RENAULT’S ELECTRIC KANGOO VAN Z.E. IS WHAT VAN? MAGAZINE’S VAN OF THE YEAR – ITS SECOND MAJOR TROPHY IN LESS THAN FORTNIGHT
Less than a fortnight after securing the International Van of the Year title, and only 120 hours or so since going on sale in the UK, Renault’s 100% electric Kangoo Van Z.E. has been crowned What Van? magazine’s Van of the Year. Europe’s number one van brand also triumphed in the inaugural Website of the Year category.
The latest award from the influential commercial vehicle title, What Van?, builds on previous successes for the French marque in its prestigious awards, including complete domination last year with no less than four awards, including the Van of the Year gong for New Master.
Commenting on the rationale behind the win for the trail-blazing model, the world’s first 100% electric van produced by a mass market manufacturer, Paul Barker, Editor of What Van?, said, “The Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. is a pioneering revelation, impressive for its normality to drive as much as its technology under the skin. For operators in the right circumstances, it will be worthy of serious consideration, and coming in at the price it has, gives the technology every chance of moving towards the mainstream. The judges were unanimous in the Kangoo Van Z.E. being a deserving winner of our Van of the Year title.”
“What Van? is also delighted to hand Renault the inaugural Website of the Year prize for an industry-leading manufacturer’s site that offers operators everything they need at their fingertips, and plenty more besides,” continued Barker. “Last year’s Van of the Year, Renault Master, is also highly commended in the Large Van category, impressing through the year and expanding the range to good effect.”
Learning of the double award haul, Darren Payne, Renault UK’s Director, Fleet and Commercial Vehicle Operations, commented, “Two years ago, Renault stunned the industry with the unveiling of not one, but four electric vehicles. Now the fruits of our labours and the 4 billion euros we’ve invested in the programme with our Alliance partner are starting to hit the market. We’re the first manufacturer to produce an electric van ourselves, as well as make it genuinely affordable for businesses and organisations of every type through our innovative battery hire business model.
We genuinely believe that electric vans have a great future, not just through their zero tailpipe emissions in use, but also their impressive performance, low running costs and more relaxed driving experience. Our engineers have also succeeded in developing Kangoo Van Z.E. without any impact to its payload and load capacity compared to the internal combustion-engined versions.
“On the back of two significant award wins in a matter of weeks, the buzz being generated around Kangoo Van Z.E. is certainly being independently justified. I’m looking forward to sharing the journey with our first electric vehicle and the rest of its Z.E. range siblings in the months and years ahead. On a separate note, being rewarded for the extensive work which has gone into creating a user-friendly and informative UK business customer website is the icing on the cake.”
