Plain sailing for partnership between Renault and Dame Ellen MacArthur

On behalf of her Foundation, Dame Ellen MacArthur has just taken proud delivery of one of the first 100 per cent electric Kangoo Van Z.E.s in the country, presented by Renault UK Managing Director, Thierry Sybord, at the marque’s largest UK showroom in West London.

The French manufacturer has a long-standing relationship with the record-breaking solo yachtswoman dating back over ten years, and in 2010 Renault also became one of the founding partners of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

The electric-powered current International Van of the Year will be used by Dame Ellen as she circumnavigates the Isle of Wight carrying out work for her charity, which is aimed at engaging the worlds of education and business to inspire people to re-think, re-design and build a positive future. Her shiny black five-seat Crew Van replaces her current trusty workhorse, a rare, previous generation electric Kangoo van which has provided sterling and reliable service in recent years, which will now see out its days as part of Renault’s heritage collection housed in Flins, France.

Dame Ellen, who recently toured the Kangoo Van Z.E. Maubeuge factory in France, with Renault’s Chief Operative Officer, Carlos Tavares, praised Renault’s commitment to the circular economy, which includes the development of affordable electric vehicles. She said, “This is a decisive step towards a viable, long-term economic model. We are working together to encourage the younger generation to seize the formidable opportunity it has to build a positive future."

Carlos Tavares added, "Together, we believe that protecting the environment only makes sense if it involves the vast majority of people. This in turn calls for a real commitment from businesses to propose clean, yet affordable, innovations. It is core to the idea of the circular economy, dear to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which Renault has fully and enthusiastically supported from the start. We are convinced that Kangoo Z.E. has the wind in its sails."

Posted in: Renault