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November 16, 2009

Interview with José María Arenas (Tragsa)

 
What did you think about the car you just test drove?
 
Great, I liked it a lot. What I noticed the most was that it is very easy to drive and has everything you need in a car.
 
How many cars are in your company’s fleet?
 
Around 1,400 own vehicles. Most of our work is rural more than urban. At Grupo Tragsa we work to foster sustainable development in the rural and marine worlds, with projects that tend to the environment and improve people’s quality of life. For this reason we are particularly interested in vehicles with zero emissions. We are interested in this vehicle specifically.
 
Are you interested in buying electric cars in the middle term?
 
Yes, of course we are, depending on our needs. It’s part of our strategy.
 
What characteristics does an electric car need for your company to decide to purchase a fleet like this?
 
In our case, we mainly use vans. Electric cars would have to be very similar to what we have now. To us, loading capacity and autonomy are very important.
 
Learn more about Tragsa: www.tragsa.es!

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November 15, 2009

Reactions from Francisco González (Zardoya Otis)

 
"This is the first time I’ve driven an electric vehicle, and I really liked the quiet inside; you can’t hear anything. The feeling is similar to being on an airplane, plus driving it is almost effortless. Our fleet has around 1,200 vehicles, and as of today we do not yet have any vehicles with electric engines. However, if the costs are similar to conventional vehicles, our intention is to buy electric ones. If a car offers the same features in terms of safety, comfort, quality and the like, we will change. Plus, you have to keep in mind that the maintenance costs will be lower. I would change them one by one. It’s the future, and there’s no going back."

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November 13, 2009

Interview with Alfonso Marín (Heineken)

 
What would you highlight about the car you just test drove?
 
I liked it a lot; the fact that is my initial idea was that it was going to be a slow car with a slow response, but it’s not. It is fun to drive. The car works well; it’s quite quick. The lack of engine noise is very pleasant, and in general I liked the test drive a lot. I was pretty surprised, because I didn’t expect the car to be so responsive.
 
Is respect for the environment a priority in your company?
 
Yes, of course it is something that concerns us. We sell beverages and we are especially careful about everything related to the environmental impact of our factory production (waste, water, smells, etc.). In the future we might be interested in purchasing electric vehicles; it’s one of the measures that we want to include within a certain timeframe as yet another idea of a company that invests in the environment.
 
What does a vehicle manufacturer need to offer you for your company to purchase a fleet with electric engines?
 
It has to offer us what Renault is offering today. We currently have our fleet with Renault because its vehicles are particularly safe. Our company focuses primarily on safety, in addition to quality, comfort and low consumption.
 
What if it still offers you all this in two years, plus the cars don’t pollute and they offer you a similar price?
 
If that happens, plus the cars work pretty much the same as fuel-powered vehicles, there is no question that we’d choose electric vehicles. Our fleet is mainly driven by sales staff and they basically use the vehicles to get around cities or on short drives between cities, so we need compact vehicles that are easy to get around in the city and safe on the open road.
 
Heineken España S.A. is a subsidiary of the dutch brewer. It employs more than 2,500 persons and has 4 production units in the country.

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November 09, 2009

Interview with Jesús Sanz (Endesa)

Jesús Sanz (Endesa) talked to us about his Kangoo be bop Z.E. test drive.

Please tell us your first impressions behind the wheel.

They’re very positive. The car drives well; it’s much simpler than any other car. I particularly noticed the fact that once you get used to the car’s retention system, you barely have to use the brake pedal, only in case of emergency.

How many vehicles are in your company’s fleet?

We have 2,300 cars in Spain. Of them, all of them meant to be used in the city could have electric engines. We are talking about almost 1,000 vehicles which could be electric in the short term.

How does Endesa deal with the issue of environmental management?

On this issue, since we’re a company that produces electricity with coal-fuelled power stations, we have always focused on environmental sustainability. Now we have what we call a Sustainability Plan approved by the Board, and that’s what we’re working on. Respect for the environment is one part of our company’s strategy.

What are the drawbacks to electric vehicles?

Right now, for a company like Endesa, at least to introduce it in a more urban setting, one determining factor would be the price, as well as demonstrating that in terms of comfort and safety, an electric vehicle is totally equivalent to a conventional car with a heat engine.

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