outer middle-row seats.

For the driver, there is a DAB radio, Bluetooth, a smartphone dock, Renault MediaNav 7-inch touch-screen navigation, a leather steering wheel, two front spot reading lights and twin front airbags, while an 80-litre fuel tank minimises down time when in service, aided by the near-50 mpg fuel economy with the ENERGY dCi 120 1.6-litre diesel engine. The smart appearance of the vehicle is enhanced by 17-inch Cyclade alloy wheels, standard metallic paintwork and front foglights.

Body and chassis: Trafic Passenger, long wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: 1.6-litre ENERGY dCi 120 engine, six-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 120 hp, 320 Nm

Conversion: Voyager MPV, Crewe

On sale: Now

Price of display model: £25,415 plus VAT 

13 Trafic Passenger SL29 ENERGY dCi 120 Sport Wheelchair Access Vehicle

Another variation on the Trafic Passenger theme is the first factory-completed Wheelchair Access Vehicle (WAV) to come to the UK. This was converted at the Sandouville factory by Renault Tech and has full European Type Approval.

The vehicle, based on the short-wheelbase (3,098 mm) Trafic Passenger body, has been modified with a 2.5-metre folding ramp at the rear and a wheelchair area with tie-down clamps, adjustable retractors and non-slip flooring to create flexible, accessible transport for people in wheelchairs or those with impaired mobility.

The standard Trafic Sport comforts are all present – supportive seats upholstered in Java cloth, manual air conditioning, a DAB radio, Bluetooth, a smartphone dock, Renault MediaNav 7-inch touch-screen navigation and a leather steering wheel. The display model is powered by the refined and efficient ENERGY dCi 120 1.6-litre diesel engine.

Body and chassis: Trafic Passenger, short wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: 1.6-litre ENERGY dCi 120 engine, six-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 120 hp, 320 Nm

Conversion: Renault Tech, Sandouville

On sale: June

Price of display model: £24,215 plus VAT      

14 Trafic Panel Van SL29 ENERGY dCi 120 Business+ Refrigerated Van

Coolkit, a refrigerated van conversion specialist company based at Padiham in Lancashhire, has turned its attentions to the Trafic to show how it can be made into an ideal vehicle for companies who need to transport temperature-sensitive materials. The result is a vehicle which can cool contents down to 5 degrees centrigrade using an engine-mounted compressor built and supplied by Coolkit.

The display model, in an appropriate Glacier White paint finish, is based on the short-wheelbase (3,098 mm) low-roof (1,971 mm) All-New Trafic Panel Van, in CV Show form powered by the ENERGY dCi 120 1.6-litre diesel engine and supplied in Business+ trim. It has a low load threshold,.

Standard equipment includes manual air conditioning, the Mobile Office feature of a fold-down middle passenger seat with detachable A4 clipboard and laptop storage, a smartphone dock, underseat storage, a steel bulkhead with through-load, a wide-angle rear-view mirror, DAB radio with Bluetooth and USB and AUX ports, electric front windows, driver’s seat height adjustment, a two-way adjustable steering column and ESC stability control with Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend.

Body and chassis: Trafic Panel Van, short wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: 1.6-litre ENERGY dCi 120 engine, six-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 120 hp, 320 Nm

Conversion: Coolkit, Padiham

On sale: Now

Price of display model: £24,115 plus VAT

15 Kangoo Maxi Crew Van LL21 dCi 90 Sport

With the Kangoo, Renault offers one of the most versatile and practical smallvan ranges available today, and this is characterised by the Maxi Crew Van on display at the CV Show. With its extended wheelbase – up from 2,697 to 3,081 mm – it is able to accommodate a team of five while still leaving a 1,300-litre space for tools and equipment, all within an overall length of just under 4.7 metres. A low loading lip, wide rear opening and the minimum of wheel-arch intrusions also help to make the Kangoo an immensely capable workhorse.

Standard features include electrically operated front windows and door mirrors, load area lighting, six load anchorage points, lots of cabin storage areas, ESC stability control with Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend, all-round disc brakes, an audio system with AUX and USB ports, Bluetooth, a trip computer and folding second-row seats, while Sport trim adds the Renault R-Link multimedia system with a three-month subscription to TomTom LIVE services, manual air conditioning, rubber flooring in the load area, 15-inch Brigantin alloy wheels, front foglights and a silver insert in the front bumper.

The display model is powered by the smooth and efficient dCi 90 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine, which delivers strong performance even when is fully laden with five passengers and its maximum payload of 740kg.         

Body and chassis: Kangoo Maxi Crew Van, long wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: 1.5-litre dCi 90 engine, five-speed manual transmission

Power and torque: 90 hp, 200 Nm

Economy and CO₂ emissions: 56.5 mpg, 130 g/km

Conversion: Factory model

On sale: Now

Price of display model: £16,800 plus VAT

16 Kangoo Van Z.E. Panel Van

Renault always intended that its electric vehicle range could be adapted for a multitude of uses, and this is ably demonstrated by the Kangoo Z.E. Panel Van. With its smooth and silent 44 kW electric motor producing no tailpipe emissions, and no need for a gearbox because of the 226 Nm of torque available immediately upon drive-away, it makes the perfect urban delivery vehicle, especially as it introduces no compromises in terms of carrying ability.

It has the same 650 kg payload as a combustion-engined Kangoo Panel Van and a range of comfortably more than 100 miles, which is more than adequate for most needs – the average Kangoo driver covers only 62 miles a day. If necessary, the batteries can be topped up during the day at one of the rapidly growing number of public charging points, but for most people the Renault-supplied wallbox will restore the batteries to full energy capacity at the user’s home or workplace overnight in a maximum of 7.5 hours.

A Kangoo Z.E. typically costs around 2p a mile to operate, depending on the owner’s electricity tariff, and attracts no road tax, no benefit-in-kind taxation and, in London, no congestion charge, while it also qualifies for the 100 per cent write-down allowance. Remote battery monitoring and the bespoke Z.E. instruments allow operators to keep a constant eye on battery usage and charge status, helping to promote an economical driving style, and Renault also offers full vehicle purchase or battery hire options so that owners can tailor their operating costs to suit their own circumstances.

With battery hire, owners pay for only the usage they need, from £33 per month, and Renault guarantees to replace any battery which can no longer hold at least 75 percent of its charge capacity and provides 24/7 roadside assistance, even if the driver runs out of battery charge.

Body and chassis: Kangoo Panel Van, short wheelbase, front-wheel drive

Powertrain: electric motor; Power and torque: 44 kW (60 hp), 226 Nm; Economy and CO₂ emissions: Nil; Conversion: Factory model; On sale: Now; Price of display model: £12,995 plus VAT (after Plug-In Vehicle Grant)

17 Twizy Cargo Ambulance

There are parts of some cities where the roads are so narrow and congested that deliveries using even the most compact conventional vans are now impossible. Renault’s ingenious solution is the Twizy Cargo, a ‘final miles’ or ‘fast response’ vehicle based on the company’s two-seater urban runabout and developed by Renault Tech and Renault Sport Technologies.

M&L have taken the factory converted Twizy Cargo and provided a rapid response vehicle that looks the part and does the job. With ambulance livery, blue lights and siren and enough space to the back for life saving equipment this vehicle will soon be in use up and down a busy coastal town’s beach front ensuring nobody has to wait to receive life-saving treatment.

Because it is less than 2.4 metres long and only 1.19 metres wide it will squeeze through gaps that are too narrow for other vehicles, and it can be parked end-on in the tiniest of kerbside gaps so that deliveries can be completed without bringing an entire street to a standstill. Yet it has a lockable 180-litre boot and a payload of 75 kg, making it ideal as a call-out vehicle for anything from workplace food deliveries to emergency medical care – and all without producing a single gram of CO₂ at the tailpipe thanks to its electric drive system.

To make this possible, the factory in Valladolid removes the rear seat to create a cargo deck and modifies the cut-out at the rear with a lockable door which opens to 90 degrees. Business operators can reclaim the VAT on the purchase price and battery rental, which starts at £30 a month. The Twizy Cargo is covered by a three-year powertrain warranty and two years on the rest of the vehicle. It is powered by the same 12.7 kW (17 hp) electric motor which drives the two-seater version, and offers the same range of up to 62 miles on a full charge – easily enough for a full day’s use with urban delivery companies.     

Body and chassis: Twizy Cargo

Powertrain: electric motor

Power and torque: 12.7 kW (17 hp), 57 Nm

Economy and CO₂ emissions: Nil

Conversion: Factory model

On sale: Now

Price of display model: £6,242 plus VAT (after Plug-In Vehicle Grant)