A new partnership between Renault Ireland and DIT to deliver tailored electric car training programmes to the Renault Dealer network was announced this week.
The Department of Transport Engineering at DIT Bolton Street will provide electric vehicle education, training, assessment, technical problem solving and diagnostic trouble shooting on behalf of Renault Ireland.
According to Eric Basset, Managing Director of Renault Ireland, the partnership with DIT is strategic to the development and training for their electric vehicles. “It is a pleasure to be working with DIT. We are on schedule for the launch of our range of electric vehicles starting with the Kangoo Z.E. arriving in November. The partnership will ensure that our network receives superior training in advance of the launch and ongoing throughout the coming years”.
Declan Allen Head of Department, is thrilled to be part of this new era in Irish motoring. He is looking forward to building on this new partnership with Renault Ireland to deliver tailored electric car training programmes to the Renault dealership-network. “There is no doubt in my mind the automotive industry is entering a new era with the roll out of electric cars and I look forward to seeing Renault’s extensive range of electric cars a common sight on our roads.
The good news is that Renault Ireland’s ZE campaign is powering ahead, and their range of electric vehicles, affordable for all, will be launching in Ireland in November of this year, with the electric mini van – the Kangoo Express ZE - first to hit the streets.
The 100th Kangoo Express ZE rolled off the production line at the MCA plant in Maubeuge in France on January 17 and Renault Ireland has already confirmed 50 pre-orders and another 300 keen expressions of interest.
The affordable zero emission mini-van will have an engine power of 44KW, a torque of 226Nm and a max speed of 130km/h. The range is 160KM and the vehicle will be equipped with low rolling tyres. A standard charge will take 6-8 hours and the charge trapdoor will be located on the front bonnet of the Kangoo Express.
The load capacities of the Kangoo ZE are identical to the diesel Kangoo Express at 4.21m long with a load capacity of between 3 and 3.5 m3, and a load length of 2.5 M and payload of 650KG.
The Fluence ZE, suitable for family and fleet, will launch here in mid-2012, with the Twizy for city dwellers in March 2012 and the ZOE, ideal for commuters in late 2012.
Renault will be charging up the information levels on their range of ZE vehicles in Ireland, with a special ZE feature at the Irish Times Motors Show in late February and the Energy Show in late March, giving members of the public as much up to date information as possible on the vehicles.
The much anticipated ZE Electric Vehicle Tour will hit the cities of Cork and Dublin the first week of July and will enable up to 100 test drives of the Kangoo ZE and the Fluence ZE per day.
Sandra Rea, Renault Ireland ZE Project manager, “We are getting ever closer to the release of the Renault ZE range and we want more and more people thinking electric. Everyone is capable of making an electric car but who will be able to make an electric car for everyone? The answer is that Renault can, and is the only manufacturer to have a range of electric vehicles, from a city car to a mini van, a family car, a suitable commuter car and all affordable. We are moving fast, and the partnership with DIT will ensure our dealer network is powered up and receives top-quality electric vehicle training. Our ZE Tour in July will give people the chance to drive Renault electric cars, built to suit their lifestyles and budgets.”
