Kangoo ZE: the facts
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The vehicle is built directly on the standard Kangoo production line at Mauberge in north-east France; prices have been pushed down to a level that begins to make it affordable, and the Renault network is gearing up to support it – there are 20 specialist Renault workshops so far in the UK.
The electric motor is powered by a 22kWh lithium-ion battery, which provides an NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) combined cycle range of 170km (106 miles). However, electric is at its best where diesel is arguably at its weakest – in the stop-start urban environment – and Renault reckons the available range for an electric Kangoo in the city could be as much as 125 miles on a full charge, although in hilly conditions in the extreme cold, this could drop to 50 miles.
Charging
Currently, there is no quick-charge facility with the Kangoo, although if you are caught short out on the road, you can plug into a charging point and refill at the rate of about 12 miles’ range per hour. Standard charging time is between six and eight hours, and Renault UK is linking up with British Gas (the irony!) to install charge points at business premises – cost is currently £799 exc VAT for supply and installation.
The financial operating model for the Kangoo is a mix of purchase of the vehicle, in whatever format that takes these days, and you then subscribe to use the batteries at a rate that depends on annual mileage. Typically, a 36-month contract for a vehicle doing 12,000 miles a year will cost £74/ month, on top of the asking price of the van – current list price is £17,990 for a Kangoo Maxi. As part of the battery subscription agreement you get comprehensive breakdown support, which should give users peace of mind.
Furthermore, Renault says the maintenance costs of an electric vehicle are 20% lower than those of an internal combustion-engined vehicle. Standard warranty for the Kangoo ZE is three years or 100,000 miles, with the electric drivetrain covered for five years.