The first all-electric van developed and built by a vehicle manufacturer, the Kangoo Express ZE joins Renault's LCV range in mid-2011 and will be sold in Europe at a price of €20,000 excluding VAT, prior to any tax incentive that might be deductible.

This means that in France, for example, a state subsidy of €5,000 will reduce the price of Renault Kangoo Express ZE down to €15,000 excluding VAT, the same price as a Kangoo Express of identical diesel-engined power.

However, Renault has announced that the ownership of the vehicle will be separate to that of the battery. Customers will be able to purchase or lease their ZE van and take out a subscription for the battery costing from €72 excluding VAT per month.

Renault has said that "filling up" on energy (to cover a range of 160km) for the Kangoo Express ZE will cost between one and two euros, depending on the local price of electricity (kWh). The company says that this marks a significant difference compared with an internal combustion-engined small van, making it a particularly attractive proposition for business and fleet customers.

Vehicles can be pre-ordered from the website at www.renault-ze.com. This preliminary order service gives customers priority access to the vehicle when it arrives on the market.