University of Kent expands its 100 per cent electric Renault Kangoo Van Z.E fleet to 15 with six new Panel Vans

• University of Kent expands its 100 per cent electric Renault Kangoo Van Z.E fleet to 15 with six new Panel Vans
• Environmentally-compatible vehicles used on campus for staff mobility and maintenance duties
• Innovative LCV contributing to the university meeting the targets of its Carbon Trust Strategy
• Order continues University of Kent’s partnership with Europe’s EV and LCV market leader
• Renault Kangoo Van Z.E comes with four-year/100,000-mile warranty

One of the UK’s leading academic institutions is using the 100 per cent electric Renault Kangoo Van Z.E to help educate its students on the importance of sustainability and the benefits of electric vehicles.

The University of Kent is employing the versatile LCV to transport its maintenance teams, furniture and recycling around the 300-acre grounds of its Canterbury campus. 

The highly visible use of the Renault Kangoo Van Z.E, coupled with a striking livery proclaiming the 100 per cent electric power, perfectly illustrates to students the advancements in electric vehicle technology and the university’s commitment to the environment.

In the latest development in its drive to meet the targets of its Carbon Trust Strategy, where it aims to lower its carbon emissions by 23 per cent by 2020, the University of Kent has added six further Renault Kangoo Van Z.E Panel Van versions to its fleet, taking itsnumber of Renault Kangoo Van Z.Es to 15.

The university, which has recently celebrated its 50^th anniversary, has been a long-term partner of Renault and supporter of the Kangoo Van Z.E. Its fleet also includes examples of the award-winning Renault Trafic and larger Renault Master, the University of Kent originally choosing Renault based on their value, emissions and locality of aftersales facilities.

The University of Kent’s latest Renault Kangoo Van Z.Es replace equivalent diesel Renault Kangoo Vans, after the learning centre chose to opt for Z.E variants when its conventionally-powered Kangoo Vans were due for change. 

All the vans feature the generously-equipped Business specification, which as standard includes DAB radio with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, remote central locking, multi-function computer, ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution), full steel bulkhead and alarm. 

The University of Kent enhanced their vehicles with the addition of factory-fitted ply lining, the popular option involving no extra fixings to be drilled and providing protection from the variety of loads that the vans will carry in their day-to-day roles at the university.

At 625 kg, the Kangoo Z.E Panel Van has nearly the same 650 kg payload of diesel versions, while offering ultra-low running costs from only two pence per mile and being exempt from the Road Fund Licence – and Congestion Charge in central London.

The University of Kent’s latest batch of Renault Kangoo Van Z.Es have all been supplied by Motorline Renault, Maidstone, which has a long-running relationship with the university and assists in the management of its fleet. 

As a Renault Pro+ specialist, the dealership is able to cater for the varied and often complex requirements of business customers. 

As well as the specialised, business-focused expertise of Motorline Renault, the University of Kent also benefits from the Renault Business Quality Commitment – the manufacturer’s 13-point plan that guarantees customers will receive a class-leading service. 

Designed to keep customers moving no matter what and deliver hassle-free business motoring, the plan covers everything from an impressive warranty and transparent pricing to the availability of courtesy vehicles and a dedicated customer hotline.

Like all Renault LCVs, the Renault Kangoo Van Z.E comes complete with the reassurance of the manufacturer’s impressive 4-year/100,000-mile warranty and four years’ roadside assistance package.

Gary Law, Finance Manager, University of Kent, said: “We were interested in the Kangoo Van Z.E as soon as it became available and it’s proved to be very suitable for our onsite requirements, while at the same time making a significant contribution to lowering our carbon footprint and perfectly conveying our drive to be a leader in promoting responsible vehicle use.

“Our onsite vehicles only cover around 2,500 miles a year, but it’s all stop-start driving and the Kangoo Van Z.E’s ease-of-use makes it ideal for nipping around the campus. 

On some occasions the vans are only used to transport a man with a tool bag, but the payload gives us the option of carrying bulky and heavy items, so it’s a great all-rounder for us.”

Matthew Brealey, Fleet Manager, University of Kent, added: “Our Renault Kangoo Van Z.Es are driven by a whole host of users and the feedback we have received has been very positive. 

The simplicity and ease of use is a major plus point and we’ve seen people who were sceptical about EVs, and who would previously only ever consider a vehicle with a normal combustion engine, converted to electric vehicles after experiencing the Kangoo Van Z.E.

“With the very high amount of people on campus, the only thought was that they might actually be too quiet in operation, but the well-considered specification of the Kangoo Van Z.E means that this has not been an issue, as the Z.E. voice pedestrian warning system is standard.”

Nick Tame, Sales Director, Groupe Renault UK, said: “We are delighted that the Renault Kangoo Van Z.E is not only proving to be suitable for the University of Kent on a practical level, but is also excelling in demonstrating the university’s commitment to the environment and driving home the many virtues of electric vehicles to its staff and students.”

Ben Fletcher, Electric Vehicle Product Manager, Groupe Renault UK, added: “With no gears and instant pulling power, the Renault Kangoo Van Z.E offers a very pleasurable drive and one that is especially suited to the stop-start usage by the University of Kent. 

The university is just the kind of environmentally-conscious customer that the Renault Kangoo Van Z.E is aimed at, addressing users’ wishes to preserve their immediate and wider surroundings, while also providing a high level of flexibility and being uncompromised in its payload.”

Europe’s best-selling all-electric LCV and offering zero emissions in use, the Renault Kangoo Van Z.E is available in standard and longer ‘Maxi’ wheelbases. After the Government’s Plug-in Van Grant is applied, the Renault Kangoo Z.E costs from £13,146.48 ex. VAT.

For the UK market, the Renault Z.E offering also comprises of the innovative, two-seater Twizy urban vehicle, Twizy Cargo that has a load area of 180 litres and a useful 75 kg payload, and the multiple award-winning ZOE five-door supermini hatchback – a three-time winner of What Car? ‘Best electric car on sale for under £20,000’. 

In 2015, Renault was the European market leader for electric cars, with ZOE, and also Europe’s electric van leader with Kangoo Van Z.E., and sold a total of 23,086 electric vehicles (including Twizy). ZOE is the second best-selling electric car in the UK representing one in five EVs sold. Renault has sold over 94,000 electric vehicles across the world to date.

Renault van sales in the UK grew by over 20 per cent to 13,435 vehicles in the first half of 2016, significantly outpacing the van market that grew by 2.5 per cent, according to official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. LCV market share for the first half of 2016 stood at 7 per cent – up 1 percentage point on the same period in 2015.

Renault’s growth in the van market builds upon a record year for LCV sales in the UK last year, with sales up 40 per cent on 2014 to 25,458 units, and also the manufacturer being the best-selling LCV brand in Europe for the 18^th consecutive year.