The Renault KANGOO Z.E. 33 All Electric Van

It Is Not Only All-Electric Cars That Are Taking Over U.K. Roads, But Also All-Electric Commercial Vehicles. Hip Hip Hooray!

There are two things in life I cannot resist. Glorious sunshine and electric vehicles. It does not matter where I am, if I spot an EV, I find myself sucked towards it with the gravitation force of a black hole! I have been spotting commercial EVs in London for many years, but over the past 24 months, I seem to see numerous more, in all shapes, sizes and types.

ashvin suri founder ezoomed electric cars — Paxter All-Electric Vehicle

Just this week I spotted a zero-emission delivery vehicle (Paxter). Cute beyond belief. I ambushed the driver of the delivery EV. Before he could say hello, I had already made myself comfortable in the single seater EV. I then went on to bombard him with a million questions on his experience of driving an EV. I get the distinct feeling, he may not be in a hurry to return to my neighbourhood in the immediate term, but one thing for certain, he beamed in delight when he described his experience of driving the EV. To an extent, he even wore it as a ‘badge of honour’. And he certainly should. Well done!

But you cannot blame me for my unbridled enthusiasm for zero-emission vehicles. After all, if the U.K. has to achieve its net zero-emissions target by 2050, it will need to push rapidly to replace all the polluting diesel and petrol commercial vehicles (light and heavy good vehicles) on U.K. roads with battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

In fact, if you read the U.K. governments bold ‘Road to Zero’ strategy report, it is clear, that the ‘higher powers’ have understood the magnitude of the harmful impact of internal combustion engine (ICE) commercial vehicles. The likes of the UPS delivery trucks are already all-electric, and yes, I have bombarded those drivers with a million questions too!

In fact, there is a perverse irony, as ‘van loads’ of polluting ICE delivery vehicles commence delivering Christmas presents to eager shoppers. Many of these beautiful heartfelt gifts will be given to loved ones, in particular, children, who are the most vulnerable to air pollution. Maybe companies should offer a ‘zero-emission’ delivery option for buyers who truly care for their loved ones!

It is not just all-electric cars that have seen a marked improvement in performance and range, but also all-electric commercial vans. A good example is the all-electric Renault KANGOO Z.E. 33 van that has a significantly improved zero-emission range.

All-Electric Renault KANGOO Z.E. 33 Van: A Snapshot

Renault S.A., the French automotive manufacturer released the KANGOO Z.E. end 2011. Renault was quick to leverage its early success in its home market i.e. France and surpassed 10,000 units by end 2013. As of end 2018, nearly 40,000 KANGOO Z.E. electric vans have been delivered.

Along the way, the pure electric van has garnered a fair number of accolades to include: the ‘International Van of the Year 2012’, ‘Electric Vehicle of the Year 2012 and 2013’. The Renault EV continues to remain a front-runner in the light commercial vehicle (LCV) class.

The KANGOO Z.E. model range includes: KANGOO Z.E. 33 Van, KANGOO Z.E. 33 Maxi Van and the KANGOO Z.E. 33 Crew Van. The Maxi has a long-wheel base, while the Crew can seat up to 5.

The KANGOO Z.E. offer the same load capacity as its internal combustion engine equivalent, with a maximum payload of up to 640 kg.

A vastly improved zero-emission range of up to 143 miles (WLTP) with the upgraded EV battery (from 22 kWh to 33 kWh). In warmer condition (+20 C), an expected range of 124 miles. In winter conditions (-5 C), an expected range of 75 miles.

The KANGOO Z.E. has a 44kW electric motor with 60 bhp and 225 Nm torque. 0-60 mph is just over 20 seconds and a top speed of 81 mph. The electric motor in the KANGOO is similar to the one used in the popular Renault Zoe pure electric car.

Expected cost per mile under 4 pence. Cost of a full recharge sub £5.

Electric vehicle battery included in the price of the electric van i.e. not leased separately. The lithium-ion battery has a performance guarantee of up to 70% of original capacity for 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The KANGOO electric competes head-on with the all-electric Nissan e-NV200, Citroen Berlingo Electric and Peugeot Partner Electric.

For those that are confused between the internal combustion engine variants and the all-electric variants, here is a helpful tip. Look at the rear of the vehicle. If it has no tailpipe, well guess what, it is all-electric, as pure electric vehicles do not emit pollutants.