SUPPOSE for a moment, you’re on the verge
of buying a secondhand Clio. It comes stashed with service history, it’s in
great condition and mileage-wise it’s still got plenty of life left in it, but
as you settle on the price it seems there’s a snag.
“Oh, you want the engine as well, sir?” the
salesman enquires politely. “Sorry, you have to pay extra for that.”
Understandably, you’d be pretty miffed if
you had to pay extra to have the privilege of having something to propel your
pride and joy, and that’s exactly why used car gurus CAP have had a bit of a
falling out with Renault lately. They’re refusing to give secondhand values for
the French firm’s range of electric vehicles… …because anyone who buys one has
to lease the batteries separately.
Martin Ward, CAP’s
manufacturer relationship manager, said: “We have every confidence in the
quality and reliability of the Renault Zoe. We have seen it, driven it, lived
with it and its 90 mile range means it definitely has a place in fleets for
shorter range driving purposes.
“But until Renault
removes the unnecessary layer of complexity caused by treating the battery as a
separate entity to the car CAP will be unable to forecast its used values so
fleets can work out competitive lease rates. In our opinion it is now time for
Renault to give some great electric vehicles they have worked hard to develop
and refine a real chance in the company car market by abandoning its ‘battery
not included’ policy.”
I’ve driven by far the
quirkiest of Renault’s electric offerings, the two-seater Twizy, and stand by
my original verdict that it’s brilliant. In fact, I loved it so much that – and
I don’t do this often – seriously thought about buying one as a fun, frugal
commuter car to go to work in, but it was the very fact you have to lease the
batteries separately that put me off. I own a mobile phone, a tablet, and an
MP3 player which all have batteries which I don’t have to lease.
Why should it be any
different with a battery-powered car?
I have seen this, driven it and it gives 90 mile as well, so it is wonderful car. it absolutely has a place in fleets for smaller range driving purposes. It looks awesome.
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