The Kangoo goes into production at Renault’s Maubeuge plant in northern France in the second half of 2011. It uses a smaller 44kW motor but retains the same 100mile range as the Fluence. The lithium ion battery is mounted under the load bay floor so carrying capacity remains the same as the conventionally-powered version.
The battery is charged from a mains supply in 6-8 hours, which Renault considers perfect for a commercial vehicle – a fleet of Kangoo ZEs will be used by the French postal service to prove the concept.
Renault has also announced that it will build the car previewed by the Zoe Z.E. Concept in Flins, near Paris, while the car derived from the Twizy concept car will be produced at the Valladolid factory in Spain.
A website for UK buyers interested in being first in the queue to buy one of Renault’s electric cars has been set up. The car’s debut coincides with the government’s planned introduction of a 25 per cent discount off the purchase price of an electric car, which comes into force in 2011.
Prices are yet to be decided, but the firm has stated that the cost of its electric cars will be comparable with those of a diesel-powered car of an equivalent size and equipment level. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express
New Car: 2012 Renault Kangoo Z.E
