Renault announced a newly formed partnership today with British Gas, in which the energy company will serve as the primary supplier of vehicle charging points for the car company’s upcoming line of electric models.
The partnership, which builds on a similar deal between
British Gas and Nissan announced recently, will allow British Gas to supply and install
electric vehicle (EV) charge points in homes and businesses across the UK.
Renault and Nissan are partners in the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
A spokesperson for British Gas confirmed the energy company was partnering with infrastructure firm POD Point to roll out the charging stations under the Renault agreement, although he added this was not an exclusive arrangement.
"We are talking to other providers," he told
GreenWise.Renault EVs
Renault said the deal with British Gas would assist the company as it prepares to launch its Kangoo Van Z.E. later this year, followed by electric cars the new Fluence Z.E. and Zoe car models and tandem two-seater, the Twizy.
"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," said Thierry Sybord, managing director of Renault UK. "We selected British Gas for the strength of their service network, the quality and competitiveness of the wall-box offering and the strength of their marketing."
Residential offering
While details for the business customer offering still remain sketchy, a release issued by Renault said British Gas will charge customers about £995 including value added tax (VAT) for a domestic installation and will be offering an electricity tariff that could save customers as much as £1,200 per year compared to petrol vehicle owners.
In addition, British Gas will also be offering three years of unlimited call outs for home electrical repairs, including parts and labour.
"The market for electric vehicles in Britain is growing fast," Dean Keeling, managing director of British Gas Smart Homes, said. "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."
With this announcement, it’s estimated that British Gas will be the preferred supplier of charge points for 70 per cent of the electric vehicle market in the UK by 2012-2013.
EV market
The tie up between British Gas and Renault comes hot on the heels of last week’s announcement by
EDF Energy and Peugeot and Citroën that they were teaming up to offer residential and business customers EV services and recharging products with the sale of every Peugeot iOn or Citroën C-Zero.
These deals come on the back of predictions that 10 per cent of cars sold in the UK by 2020 will be electric, adding up to an estimated 260,000 households owning an electric vehicle by this date.
Plug-in Car Grant
Renault EVs have yet to be accredited under the Government’s Plug-in Car Grant, which will pay up to £5,000 on a new electric or hybrid car. Currently, nine cars qualify for the grant. They include the Mitsubishi i-MiEv, Peugeot iOn, Smart fortwo electric drive, Nissan Leaf, Tata Vista, Citroen C~Zero, Vauxhall Ampera, Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid and Chevrolet Volt.
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