New electric cars - Renault have now announced their line up of electric vehicles. Following on from the Renault Leaf, there will be 4 new models including a saloon, a small hatchback, a two-seater and an all electric version of the current Kangoo van (as shown to UK press earlier this month).
The logic behind the choice of the Kangoo is the potential of the commercial market. As can be seen with the interest being shown in the i-MiEV in the UK from local authorities and the police force. Companies which operate car fleets can look at the long term cost of a vehicle (which is an important view buying an electric car as it's upfront cost is considerable, it only starts to come into it's own 2 or 3 years in). Also commercial companies have the ability to invest in their own charging infrastructure (another limit on extensive private ownership at the moment).
Renault are claiming theirs will be the broadest range of all electric vehicles on the market when they are released for sale in 2012. Arguably by 2012 there is likely to be lots of competition on this front. NICE already have a range of 3 vehicles (albiet these are not yet all available in the UK).
Renault also plan an interesting way to get round the charging issue, one the electriccarsite had suggested months ago with our own electric car battery 'stop and swap' idea!! Basically employing a 'quick-drop' where flat batteries can be swapped at battery stations or retail outlets for pre-charged ones. These could be leased to customers. This would however require some serious infrastructure and investment to work.