The first ever “ECO Transports and Logistics” trade show in Paris saw Colizen, an innovative eco-citizen delivery company, sign a letter of intent with Renault for the purchase of Kangoo Z.E. electric vehicles with lithium ion batteries for its delivery fleet. The trade show, which brings together international players in the application of environmental technologies to transport and logistics, is spotlighting the electric vehicle, making it the ideal venue to sign the letter of intent.
Colizen offers last kilometer deliveries by appointment between 7.00am and 10.00pm (30-minute slots), seven days a week. The company specializes in urban deliveries, prompting management to opt for electric vehicles for 50% of its fleet. These electric vehicles currently account for 60% of deliveries.
Faced with its strong growth (more than 700% in 2010, 400% forecast in 2011), Colizen needs a comprehensive and reliable solution for its ecological transport requirements. Colizen found the right solution with Renault, Europe’s leading manufacturer of LCVs since 1988 and a pioneer of zero emission mobility that is accessible to the greatest number.
By entering this agreement, Colizen is demonstrating its faith in Renault with the purchase of 50 Kangoo Z.E. vehicles by the end of 2011. This full-electric LCV offers the same loading capacity as the internal combustion version, and is designed for optimal durability and reliability. Measuring 4.21m in length, Renault Kangoo Z.E. has a useful load volume of 3 to 3.5m3, a maximum load length of 2.50m and a payload of 650kg. Its range of 170km (NEDC) is sufficient for most of Colizen’s deliveries, since the daily rounds total about 80km. The vehicles will be charged on Colizen’s sites, which will be fitted out with standard Wall Boxes, capable of fully charging a vehicle in 6 to 8 hours.
According to Fabien Esnoult, co-founder and Managing Director of Colizen, “This partnership with Renault is an essential part of our domestic and European deployment. The performance of Kangoo Z.E. and Renault’s service offering meet our expectations and will help us to boost our proportion of zero emission* deliveries, which we ultimately plan to increase to close to 100%. The people at Renault immediately bought into our business model and understood the constraints we face when building this partnership agreement together.”
Jean-Christophe Kugler, Director of Renault’s Light Commercial Vehicles Division, adds that, “Major urban centers are about to experience some fundamental changes that will demand a complete rethink of urban logistics from A to Z. Renault wants to play a leading role in this revolution. Thanks to our partnership with Colizen, we have a life-sized opportunity to test the full potential of Kangoo Z.E. We plan to measure both the impact on delivery services and the interest of end customers for this kind of eco-responsible solution.”
Present on every continent with more than 350 manufacturing and commercial establishments in 118 countries, Renault designs, builds and sells a broad range of innovative, safe and environmentally-friendly vehicles. Today, Renault continues its strategy of profitable growth with its associated brands Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors. Renault employs 121,000 people, posted revenues of €38,971 million in 2010 and sold more than 2.6 million vehicles in 2010.
With its partner Nissan, Renault is aiming to become the leading provider of electric cars and zero emission mobility solutions by being the first carmaker to propose a complete range of electric passenger cars and LCVs at an affordable price for the greatest number. 2011 is a decisive year in Renault’s history, with the launch of three electric car models, Fluence Z.E., Kangoo Z.E. and Twizy, followed by ZOE in 2012.
Colizen is a delivery service available on its partners’ e-commerce sites, such as Nespresso, Mistergooddeal, SmartBox, Aquarelle.fr and JM Bruneau.Customers can take delivery of their on-line purchases in person, at home and at an agreed time between 7.00am and 10.00pm (within the nearest 30 minutes). The service, which was initially launched in Greater Paris, has just been extended to include Lille, and will soon be available in Bordeaux and Lyon. The service will then gradually be extended to include the main conurbations in France.
Colizen uses electric LCVs that are ideally suited to urban deliveries: zero noise, zero CO2 and zero harmful emissions. Pollution can also be reduced by limiting the number of return trips and journeys made by the customers. “According to our forecasts, our activity will avoid the emission of 1,100 tonnes of CO2 per year in two years’ time”, claims Fabien Esnoult. “But we do not make green deliveries simply because they are fashionable. For us, it is a matter of conviction and, above all, an economic choice!” The average price of a Colizen delivery is similar to that of an express delivery, with a guaranteed, individual service that is environmentally friendly.
