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RENAULT AND BRITISH GAS TO LEAD THE CHARGE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - 15/06/11
Renault has announced that British Gas will be its preferred supplier of vehicle charging points for its new range of 100% electric zero-emission(1) car and vans in the UK.
The deal builds on British Gas' agreement with Renault's Alliance partner, Nissan, to be the preferred supplier of charge points to their electric car in the UK(2). Market analysis suggests that
British Gas will be the preferred supplier for 70% of the electric vehicle market in the UK in 2012(3).
The agreement with Renault, announced at the technical forum for the RAC Future Car Challenge at Imperial College London, means that British Gas will supply and install electric vehicle charge points
in homes and businesses across the country. Renault launches the electric Kangoo Van Z.E. later this year, followed by a family of fully-electric cars - the new Fluence Z.E. and Zoe car models and an innovative
tandem two-seater, the Twizy.
Today's announcement is further indication of the growing electric vehicle market in the UK. Experts predict that by 2020, electric vehicles could account for approximately 10% of all cars sold in the
UK(4). This equates to 260,000 UK households owning an electric vehicle(5). With 700,000 homes expected to have solar panels by 2020(6), there is major potential for those households with both solar panels, electric
vehicles and charging points to run their cars with free renewable energy. The average annual earnings of up to £900generated by a standard-sized domestic solar panel installation can offset the average annual
running costs of a zero-emission electric vehicle(7).
Customers will pay from £995 including VAT for the domestic installation of a charging point by one of British Gas' nationwide network of qualified installers. Charging points are more convenient and
safer than plugging vehicles directly into the home electricity system and will cut the charging time by a third. Research shows that 59% of charging in 2020 will be at home, compared to 32% at work and only 9% will
use public charging(8).
British Gas customers will also benefit from three years of its free Home Electrical Care™* which gives the customer unlimited call outs for all home electrical repairs, including parts and
labour. British Gas has also recently announced an electricity tariff designed specifically for electric car owners. This will make it cheaper to charge vehicles overnight and could save customers as much as £1,200
a year compared to owners of petrol vehicles (9). British Gas is trialling the tariff with customersthis summer andthe new tariff will be fully available from the beginning of 2012. All customers on the tariff will
have a smart meter installed which will give them access to flexible "time of use" tariffs, put an end to estimated bills and give them access to smart appliances.
Dean Keeling, Managing Director of British Gas Smart Homes, said: "The market for electric vehicles in Britian is growing fast. With our national network of electrical engineers, our electricity
supply business, our solar panel business and our roll out of smart meters, British Gas is well placed to be at the forefront of that market. We can help owners power their electric vehicles for less money and from
renewable sources."
Thierry Sybord, Managing Director of Renault UK, said: "The electric revolution is on its way and Renault is leading the pack with its full range of electric vehicles. Partnering with British Gas,
Britain's biggest supplier of electricity to homes, means Renault Z.E. customers can access competitive, quality charging technology and rely upon a prompt and professional service. We selected British Gas for the
strength of their service network, the quality and competitiveness of the wallbox offering and the strength of their marketing."
* For Home Electrical Care terms and conditions apply.
(1) Zero-emission in road use. British Gas has propositions that help customers lower their carbon footprint. The energyshare tariff, for example, matches a customers electricity use with electricity
from 100% British renewable sources.
(2) Renault and Nissan are partners in the Renault-Nissan Alliance
(3) According to research by Market Gravity, 2011 - calculated based on projections of car manufacturers' EV market share
(4) and (5) Frost and Sullivan. Report commissioned by British Gas, December 2010
(6) Figures from the Department for Energy and Climate Change -Impact Assessment of Feed-in Tariffs for Small-Scale, Low Carbon, Electricity Generation (URN10D/536) – 1st February 2010
(7) British Gas. British Gas figures show that home owners with a mid-sized array (2.52kWp systems) will make around £884 a year from the generation element of the Feed-In Tariff and £64 from the
export element
(8) Research from Market Gravity
(9) Figures based on British Gas calculations using average UK standard Economy 7 night rate, 100 mile charge range, 95% charging efficiency. £1200 based on a comparison with a 1.6-litre vehicle
comparing the annual cost of fuel for 10000 miles. The Kangoo Van Z.E. will cost 1.25p per mile – so £125 for the year compared to 15p a mile for the petrol vehicle (£1463 per year). The calculation assumes 42.2
miles to the gallon and petrol costs of 135.8p a litre. For the standard petrol vehicle, a 50 litre tank gives 464 miles. Kangoo Van Z.E. can do up to 100 miles per charge (costing £1.25) so needs to do 4.64 charges
to replicate the 50 litre tank costing £5.80 (or £6 rounded up). Changes in driving style, use of radio and air conditioning, and terrain will affect driving range.
Renault launches the world's biggest automotive industry solar roof project
In partnership with Gestamp Solar, Renault is launching the world's biggest solar energy project in the automotive industry by installing solar roof panels at its French plants.
- The project concerns the sites of Douai, Maubeuge, Flins, Batilly, Sandouville and Cléon (ISO 14001-certified since 2000).
- The panels will eventually cover a total area of 450,000 m2 (equivalent to more than 60 football fields), offering an installed power capacity of 60 MW (the annual consumption of a town with a
population of 15,000).
- By using renewable solar energy, Renault will cut CO2 emissions by 30,000 tonnes a year.
The installation of solar panels at manufacturing plants is a sign of Renault's long-standing commitment to the environment, expressed in the eco2 policy. And the range of affordable electric vehicles
is the flagship development of that commitment.
In partnership with Gestamp Solar, which took over the project started by Eiffage, Renault is launching the biggest solar panel project in the global automotive
industry.
When the 450,000 m2 of solar panels are operational, they will cover an area equivalent to 63 football fields. The installed power capacity of 60 MW is the equivalent annual electricity consumption
of a town with a population of 15,000.
The project is part of Renault 2016 - Drive The Change, Renault's strategic plan to reduce its carbon footprint by 10% by 2013 and by a further 10% between 2013 and 2016.
The solar panel project will reduce CO2 emissions by 30,000 tonnes a year.
Renault has implemented several actions to reduce consumption at its plants (e.g. the zero carbon plant in Tangiers). With
the solar roof project, Renault is showing its concern to conserve resources by diversifying the energy mix used to generate electricity, and particularly by using renewable energy sources.
Solar panels will
cover the roofs of the delivery and shipping centers at the Douai, Maubeuge, Flins, Batilly and Sandouville sites, and the staff parking lots at Maubeuge and Cléon.
The start date for installation is mid-June
2011 and completion is scheduled for February 2012
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