Monday to Friday 9am - 12.30pm - 2pm - 7pm
Why did you choose the Renault Zoé for your start-up?
Before opting for an electric car, Théo and his partners used to deliver with an Renault Twingo. When it came time to change vehicles, Théo tried theRenault Zoéout of curiosity and was so taken by the driving experience that he convinced his partners to choose an electric car. They made their calculations and realised thatan electric car was cheaper in terms of savings on running costs.
After some hesitation over the choice of electric car, they finally opted for the Renault Zoé, a decision motivated by ecological ideals and practicality: lower consumption costs and no noise, which is very practical when delivering in the evening in Annecy.
Despite a rocky start, it's clear that more and more electric charging points are being developed in the city and in supermarkets, which reinforces Théo's choice.
How to finance your Zoe?
The partners wanted to minimise the risk and opted for a 4-year long-term lease in 2014.
Fascinated by this model, they decided to buy a new one to support their growth. They even negotiated to buy back their first two Zoé cars, whose long-term leasing contracts were due to expire in 2018. They now have 3 Renault Zoé the last of which is still under contract LLD.
La LLD or long-term leasing, is a form of car financing. Mostly used by companies, it is now being extended to private individuals, who are increasingly interested. Hire-purchase is a form of car leasing that allows you to hire a car instead of buying it. Leasing also allows you to benefit from a package that includes assistance and servicing. This method of financing gives you greater control over your car budget. To find out more about leasing, read our special report.
At the time, Théo was unable to benefit fromaids specific to his region. He opted for full service leasing to gain greater control over his budget and avoid having to think about maintenance costs.
Good to know, in Annecy, the SYANE has installed a number of charging points. They allow you to charge your car thanks to an annual subscription without paying for parking under the name of the network Eborn. It is also possible to use it without a subscription. Prices are explained below.
What problems have you encountered?
Théo had no particular problems when he took out his long-term lease (LLD). He did, however, have a heating breakdown once. This breakdown was covered under his long-term hire insurance contract.
How do you make sure you don't run out of fuel while on duty?
Charging was no problem for Théo, as the electric car is perfect for driving around town. The duration of theautonomy depends above all on the driving style of the drivers and also on the weather. In winter, the car consumes more fuel than in summer, and the electric car has been designed to run more smoothly in town, which has an effect on range.
"We deliver aperitifs to homes and can cover up to 200 km per car per evening. The range of the Zoe we have is between 100 and 150 km, so it was too short from the start. But we had calculated that if we could recharge the cars between rounds (even for 5-10-15 minutes), we could get round the problem ofautonomy. Even if it doesn't get you back to 100%, it does allow you to make subsequent deliveries. Hence the fast charging point to be installed on our premises (22 KW, charges in 1 hour). But here again, no one was able to really answer our question at the time. We had to make the calculations, manage to install the terminal and pray that it would work. And it's working without a hitch, even 4 years later and with a healthy growth in business over the period.
Are customers satisfied?
The eco-responsible approach is an integral part of the values of the SOS Soirée start-up. They use reusable bags and try to limit the amount of packaging they use. carbon footprint to the maximum. The electric car is also in line with their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint.
"For the moment, we're driving an electric car because there are no CO2 emissions. And no noise pollution. "
Théo is also amused by the many people in Annecy who are fascinated by electric cars. In fact, they too are thinking of switching to an electric car. The only downside is that they don't necessarily have all the information they need before taking the plunge.
If I had to do it all over again?
Without hesitation. At the time, Théo was a visionary and one of the first customers of the Annecy dealership. Today, more and more people are switching to electric cars. The vehicle's range suits him. He's delighted to see that the battery is still going strong five years on.
"After five years, the battery life is almost intact, which is why we bought them back at the end of the lease".
He is convinced that the firstRenault Zoéwere tests. Théo thinks that electric cars will be more widely represented on French roads, with more choice for the French.
How do you see the car fleet of the future?
Electric cars with a wider choice and even less polluting models with a much greater range.
Discover the electric cars available from Beev
