A fleet of 24 electric Renault Kangoo Z.E.33 vans has been delivered to Southampton City Council.
The vans will be used for a variety of services, including by the council’s neighbourhood wardens and waste operations teams, and replace existing diesel vans on the council’s fleet.
The council ordered the Kangoos after deciding they were the best fit for its requirements by formal tender through the public sector framework.
The order consists of panel vans, longer Maxi Panel vans, and one crew van.
The vans have been fitted with an optional heat pump, which produces heat or cools down the vehicle while preserving driving range, and optional towbars, allowing small trailers to be towed to help with maintenance work.
The vans contribute to the council’s goal of having a 90% zero-emission fleet by 2030.
Council cabinet member for green city and place Steve Leggett said: “Addressing road transport emissions by reducing the numbers of vehicles on our roads and encouraging drivers to switch to hybrid and electric vehicles is an essential part of our overall strategy. “We are leading the way with our fleet modernisation plan, as part of this we are adding the 24 new electric Renault Kangoo vans to our fleet. As well as helping us reduce emissions, our green energy tariff will mean we are also reducing our carbon footprint.
“The Renault vans’ increased battery range offered by this latest generation means our services are not interrupted to accommodate charging needs.”
Groupe Renault UK managing director Vincent Tourette said: “We are seeing a significant increase in the uptake of Renault electric vehicles by the public sector and it’s pleasing to see such an ambitious council such as Southampton utilise the Renault Kangoo Z.E.33 to help it reach its environmental goals.
“Groupe Renault have been manufacturing electric vans since 2011, and this proven technology allows our business customers to confidently switch to EVs without any concern that protecting their local environment will not be to the detriment of their operational capacity.”