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Scottish Water Looks to Purify its Fleet with the Aid of the All-Electric Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33

January 15, 2019Electric Cars, Electric Vans, Kangoo Z.E., News, Reviews and Comment, RenaultRepost

Scottish Water chooses the Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33 for its first-ever electric vehicles
Water Provider’s sampling division to use a specially-converted version across the Highlands
Initial order designed to allow Scottish Water to determine how it can electrify its entire fleet
Zero-emissions-in-use Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33 will assist Scottish Water’s drive to lower its carbon footprint
Kangoo Z.E. 33 was chosen for its environmental compatibility, ease-of-use and versatile load area
Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33 is priced from £18,392, excluding VAT, after the Plug-in Van Grant

A pure-electric Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33 refrigerator conversion is enabling Scotland’s water provider to continue its drive to make the country’s air and water the cleanest it can be.

Scottish Water, which provides drinking water to nearly 2.5 million households across the country, is using the zero-emissions-in-use, refrigerated Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33 to assist with the water sampling undertaken by its Scientific Services team across the Highlands.

The introduction of the award-winning light commercial – the first electric vehicle utilised by Scottish Water – will also help the water supplier to determine how it can rollout EVs across its fleet and make a significant contribution to its support of the Scottish Government’s carbon target to reduce carbon emissions by 90 per cent by 2050.

As part of the conversion by Bott Ltd, and which also contributes to the van having minimal impact in terms of noise and pollution on the beautiful landscape of the Highlands, the strikingly-liveried Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33 features roof-mounted 150-watt solar panels to power its onboard refrigeration equipment. The panels charge a 200 amp lithium battery, which in turn powers the 140-litre temperature-controlled refrigerator that is required to keep water samples in optimum condition during transportation.

With a ‘real-world’ range of up to 124 summer miles (75-99 miles in winter) on a single charge, the Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33 is able to comfortably accommodate the routes throughout the Highlands that are regularly completed by Scottish Water’s water samplers. Scottish Water plans to charge the van via 26 charging points that are available at its numerous locations, which include The Bridge, Castle House, Fairmilehead, Juniper House, Gowans Terrace, Henderson Drive, Bullion House and Shieldhall.

Complementing the bespoke conversion is an additional Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33 Panel Van, which will be used by Scottish Water’s maintenance team. Offering a near identical payload to its diesel counterpart, the Kangoo Z.E. 33 Panel Van offers Scottish Water a viable, all-electric alternative to the conventionally-powered compact vans that feature on its fleet.

Scottish Water chose sampling and general cargo vans for its EV trial as these types of vehicle represent the highest proportion of its small van fleet. Sampling vans represent approximately 12 per cent of the total Scottish Water fleet, with general cargo vans accounting for circa 20 per cent.

Working in collaboration with Renault Pro+ Commercial Vehicles on the trial, which has included the manufacturer delivering EV training to Scottish Water employees, Scottish Water opted for the Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33 due to its usable range, versatility and ease of operation.

Nissan’s e-NV200 transports seven electric style

January 13, 2019e-NV200, Electric Cars, Electric Vans, News, Reviews and Comment, NissanRepost

If you need to be able to transport up to seven people but thought electric motoring was not an option then think again.

Nissan has billed its e-NV200 Combi as the world’s first electric MPV.

It might not get the same sort of coverage at its higher profile stablemate the Nissan Leaf or more upmarket electric offerings like the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model S but the e-NV200 certainly fills a niche and in many ways makes perfect sense.

Its van underpinnings (essentially it’s a version of the e-NV200 van) mean it might be just a little too rough and rugged for some but the ability to transport up to seven people and its immense practicality combine to make a fairly compelling USP.

There are both five and seven-seat versions of the e-NV200, though I would imagine most buyers will probably plump for the seven-seater.

The two seats in the third row can be folded up, while the middle-row three-seat bench can also be folded and tumbled out of the way, boosting carrying capacity.

According to Nissan it’s possible to accommodate three full-size bikes with all the seats out of the way.

My initial feeling when I set off in it for the first time was that of being in a kind of upmarket milk float – given the silence, its van-like character and high driving position.

However, once you get over its initial oddness the e-NV200 is a vehicle that is very easy to like and for eco-minded families it is absolutely perfect.

No doubt it will also prove attractive to taxi drivers and shuttle firms.

Electric cars could herald return of the ‘weekly shop’

January 12, 2019Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionRepost

An increase in electric car usage could be the saviour of the bricks and mortar retail sector, it has been claimed, as people may visit shopping parks and supermarkets to recharge their vehicles.

The “weekly shop” will see a comeback as drivers, especially those living in city centres who do not have a personal charging point in their homes, combine shopping with a regular charge of their car.

Scottish ministers want to phase out the need for petrol and diesel vehicles by 2032. However, those living in city centres, who do not have access to personal driveways and individual charging points will have to use public points to recharge their electric vehicles (EVs).

Barry Carruthers, head of innovation at ScottishPower, said that people would change their behaviour to find convenient charging points, including potentially ditching online grocery shopping in favour of visiting a physical supermarket where they could charge their car while they shop.

He said:

“A lot of people have recently been shopping online or using local convenience stores a few times a week, but when you have the added need to charge your car, you are likely to go back to a once a week shop at a supermarket where you can do that. We do see a potential renaissance for the weekly shop.”

Mr Carruthers, who has his own electric car which he charges at a range of locations including park and ride car parks at train stations for his daily commute, said:

“As electric cars progress, we could be looking at a range of 200 to 300 miles per charge, which would mean that people would only need to charge their vehicles once a week, which could easily be done while shopping.”

Let The Fully Electric Flood Begin!

January 11, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesRepost

After a couple of slow performances in previous months, in November, the European passenger plug-in market was back at cruising speed, with +31% year over year (YoY) sales.

There were some 37,500 registrations, pulling the year-to-date (YTD) count to 345,000 deliveries (+34%). In broader context, 2018 EV market share grew to 2.4%, thanks to a 3.2% market share in November.

But if on the surface everything seems to be back to normal, when you separate the fully electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains, there are seismic changes. On the BEV side, sales (or I should say deliveries) jumped 96% YoY, the segment’s highest growth rate since July ’14. Fully electrics reached a record 23,000 registrations (61% share of all plug-ins), allowing them to (finally!) surpass PHEVs in the total year breakdown. This is the first that has happened since 2014. Historic month, indeed!

On the other hand, PHEVs continue feeling the sting of the new WLTP standard, with sales down (-14% in November) for the third month in a row, the segment’s worst downward trend since … well, forever. Will PHEVs in Europe recover sometime in the future, or are they going to be swallowed by the upcoming BEV flood?

One thing is certain, BEVs start 2019 with the upper hand.

But the PHEV debacle isn’t equal across all brands. Some automakers (BMW, Mitsubishi, Volvo…) did their homework and continue to thrive under the new rules, leading to some brilliant performances. In particular, the #3 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is soaring again.

In November, the top spots didn’t have major surprises since sales were high across the board. Three of the top 5 best sellers last month hit record performances (the i3, e-Golf, and Zoe), while the Outlander PHEV had its best month since 2015. The leader, Nissan Leaf, didn’t have a memorable score simply because Leaf output in the Sunderland factory is limited by the weight of the Qashqai production there. Maybe Nissan should think about sending units from the US to Europe?

Non-plug-ins to pay London Congestion Charge from April

January 10, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Vehicles without plug-in capability will no longer be exempt from London’s Congestion Charge under new plans, set to come into force in April.

The first phase of a new Cleaner Vehicle Discount (CVD) scheme, replacing the Ultra Low Emission Discount, will see only ‘zero emission-capable’ vehicles – such as plug-in hybrids or EVs – to be exempt from the £11.50-a-day charge.

Private hire vehicles (PHVs), such as those operated by Uber and Addison Lee, will also have to start paying after a public consulation supported a change in the rules. The changes will coincide with the introduction of the 24-hour Ultra Low Emission Zone in London, and are expected to see around 8000 fewer PHVs on the city’s streets each day.

Restrictions will tighten further by 2021, when only pure-EVs will be eligible for discount, while by 2025 the C-Charge discount will expire altogether. The move is aimed at improving air quality, which has been a hotly debated topic recently.

Electric vehicles showed the strongest used performance in 2018

January 9, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesRepost

USED car values fell by 1.7 per cent in December as demand weakened to its lowest since November 2017, according to Cap HPI.

The December used car market saw the usual drop-off in retail and trade demand, with some vendors deciding to hang on to stock and aiming to sell for higher prices in January. Any fall in values, however, has to be seen in the context of an exceptionally strong year overall in 2018.

Electric vehicles showed the strongest average performance with values rising by 0.3 per cent at three years and 60,000 miles. Models such as the Renault Zoe, Nissan e-NV200 and Nissan Leaf continued to be in demand, with prices increasing, while Tesla and BMW models struggled to achieve cap clean prices.

Derren Martin, head of UK valuations at Cap HPI, said: ‘The pattern continues for the more affordable electric cars to be sought after, whereas at the higher end finding buyers is more difficult.

‘As a new year gets under way, there is often a feeling amongst vendors and buyers that prices go up as we enter January. Over the last five years, the average value movement in our Live product during January has actually been a drop of 0.4 per cent.’

One in 20 Brits wonder if they need rubber-soled shoes to drive an electric car

January 8, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, VolkswagenRepost

The country has yet to get to grips with the latest car innovations – and some of the myths we have about electric cars are really bizarre

Brits have some weird and wonderful misconceptions about electric cars – including a belief they can’t be driven through puddles, it has emerged.

It also emerged others don’t think they can be used in the rain at all.

One in 20 even believe electric cars are fundamentally less safe, and nearly one in five believe an electric car will slow down as the battery depletes.

The poll of 2,000 drivers also found some even worry about electric cars being TOO QUIET – as pedestrians may not hear them approaching.

The research was commissioned by Volkswagen, whose spokesperson said: “Electric vehicles are becoming more mainstream, but it seems many people still have lots of unanswered questions about them.

“Despite overwhelming evidence showing them to be beneficial on environmental grounds, some motorists still have concerns over safety, battery life and charging issues.

“Clearly it’s the job of us in the automotive industry to answer these questions, get the correct information out there and make electric vehicles a viable option for people buying new cars in the next few years.”

The study also found Brits have numerous questions they’d ask a car dealer when considering buying an electric car.

Top of the list would simply be ‘How quickly do they charge up?’ followed by ‘How quickly do they run out of charge?’

Fifty-two per cent of drivers would also like to know how much it costs to fill the ‘tank’ with electricity from a charge point.

And one in 20 would even query whether they’d need to drive wearing rubber-soled shoes to prevent electrocution.

Nearly six in 10 Brits would like to own an electric car someday, and would even consider one as their next vehicle.

A third of the population also believe that by the year 2025 most people will drive electric cars, leaving fossil fuels in the past.

Chris Grayling under fire as promise to boost electric cars backfires

January 7, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesRepost

Less than 2% of vehicles used by transport department are electric, despite minister’s vow

Chris Grayling has been accused of failing to back up his positive words on electric cars with action after it emerged they account for less than 2% of his department’s car fleet.

The UK transport secretary said the government would “lead consumer uptake” of the cars when he laid out his plan for tackling air pollution with a switch to battery-powered vehicles.

However, he has come under fire for subsequently scrapping grants for plug-in cars, in a move condemned by vehicle manufacturers as “astounding”. Now official figures have revealed that only 29 of the 1,830 vehicles run by Department for Transport and its agencies are electric.

Labour said it was “laughable” that two months ago Grayling had been “bragging” about the DfT’s plans to take on more electric vehicles.

“The Tories’ policies show how little they care about the environment and dealing with air pollution. Chris Grayling’s hypocrisy and failure to get his own department to order more low-emission vehicles is further proof of that,” said Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Driver Vehicle and Standards Agency, which carries out driving tests, are the worst performers. Neither has a single electric model among their hundreds of cars.

So far this year, the DfT has bought 10 electric vehicles, including some of Jaguar’s £64,450 well-reviewed I-PACE models. Last year, it bought three. Other popular models in the UK include the Tesla Model S, which sells from £53,500, and the smaller Nissan Leaf, which starts at £21,990.

The government has set itself a target of making a quarter of its car fleet electric within four years, and 100% by 2030. About 2% of new car sales in the UK are of electric models, either fully electric or plug-in hybrids.

Electric vehicle leasing expected to become cheaper and more popular

January 5, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesRepost

Electric vehicles are expected to become much cheaper over the next two years as stronger residuals make them more attractive to the leasing sector.

Vantage Leasing says it should become cheaper to lease a battery powered car.

There is anticipation of a strong second-hand market for electric vehicles in 2021/22, which will in turn reduce the depreciation cost in a lease payment before then.

“Higher residual values for EVs in coming years due to the anticipation of a second-hand market should also make it cheaper to lease an electric vehicle in the very near future.

“That’s because any enhancement of EV residual values means the depreciation cost in a lease payment will also be smaller,” said James Buttrick from Vantage Leasing.

Registration figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show a dormant EV market, where sales of pure electric vehicles only increased by 1,307 vehicles from 2017 to 2018 year-to-date.

However, supply issues and the switch to WLTP has affected the availability and lead times of many electric and plug-in hybrid cars in the last 12 months.

OVO installs its first domestic vehicle-to-grid charger

January 4, 2019Charging, Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Ovo EnergyRepost

OVO has successfully installed its first vehicle-to-grid charger in a customer’s home, after the charge point was unveiled at the Energy Technology Product Showcase earlier this year.

The 6kW OVO Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) domestic bi-directional charger offers drivers of certain electric vehicles the opportunity to discharge excess electricity from their cars back to the electric grid to help supply energy at times of peak demand.

Available to Nissan Leaf drivers with a 30 or 40kWh battery, the vehicle-to-grid charger could enable Nissan drivers to have free power for their electric vehicles by selling energy back to the grid, says OVO.

It is part of the Innovate UK Vehicle-to-Grid competition, funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and the department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), in partnership with Nissan, CENEX, Indra and OVO.