The very first Renault ZOE has been delivered to its new keeper. And fittingly the keys have been handed over to Arnaud Montebourg, France’s Industry Minister, who placed his order at the Paris Motor Show in September.
It’s fitting because ZOE – Renault’s newest all-electric vehicle – is fully in line with the French Government’s ‘Plan Automobile’ policy to promote zero emission mobility. The plan promises an extensive network of charging stations and to include electric vehicles in public fleets.
A few more early deliveries will be made between now and the end of the year before a mass launch in the first quarter of 2013.
ZOE is a hugely significant car for the company and is aimed at both business and private buyers. A compact supermini with a top speed of 135 km/h and a range of more than 200kms (NEDC), ZOE is perfect for daily commutes or local journeys.
It qualifies for government grants and discounts in many European countries: in France this means a rebate of €7,000 which brings the purchase price down to a highly affordable €13,700 including VAT (excluding monthly fee for the rental of the battery).
Other benefits vary from country to country but can include not only free charging, but also free parking, free use of toll roads and access to bus lanes and congestion charge zones.
Carlos Tavares, Renault’s Chief Operating Officer, handed over the first ZOE at a special ceremony at the Finance Ministry in Bercy, Paris, where the Industry Ministrer has initiated its network of charging stations. He said: “The commitment of Mr Montebourg and the government will be decisive in making France a robust cornerstone of electric vehicle development and serves to reinforce Renault’s position as a French champion on the international stage.”
Across Europe, it is estimated that there are now around 15,000 EV charging stations, up from 10,000 at the end of 2011. By the end of October 2012, Renault had put 16,600 electric vehicles on Europe’s roads.