Renault Ireland's ambitious plans of converting the country to electric cars officially kicked off on Friday November 11 with the launch of the carmaker's Z.E. (Zero Emissions) range. When completed the Z.E. range will consist of four vehicles: the Kangoo Z.E. van, an electric version of the Fluence saloon, the Twizy urban quadricycle and a Clio-sized compact hatch called the ZOE, with all due to appear on Irish roads in 2012.
Renault Ireland's managing director, Eric Basset, is confident that one in ten Renault vehicles sold in 2012 will be electric and has set his dealer network the challenge of selling 1,000 next year. The Kangoo Z.E. will be the first Z.E. vehicle to hit the market and is available now to test drive at dealerships across the country. Priced from €16,400, plus €75 (both figures excluding VAT) per month for battery lease, the Kangoo will be available in three sizes including the Kangoo Maxi Z.E. two-seat and five-seat models. It comes with five years unlimited mileage warranty as standard.
Speaking at the launch night in Vanilla nightclub Eric Basset, Managing Director, Renault Ireland said, "Renault's Irish team is the best trained network in electric vehicles in all of Europe following extended training over the past year in technology, after sales, and customer care... Our strategy from day one was to make electric vehicles affordable to all and we are standing by this by bringing in our range at prices that cannot be matched by our competitors."