E. Leclerc, one of the biggest retailers in France, has accelerated the move towards a zero emission future by joining forces with Renault to form the Z.E. Club des 50.
The Club, which strengthens local links between E. Leclerc hypermarkets and nearby Renault dealers, will be established in early 2013. In time it will grow to become the Z.E. Club des 500 as more E. Leclerc outlets team up with Renault’s 500-strong dealership network across the country.
Before then, however, the hypermarket chain will have taken bold steps to be at the forefront of the zero emission movement. Already 20 stores have installed EV charging stations for staff and customers and now one hypermarket has taken delivery of no fewer than ten Renault ZOE vehicles as company cars.
The cars, provided by the local Renault dealership in Quimper, will be used by employees who have fitted wall boxes for home charging. And if they need to top up their batteries while at work, the store - at Pont l’Abbé in Brittany - has no fewer than 11 charging stations, each with two sockets, providing 22 posts for staff and shoppers to recharge their electric vehicles.
The aim of the Z.E. Club des 50 is to promote all aspects of zero emission mobility. As well as providing charging facilities at the stores, both E. Leclerc and dealers will stage regular presentations and undertake other initiatives to raise public awareness about the benefits of electric vehicles.
The ten Renault ZOEs destined for Pont l’Abbé are among the first to be delivered before a mass launch early in 2013. ZOE is a pure electric supermini aimed at both business and private owners. It has a top speed of 135km/h and a range of more than 200kms (NEDC) and is perfect for daily commutes or local journeys… especially those to the hypermarket for the weekly shop.