FLEETDRIVE
ELECTRIC EXCITEMENT RENAULT REVISION BUS BONANZA
New Zealand are continuing to make the
switch to electric vehicles, growing by
over 5000 within the past 12 months. Renault has lowered its outlook for full-
year revenue after first-half profit was
hit by weakening car demand in Europe
and an earnings collapse at alliance
partner Nissan. India’s leading bus brand, Tata Motors
has supplied 40 electric buses to
the Jammu & Kashmir State Road
Transport Corporation.
Ministry of Transport figures show that
in June New Zealand’s EV fleet size was
nearly 15,000 vehicles, compared to
fewer than 9000 in June 2018.
Figures from a Trade Me survey show
74 per cent of Kiwis are considering an
electric vehicle (EV) as their next car.
Trade Me head of motors Alan Clark said
more than 1300 New Zealanders took
part in the survey which looked at Kiwis’
perceptions of EVs.
“We were stunned to find out that nearly
three-in-four New Zealanders would
consider an EV for their next vehicle.”
Clark said.
“With climate change top of mind for
many people, a range of new models
on the market, rising fuel costs and the
government’s new plan to subsidise
EVs, we think more Kiwis will make the
switch in the near future.”
Net income slumped by more than
half to 970 million euros ($1.08 billion)
in January-June as revenue fell 6.4
percent to 28.05 billion, Renault said in a
statement.
Operating profit dropped 14 percent to
1.65 billion euros.
“Given the degradation in demand, the
group now expects 2019 revenues to
be close to last year’s,” Renault said,
abandoning an earlier pledge to increase
revenue before currency effects.
Operating margin declined to 5.9
percent from 6.4 percent. Renault kept
its forecast for a full-year operating
margin of 6 percent.
Renault’s bottom line was hit by an
826 million-euro drop in earnings from
Nissan, in which Renault holds a 43
percent stake.
“With growing environmental concerns,
electric buses will be extremely vital for
mass transit because they are not only
energy efficient but they also reduce
overall costs per kms,” Tata Motors
spokesman Rohit Srivastava said.
“Tata Motors has always been at the
forefront of the E-mobility evolution
and this order is a testament of our
excellent range of buses built for STUs
in India.”
Manufactured at Tata Motors Dharwad
plant, the Ultra Electric buses will
have a traveling range of up to
150 kilometres on a single charge.
Interestingly the Li-ion batteries have
been placed on the rooftop to prevent
breakdown due to waterlogging.
The buses will help in zero tailpipe
emissions, 50% lower fuel costs, 20%
better energy consumption and lower
maintenance downtime as compared
to diesel buses.
ISSUE 18 2019 / WWW.AFMA.NET.AU
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