Renault Buzzing as Kangoo Z.E. Scores Major Award at Twickenham, UK

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – March 20, 2012: Kangoo Z.E. has scored another major accolade after picking up the VansA2Z.com Ecovan of the Year trophy at Twickenham Stadium, UK.

It is the third major prize in quick succession for Renault’s ground-breaking LCV, the first 100% electric commercial vehicle produced directly by a mass market manufacturer, after being named International Van of the Year 2012 and What Van? Magazine’s Van of the Year.

Andy Heiron, Renault’s Head of Electric Vehicle Programme UK, was honoured to collect the award after Kangoo Z.E. over-powered stiff competition from three major rivals – including Ford Azure Transit Connect – to cross the line in front at the home of English rugby.

He said, “Twickenham is fantastic and as a rugby fan it gave me great pride to collect such a prestigious award on behalf of the team at the famous stadium. There has been a real buzz around the Kangoo Van Z.E. ever since its launch at the end of last year and this is further proof that it is the market leader in the UK. I am sure this latest recognition at the VansA2Z.com Awards will generate even more interest in Kangoo Z.E. and help to highlight the significant benefits of electric motoring.”

VansA2Z.com judges hailed Renault’s innovative rental approach to the funding of the most expensive part of an electric van, the battery pack, and claimed it was “a very tempting prospect for operators with a suitable duty cycle”.

Website editor Neil McIntee added, “It is absolutely superb, the most complete electric vehicle and very driveable – it works beautifully. I have driven it many times in many countries, including the Brighton to London Future Car Challenge, and found it works completely effortlessly. It was the worthy winner in the ecovan category.”

It had already been voted International Van of the Year 2012 at the end of November by a jury of 22 European journalists specialising in light commercial vehicles – the first time an electric vehicle has won this prize competing against numerous internal-combustion vans.

VansA2Z.com is the indispensable independent video-based website for everything relating to vans and light commercial vehicles. It covers all the latest van news and new van launches, has a review and buyers’ guide for every LCV on sale in the UK, latest new and used vans for sale, access to competitive van insurance and van finance deals and up-to-date van comparison prices and specifications.

Kangoo Z.E. is currently under consideration for Australia.