The 100% electric Renault Kangoo Van Z.E.33 has reaffirmed its class-leading status by being named ‘Best Green Van’ for the second consecutive year at the Business Van of the Year Awards, held today in London.
Hosted by the Business Vans website at www.businessvans.co.uk, the annual awards recognise the van and commercial vehicle manufacturers that are leading the way in the LCV sector. Now benefiting from an improved battery and faster charging since taking the title in 2017, the Renault Kangoo Van Z.E.33 won over the expert independent judging panel with its usability, range and frugality.
Ralph Morton, Editorial Director, Business Vans, said: "With minimal running costs, upgraded battery for up to 170 miles (NEDC) and no loss of payload capacity, the Kangoo Z.E.33 remains the stand-out electric van in the sector."
Vincent Tourette, Managing Director, Groupe Renault UK, said: “Once again we are delighted to see the Renault Kangoo Van Z.E.33 win this award, especially as it’s a sector of the LCV market that is becoming increasingly competitive. More and more business users are now choosing electric cars, such as the multi award-winning Renault ZOE, and the availability of the Kangoo Z.E.33 ensures that van users can enjoy the same financial, efficiency and environmental benefits. With urban environments becoming increasingly restrictive to conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, the Kangoo Z.E.33 is the perfect choice for companies that need to make regular inner-city deliveries, but at the same time, its ‘real world’ range of 124 miles means it appeals to a whole host of businesses that may cover sizeable distances on an everyday basis.”
Making a significant contribution to the class-leading range of the latest Kangoo Van Z.E.33 is the recently introduced, higher density 33kWh battery, which, although having significantly more storage capacity than the previous battery, is physically the same size. While ensuring the van can travel a longer distance between charges, the compact dimensions of the advanced battery also mean there is little impact on the available payload of up to 640kgs.
Together with the enhanced battery, the Kangoo Van Z.E.33 benefits from an optional, upgraded charger that reduces charging times and is twice as powerful as its previous one. The single phase 7kW AC charger can take the new 33kWh battery to a full charge in just six hours, with the ability to ‘top-up’ the vehicle by up to 21 miles in just one hour. This compares to eight hours for less range with the previous version.
It also carries over the same user-friendly functional features as the internal combustion-engined version and offers a silent, versatile driving experience with maximum torque available from start-up and seamless acceleration thanks to the absence of gear changes.
The Renault Kangoo Van Z.E.33 is available in a range of body styles, including Kangoo Van Z.E.33, Kangoo Maxi Z.E.33, Kangoo Maxi Crew Van Z.E.33 and Kangoo Maxi Crew Van Cab Z.E.33. As well as improved range, the Kangoo Van Z.E.33 benefits from improved charging capabilities – charging from 0 to 100 per cent in six hours, compared to eight hours (for a lower range) on the previous version — all thanks to a new 32 amp charger. The Kangoo Van Z.E.33 is priced from £14,194.67 +VAT (inc Plug-in Van Grant).
The Kangoo Van Z.E.33, together with the rest of the award-winning Renault LCV range, is supported by the Renault Pro+ dealer network, which has been developed to meet the specific requirements of business customers. Benefits of the highly specialised network include finance products tailored for professional customers, extended opening hours and courtesy vehicles that are of the same category (wherever possible), to a dedicated after sales contact.
Renault is Europe’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer — for both cars and vans — and offers a line-up of electric vehicles including the multiple award-winning ZOE supermini, with its enhanced 186-mile ‘real world’ range, the Twizy urban quadricycle and the Kangoo Van Z.E.33. The Master Z.E. – an all-electric version of Renault’s large panel van – will join the line-up towards the end of the year.