Electrifying Bermuda

Renault’s EV’s and hybrids blend practicality, comfort, and super-low running costs

Eurocar was one of the first dealers to import electric vehicles with the launch of the Renault Zoe. Happy owners have been driving their Zoe’s around the island for a few years now, but Stephen Davidge, Eurocar’s General Manager says it’s proving more and more popular. “Renault gives the Zoe regular facelifts, and we can now offer many added features such as leather upholstery and a more luxurious interior. It has a larger battery for increased driving range, front and rear sensors, rear camera, push button start, keyless entry, and many other very high-end specs.”

“In addition to the all-electric Renault Zoe we’ve now got two Renault hybrid models, the Clio and the Captur”, adds Davidge. The Captur is a plug-in hybrid and can run on either the battery or the combustion engine, or a combination of both. It has a nine-kilowatt battery and has a range of around 30 miles when driven in solely electric mode. “For the overseas market, the Captur is designed to be used in electric mode for short runs around town, and then for longer journeys you have the combustion engine” explains Davidge. “That concept still has relevance for use in Bermuda, especially where the owner is commuting into Hamilton from Somerset or St. George’s. The Captur also has regenerative braking, so anytime you’re going downhill or applying the brakes to slow down, the car is taking that energy and putting it back in the battery, thus extending the range driving in electric.”

“The Clio is a regular hybrid, where

electric cars GoingGreen

the gas engine charges the small battery for the electric motor. The Clio operates in the same way as the Captur and can be driven fully electric. However, as it’s a smaller battery the distance is shorter”.

Due to our slower driving speeds in Bermuda, both the Captur and Clio will stay in electric as much as the battery charge will allow.

Eurocar also offers the Renault Kangoo for commercial vehicle license holders. Davidge says “we’re proud to have supplied BELCO, City of Hamilton, Department of Public Transport, and many commercial businesses with these revolutionary vehicles. Renault are Europe’s #1 van manufacturer and the Kangoo electric is the #1 choice for wise businesses looking to go electric.”

Soon Eurocar Ltd. hopes to also import the all new Megane E-Tech electric model as well, its second fully electric car. The Megane is only being made in electric form and is a great family car with lots of space and features.