LeasePlan anticipated and installed Luxembourg’s first battery reloading post for electric vehicles
03 February 2010
LeasePlan, the European leader in fleet management, has today
launched into service the very first reloading station for electric cars in Luxembourg. For
LeasePlan, electric energy most certainly represents one of the energies of the future. That’s
why the company decided to set an example and show the way to both the private companies and
the Public Authorities by investing in a „Elektrobay“- type recharging station by
ThePluginCompany. This plug-in station, the first of its kind in Luxembourg, was inaugurated on
2nd February at the LeasePlan parking ground at Leudelange, in presence of M. Marco Schank,
deputy Minister for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure. A battery reloading
demonstration was made on two electric cars, a Mini E, which is actually undergoing a test
phase, and a Peugeot iOn, which will be on sale in Europe as by the end of 2010.
In his inauguration speech, Marco Schanck, Deputy Minister for Sustainable
Development and Infrastructure, has acknowledged the importance of electric vehicles in the
future. “The implementation of this electric loading post, even though symbolic this first
initiative might be, represents an additional stage in the record of efforts delivered by
LeasePlan to promote alternative fuel solutions. I must congratulate LeasePlan for this
venture. Now it will be up to each of us to shape his or her own future, for the benefit of our
well-being and the one of future generations.”
An electric vehicle indeed consumes much less energy than a comparable vehicle with a
traditional combustion engine. And even if the production of electric energy generates
greenhouse gases, the emissions are definitely inferior to those of a petrol or a diesel
engine. Moreover, the use of “green” electricity reduces these emissions to zero. Another
advantage is the fact that the electric car is subject to the same governmental bonuses than
vehicles with low CO2 emission (Car-e bonus).
Numerous car manufacturers are already offering electric vehicles or are on the verge of
introducing them, although these cars might be essentially destined for corporate or company
use in a first stage. Today, only an appropriate public infrastructure of reloading posts is
still missing. This is a challenge to be tackled in the shortest delays.
As Bob Walté, Managing Director of LeasePlan Luxembourg says: “We already showed
the way to a more responsible driving when we launched the GreenPlan concept some three years
ago. In its true innovative tradition, LeasePlan now launches the first battery reloading point
for electric vehicles in Luxembourg, thus delivering proof of its sense of responsibility in
terms of sustainable policy and mobility for the benefit of the whole country. For LeasePlan,
this new reloading point represents a very important step ahead.”
The Elektrobay-type reloading posts are quite fancy in design, as shown by the “GreenFleet”
Awards they won in 2007 and 2008 in the “Innovation and design” category as well as in 2009 in
the category “Outstanding achievement”. The device offers easy plug-in and operates safely
during the reloading process with (« green ») energy. The objective of ThePluginCompany is to
provide the users of electric vehicles with this reloading device infrastructure wherever the
need occurs: on private or public parking grounds, on public streets, at company sites, near
shopping centres, supermarkets, movie theatres, restaurants and so on…
LeasePlan has also noticed a strong interest of its customers in the electric reloading
facilities. Bob Walté explains: "Many of our environment assertive and responsible
thinking customers have already shown their interest for electric vehicles. With the Elektrobay
device, LeasePlan can now offer its customers a complete formula, including electric vehicles
as well as a reloading device, which is a first in the leasing business."
Marco Schank : « Il s’agit dès aujourd’hui d’organiser
la transition progressive vers de nouvelles technologies efficaces. L’électrification des
moteurs constitue un facteur tout-à-fait essentiel dans la perspective d’une mobilité durable.
Elle offre en effet – en association avec les énergies renouvelables – une possibilité de
réduire notre dépendance du pétrole, et constitue dès lors, à long terme, une contribution
importante pour atteindre nos objectifs ambitieux en matière de protection du climat.
»
