New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
Kangoo ZE completes FCC successfully
VansA2Z took part in the RAC Future Car Challenge 2011 behind the wheel of a battery-powered Renault Kangoo Z.E. Maxi Combi and completed the 57-mile economy run without a hitch; or needing to top-up the battery. Starting in Brighton and finishing in London on the day before the world-famous Veteran Car Run, in excess of 60 vans and cars took part. The ultimate economy run for latest generation low-emission diesel and petrol, hybrid and zero-emission battery-powered vehicles kicked-off in Madeira Drive at 7.30am. The Kangoo was 45th across the start line and from there it was north out of Brighton and on to country roads.
Next stop was Central Sussex College in Crawley and a much-needed coffee, before setting off towards the crowded suburbs of south London. By midday the Kangoo was skirting Parliament Square on its way up to Trafalgar Square and the finish on Pall Mall. It crossed the line with more than a quarter of its charge left and 25 miles in hand.Having arrived straight from the factory and reaching Brighton too late to have the official data-logging kit fitted, the Kangoo was ineligible for the official results. Nevertheless it fulfilled the task with aplomb and without a hint of range anxiety.
We caught up with Andy Heiron, Renault UK's head of EV development, at the Regent Street Motor Show at the end of the event.