Emirati facilities management (FM) company Farnek has taken delivery of its all-new fully electric Renault ZOE 40 from Arabian Automobiles Company, the flagship company of Dubai-based AW Rostamani Group.

The new Renault model will help Farnek to reduce its carbon footprint by saving 17 tonnes (78 per cent) of carbon emissions annually, compared with any of the existing saloon cars in its fleet, that travel approximately 72,000 km per year.

The delivery is certainly timely, as the company's headcount climbs above 5,000 employees, putting added pressure on its transportation, which currently comprises over 200 vehicles.

Farnek endeavours to reduce its impact on the environment still further, by operating its business more sustainably, said a top official.

"It is part of our business strategy to have a more energy efficient fleet in line with the UAE government’s recommendation that 10 per cent of our transportation fleet should be electric by 2030," stated its CEO Markus Oberlin.

"We also hope that once our customers see our branded Renault ZOE 40, it might inspire them to consider lowering their own carbon emissions," he added.

Ahmad Zaher Sabbagh, the deputy general manager for Arabian Automobiles Company (Renault) said: "We are delighted that Farnek has chosen the ground-breaking Renault ZOE 40 to reduce its carbon footprint and lessen its impact on the environment. This cements our position at Arabian Automobiles Renault, as the leading provider of electric vehicles in the UAE market."

The ZOE 40 is the flagship of Renault’s ZE (Zero Emissions in use) vehicle range, is an all-electric, multi-award winning, five-door supermini. With the new Z.E.40 battery, ZOE’s range is 400 KM (NEDC) – Renault estimates that in real-world driving conditions this equates to around 300 km.

"It can charge from zero to 80 per cent full in as little as 60 minutes thanks to its patented Chameleon Charger that allows it to make the most of the widest range of power supplies and also keep charging times to a minimum. Renault’s Range OptimiZer technology ensures the ZOE 40 is highly efficient with its heat pump, a bi-modal braking system and Michelin Energy E-V tyres all as standard," he added.

Farnek, he stated, was the first organisation in the GCC to introduce carbon neutral buses in 2010. With this the company now offsets 88 tonnes of carbon emissions every year at a cost of almost $3,000 annually, he added.-TradeArabia News Service