Renault’s electric vehicles are currently available in 18 countries and continue to be launched in markets around the world. The rollout process will now be accompanied by a monthly saga article. The first focuses on the island of Reunion, where ZOE, Twizy and Kangoo Z.E. recently arrived in Renault dealerships. Local conditions in the new market led to the development of solar panel-powered charging stations, an innovative solution that means Renault electric vehicles here can run and charge in zero-emission mode.

GBH, Renault’s importer and distributor in Reunion, started selling Twizy, ZOE and Kangoo Z.E. on November 11, 2013 through long-term, five-year leasing contracts priced, respectively, at €299, €599 and €499 a month, VAT included.

2014 objective: a charging station every 15 kilometers

Reunion is ideally suited to the introduction of electric vehicles owing to its compact size, facilitating the link-up of charging stations, and the population’s average daily driving distance of just 24 kilometers.

Because public-access charging stations were vital to the launch of the three models, Renault worked upstream on the introduction of the infrastructure. Implementing a comprehensive charging network is easier here than in Metropolitan France as the stations are concentrated on the coast. Today, 19 charging stations are up and running, with the first users “filling up” their vehicles free of charge. The network is to be expanded to 27 stations by the end of 2013, with an objective of one station every 15 kilometers in 2014.

Zero-emission charging stations

In parallel with this charging network, Renault has joined forces with Sunzil to introduce private charging stations going under the name of “Autozil”. Autozil stations are equipped with solar canopies and roofs equipped with photovoltaic panels and an electricity storage system enabling the daily charge of electric vehicles, so motorists can charge their ZOE, Twizy or Kangoo Z.E. with “green” electricity independently of the network operated by the EDF utility.

The development of the innovative Autozil charging stations was motivated by a local constraint, namely that part of Reunion’s electricity is generated by CO2-emitting thermal power stations, which diminish the environmental benefit of electric vehicles. As an island, Reunion has very few connections with the continental electricity network. Also, the electricity supply-and-demand balance is more fragile here than on the continent. If all electric motorists were to charge their cars in the evening, during peak demand period, the fragility of the electricity network could be exacerbated, leading to power outages.

The situation required an “autonomous” charging infrastructure independent of the local electricity network. And Reunion has harnessed all its expertise in photovoltaic technology to meet that need.

Reunion’s photovoltaic expertise

With an average 52 peak watts of photovoltaic electricity per inhabitant (compared with the French average of 1.6 peak watts), Reunion has considerable solar resources and top-level expertise in photovoltaic panels. The photovoltaic sector on the island comprises some 70 companies for a total 500 megawatts.

VERT tests the electric vehicle ecosystem in Reunion

The VERT project (short for “Véhicule Electrique pour une Réunion Technologique”, or “Electric vehicles for a technological Reunion”), backed by seven public and private partners (Renault, Sunzil, Schneider Electric, EDF, Bernard Hayot Group and Total), was launched in 2010 to test the use of electric vehicles charged using CO2-virtuous solar-powered stations. The project, supported by ADEME*, originated as part of a government initiative to proactively promote electric mobility in Reunion, notably through the “Réussir Innovation” (“Succeeding in innovation”) program in the Grenelle environmental plan for Reunion.

VERT has laid the groundwork for the successful launch of electric vehicles in Reunion and comprehensively trialled vehicle charging using photovoltaic generators not connected to the electricity network.

The arrival of Renault electric vehicles in the island of Reunion is a first step in French overseas departments. In 2014, they’ll be on sale in French Guyana and French West Indies.

* ADEME: French environment and energy management agency on low-carbon vehicles

A trip to demonstrate the capabilities of electric cars and the availability of the infrastructure to support them, will take one Renault ZOE some 854 miles from Munich to Barcelona.

The new eTourEurope preview trip will see EV fan Werner Hillebrand-Hansen take his car across five countries, arriving in Spain in time for the EV27 fair in the Catalonian capital. Starting in Inning am Ammersee, near Munich, Werner will take his electric car onto to Austria, before crossing through Switzerland and continuing across the south of France before driving over the Pyrenees to Spain.

For rest of story: TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk.

Renault’s multi-award-winning electric supermini ZOE is now flying even higher after being adopted at the RSPB’s headquarters. The French brand’s flagship plug-in has recently been paired with the charity’s other electric Renault, a Kangoo Van Z.E, at its Bedfordshire base near Sandy, to help reduce its carbon footprint even further.

The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) believes climate change poses the single biggest threat to the long-term survival of birds and wildlife. As such, it recently submitted a planning application for a single wind turbine on a field adjacent to the headquarters at The Lodge. In the future, energy created on site could be powering the new ZOE and popular Kangoo Van Z.E. renewably.

David Waller, RSPB’s head of central services, said:

“As a wildlife conservation charity acutely aware of the potential impact of climate change, the RSPB is particularly committed to minimising its own CO₂ emissions.”

Mr Waller said its 300-vehicle strong fleet operations is an “obvious area” where reductions can be made and the new ZOE Expression in Arctic White, is already having a positive impact.
He added,

“The operational success of the two electric Kangoo Vans, one being in London, definitely influenced our thinking when considering the ZOE. As a charity with limited funds, the price point was another positive factor in our decision.

“Clearly, we have to ensure the vehicle is utilised realistically and within its range capabilities, but they are sufficient to cover many of the business journeys made by staff. So far the ZOE has proved very popular with drivers.”

The trailblazing Renault ZOE arrived on the scene in June this year to much industry and media acclaim. The flagship of the French brand’s four-strong 100 per cent electric vehicle range is stylish, affordable and incredibly versatile – perfect for commuting and for businesses who want to downsize their engines and carbon footprint.

It boasts a series of world firsts, including the aptly named Chameleon charger, which can adapt to all power levels from 3kW up to 43kW.

Charging batteries up to 80% at a charging station can take from as little as 30 minutes, using a Rapid Charger 43kW AC power source.

ZOE is the first affordable car for everyday use designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle, with the longest range of any pure electric vehicle this side of a £50,000 Tesla. Its official range is 130 miles (New European Drive Cycle) with a real range of between 90 miles in temperate conditions and 64 in cold.

It starts from £13,995 (after the UK Plug-In Car Grant), comparable to a diesel-engined supermini alternative, with the added bonus of a free domestic 7kW Wall-box, supplied and installed by its preferred electric vehicle charging partner, British Gas, plus a national network card giving access to a UK network of hundreds of charging points until 31st March 2014. Battery hire costs from £70 per month and as part of the contract comes a battery performance guarantee which commits to a minimum 75% of its original charge capacity, or else it will be repaired or replaced, plus full 24/7 roadside assistance, even if you run out of charge.