Renault supplies Kangoo Van Z.E to London charity

Renault UK is helping a London-based charity in its drive to provide healthy, fresh food to some of the capital’s most disadvantaged inhabitants through the supply of a Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. Van.

The Felix Project is using the all-electric van in its work to reduce food waste and food poverty across London.

The Kangoo Van Z.E. forms a valuable part of the Felix Project fleet, which collects over 10 tonnes of food a week from supermarkets, wholesalers and other suppliers that is fresh and nutritious, but which cannot be sold for various reasons, and distributes it free of charge to charities throughout the capital.

These charities then provide meals, snacks or food parcels to their clients, who include elderly or homeless people, those with mental health issues, refugees and asylum seekers.

The addition of the Kangoo Van Z.E. comes at a particularly busy time for the Felix Project, coinciding with the launch of its ‘Help a Hungry Child’ campaign – a new programme in primary schools to help channel food directly to those young children and their families who are in the greatest need.

The initiative aims to ensure that no child in any school supported by The Felix Project ever goes to bed hungry. At the end of the school day, children and their parents or guardians will be guided to a welcoming Felix ‘market stall’ and be able to fill a Felix bag with a healthy and delicious selection of food to take home.

Being exempt from the London Congestion Charge and without incurring the often high fuel costs that are associated with stop/start driving in a city, the Kangoo Van Z.E. is saving the charity a significant amount compared with running an equivalent-sized van with a conventional combustion engine.

Additionally, although featuring an advanced drivetrain consisting of a separate battery and electric motor, the Kangoo Van Z.E. offers the charity a payload of 640kg – the same as that of its diesel counterpart – while its automatic transmission and instant response make driving in London as stress-free as possible.

Annie Elkins, project co-ordinator, said: “Our drivers really like the Kangoo Van Z.E. because it’s so quiet and relaxing to drive. It’s easier to manoeuvre and park in narrow streets than the larger vans we use and, of course, there will be a huge saving in diesel. It’s absolutely amazing to have this support from Renault UK, and this electric vehicle fits in with our messages about protecting the environment by reducing waste and using nutritious food rather than throwing it into landfill.”