Leeds City Council welcomes 122 electric Renault Kangoos to fleet

Leeds City Council has taken delivery of 122 new Renault Kangoo ZE 33 compact vans, with 102 to be used in the delivery of a wide range of services across the city, including property maintenance and civil enforcement, and the remaining 20 to be made available to local businesses through its new EV Trials Scheme.

The new vans are said to play a major role in the Council’s drive to become a carbon-neutral authority and educate West Yorkshire businesses on the significant benefits of switching to electric vehicles.

Councillor James Lewis, deputy leader at Leeds City Council, said: “Leeds City Council already operate more electric vehicles than any other local authority and we are a proud signatory of the Clean Van Commitment. Not only are zero emission vans better for the environment and air that our communities breathe, but they are also cheaper to run and maintain than traditional vehicles. We know that switching to electric vehicles feels like it would be a leap in the dark for some, so we’re looking forward to sharing the benefits of these vans free of charge with businesses and charities across West Yorkshire as part of our EV Trials scheme.”

West Yorkshire businesses and organisations are able to enjoy a completely free trial of the electric vans, for up to two months. Each van will be equipped with telematics devices, which will gather journey and charging data, with users receiving a tailored report highlighting the findings and the environmental and potential financial benefits that transitioning to an electric vehicle can generate for their business or organisation.

The Renault Kangoo ZEs will make up nearly half of the 50 electric vans and cars that are available to trial.

The addition of the new Kangoos to Leeds City Council’s working fleet will boost the amount of all-electric vehicles it uses in the upkeep of the region to more than 330. The all-electric vans replace several older, less efficient vehicles, with others being added due to the growth and scope of Leeds City Council services.

Leeds City Council will charge its new vehicles via its existing charge points and is also in the process of procuring a new charging infrastructure.

Vincent Tourette, managing director, Groupe Renault UK, added: “We are delighted that the Renault Kangoo ZE 33 has such a significant role in not only transforming the efficiency of Leeds City Council’s fleet, but that its deployment in the authority’s new EV Trials Scheme will also help many of the city’s businesses experience how electric vehicles can, literally, work for them. We are confident these organisations will be able to see in real-world terms how one of the all-electric Renault Kangoo ZE 33 can be much more affordable to run, greener for the environment, and offer a better driving experience than other LCVs in the market.”

Available in three body styles (Panel Van, Maxi Panel Van and Crew Cab Van) the Renault Kangoo ZE 33’s load area stretches up to 4.6 cubic metres, depending on the model. Powered by a 44kW motor with 225Nm of torque and mated to a single speed transmission it’s suited to both urban and open road deliveries. With a potential range of up to 143 miles, the Renault Kangoo ZE is priced from £19,380, excluding VAT, after the Plug-in Van Grant.