Andy Heiron, Brand Manager for Dacia and the former head of the Electric Vehicle Division of Renault, and Ben Fletcher, Andy’s successor, gave us their thoughts on the market for electric vehicles (sales are now at a record high), the future of the electric car market, and a little more about themselves…
Andy Heiron
Arnold Clark: At what point in your career with Renault was your passion for electric vehicles born?
Andy Heiron: When I first drove Twizy! It’s just sheer fun, and the fact it’s electric is a big part of that.
AC: The Renault ZOE has been hugely successful on the market – how long was that model in the pipeline for?
AH: Years! Not only does ZOE feature 5 world firsts, it’s also full of the most cutting-edge EV technology – so it takes time to develop and make sure that it’s all as well thought-out as possible.
AC: What kind of car do you drive?
AH: A ZOE, of course. What else?
AC: Do you find that having an electric car changes people’s perception of you?
AH: Not really – but it does lead to lots of interesting conversations. Whether it’s family, friends, or even someone who’s walking past as I plug the car in – everyone seems interested in what the car can do.
AC: Have you noticed a difference in your wallet at the end of the month from ‘going electric’?
AH: Absolutely – I’ve got more cash to spend on other things. But aside from that, it also gives stability, as I know what’s going out of my bank account for the battery lease, whereas I always found budgeting for fuel difficult.
AC: What do you do to ensure that you are environmentally conscious in every other part of your life?
AH: Like most people, I recycle and do my best not to create too much waste: sell-by dates certainly don’t get looked at much in our house! But I think it’s important to say that, while electric vehicles have very strong environmental credentials, you don’t have to be an eco-warrior to enjoy them: the driving experience, the quietness and the convenience all make them great to live with day-to-day.
AC: For some, the Twizy is maybe the epitome of electric cars – a little weird looking and drives in a similar fashion to a three-wheel scooter. Why did Renault choose to launch the Twizy before some of the more conventional-looking electric vehicles?
AH: When you’re launching something as radical as the concept of electric cars, you need to have something to get people to notice. And that’s what Twizy does brilliantly, as shown by the great reaction it’s had from the public.
AC: What did you think about the Twizy F1 RenaultSport?
AH: It’s a great little car doing what Twizy does best: grabbing attention. Seeing it at Goodwood Festival of Speed was amazing – even surrounded by F1 cars and supercars, it still drew a huge crowd. I’d love to have a go in it myself!
The Twizy F1 RenaultSport was also tested by Sebastien Vettel
AC: How do you feel about FIA’s provisional plans to have a Formula E Championship?
AH: Formula E is a really exciting development – not just for electric vehicles, but for motorsport as a whole. Street circuits will add drama, and the technology will help road cars as well. I can’t wait for it to start.
AC: What steps are Renault taking to actively encourage businesses to change their company cars from petrol or diesel to electric?
AH: When it comes to businesses, money speaks quite loudly – so the simplest way is to help them do the sums to see how much money they can save, and we have special calculating tools to do just that. Once that’s done, the driving experience and quietness of the car really stand out.
AC: Have you found the buy-in from existing Renault customers has been promising?
AH: Yes – and I think that’s largely due to the looks of the cars. Certainly, there has been plenty of interest in ZOE simply because of the styling – the fact it’s electric is simply a bonus for many people. As we have such a strong history of innovation, our customers almost expect us to be a step ahead in technology, too.
Ben Fletcher
The new head of the Electric Vehicle Division of Renault, Ben Fletcher, gave us his views on the future for Renault and electric vehicles.
Arnold Clark: What are Renault’s next steps to ensure that the electric car momentum continues?
Ben Fletcher: Making sure that people know about and try ZOE! This is the first mass-market electric vehicle that competes on a level playing field with its traditionally-powered rivals in terms of price, performance, and specification – so the car speaks for itself.
The Renault ZOE was recently crowned eco champion at Houses of Parliament
AC: What steps will need to be taken to ensure that rural drivers have complete peace of mind when driving an electric vehicle? Is there a degree of risk?
BF: I personally believe that rural drivers are even better suited to EV driving than people in towns; although their journeys are likely to be slightly longer, they will be more regular and still well within the range of ZOE.
AC: Charging stations – or the lack therof – are arguably slowing the growth of the electric car market. How do you plan on getting past this?
BF: It’s important to remember that, according to the studies we’ve done with real EV drivers, 90% of charging is done at home – so the free domestic wallbox included with ZOE is a real benefit. But the public network is also far more developed than most people realize – over 1800 charging points that are compatible with ZOE are already live, and the number is growing by the day. But for me, the placement of these points is crucial – they need to be at the places people actually leave their cars, so we’re working with various other actors to ensure that this is the case.
”The number of charging points is growing by the day”
AC: Do electric car buyers represent a cross-section of the public, or is there a group of people (the environmentally conscious, perhaps) that is buying into this concept?
BF: As with any type of new technology, the first electric vehicles were bought by people with a very specific interest – either in green issues or the technology itself. But with the launch of ZOE, finally there is an electric car on a level footing with the established competition, so we’re seeing a much broader range of customers.
AC: Tell us about Renault and Nissan’s electric car partnership.
BF: Together, we’ve spent over 4 billion Euros on developing electric vehicles, and are the global leader in electric vehicle sales. In fact, we’ve just sold our 100,000th electric vehicle globally, which shows the reaction to the cars already. Our alliance allows us to make the most of our combined technical knowledge and produce the best vehicles we can.
AC: What steps are you taking to ensure that Renault will be the leader in electric vehicle provision by 2020?
BF: The main thing is the depth of our product range. With 4 separate models, including a van, we cover more of the market and offer a wider selection of products than any other manufacturer.
AC: Who will be your biggest rival, and what are they doing that puts them ahead?
BF: With ZOE, there are no electric rivals at that price point, let alone with the level of technology ZOE offers as standard. So this means that the car’s main rivals are the traditional ones, such as Corsa and Fiesta.
"There are no electric rivals to ZOE"
AC: What one message would you give to the general public about the benefits of driving an electric vehicle?
BF: It’s simply a great experience. It’s quiet, it’s easy, and it’s relaxing, without being boring – just try it for yourself!
AC: Can electric cars still compete in terms of in-cabin technology, or is the focus on refining the engines at the moment?
BF: Engine refinement is one of the key advantages of electric motors over a traditional engine; they’re much quieter and smoother in operation. But one of the key things with ZOE is the level of technology as standard in the car – even the entry-level model has built in navigation, climate control, Bluetooth and voice command – so it’s ahead of the competition even before you take the driving experience into consideration!
AC: What would you say to people that are concerned with the initial cost of the Renault electric vehicles?
BF: There’s no need to be. For example, ZOE starts at £13,995– so it’s no more expensive, although much better equipped, than the traditional competition!