UK MNers needed for extended test drive with a Renault ZOE electric car - and get a free iPad NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We have been asked by the team at Renault to find two lucky MNers to put the new Renault ZOE to the MN test!

Renault say "our five-seat supermini, ZOE, has shaken up the electric car market thanks to its eye-catching looks, futuristic cabin design and attractive purchase price.

Now, as part of a Renault promotion, we’re pleased to be giving two Mumsnet members a chance to test drive a Renault ZOE for a week for a promotional film.

We’ll deliver the car to you and fit a Z.E.-ready wallbox at your home (you’ll need off-street parking). The car will be fitted with cameras to record your experience of living with the ZOE, and we’ll give you an iPad to keep a daily diary of your week.

After seven days, we’ll return to make a video of your electric experience. And, as an added incentive, you can keep the iPad.

The Renault ZOE offers a maximum driving range of 120 miles, funky looks, a practical cabin and generous standard equipment. There’s even a smartphone app that lets you monitor charge levels and even pre-heat or cool the interior of the car.

It has also been awarded five stars in the Euro NCAP passive safety tests, with a best-in-class overall score of 85%, and also has a passenger airbag that can be deactivated to fit a car seat, while you can enjoy the reassurance of 24/7 roadside assistance, even if you run out of charge".

The edited videos will be used by Renault in further promotion: your real life name will be used.

If you'd like to take part - please read the T&Cs below - then, if that works for you - please add your details on this form.

We will send anon reasons for wanting to take part to Renault and they will pick their selected MNers - we will then send over contact details and Renault will be in touch with them directly to make the arrangements!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. To enter, add 200 words on why you’d be perfect for the Renault video to on this form. 2. Entries close at 23:59 BST Wednesday 11th June 2014. 3. The prize is the use of a Renault Zoe for seven days in July 2014 (exact dates TBC). An electric car charge point will be permanently fitted on your property (it will not be removed post project). Winners will require off street parking for the vehicle. Winner will also receive an ipad for use during the project and can be kept post project. 4. Winners must be available for a 2 hour window to receive and return the vehicle. During this window the winner will be asked questions on their experience of the Zoe and their reactions filmed. There will be permanent cameras set up inside the vehicle recording the winner driving. Winners also commit to producing a daily video diary on a ipad supplied to them that can be kept by the winner post project. 5. Competition only open to UK residents. 6. No cash alternative. Prizes are non-transferable. 7. Entrants must be over the age of 18 at the time of entry and posses a full UK driving license. 8. The Promoter: Haymarket Media Group, Teddington Studios, Broom Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 9BE, UK

[MaryBS]

Delay on testing, due to delay on installation of charger! Received the following email from the installer:
"Due to an unprecedented increase in the number of applications following news that the current OLEV funding may end soon, it may take up to 2 weeks for us to contact to you to arrange your installation appointment. We apologise for the delay, and really appreciate your patience, we will be in touch soon. Should the OLEV funding close we will contact you to advise of alternative options for your wall-box requirements. "

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

I've just had the same email.

This is going to definitely push us into the school holidays for testing. My schedule changes a lot outside of term time so I've emailed the company who are organising everything to let them know. I hope it won't be a problem.

[MaryBS]

I emailed it through too, although when they spoke to me the other week, they seemed to expect I won't be testing till the school holidays. Like you, my routine will change!

[MaryBS]

Yay, booked in installation of the charger!

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

We're booked in too! Initially they couldn't offer us a date for a other month but the next day they were able to bring it forward

Not sure when we'll have the car yet, we're a bit all over the place during the school summer holidays

[MaryBS]

At the moment they're talking about us having it the beginning of August

[MaryBS]

Charger is in place!

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

You're doing better than us! When will you have the car?

I had an appt for the charger to be installed on Tuesday morning. I had taken the day off work for it to be done but nobody arrived! I called them an hour after the latest time that they were due and was told that they'd email the relevant team and ask them to get in touch with me. I heard nothing.

I called them again on Friday and was told that I would be called back to offer me another appt (I gave them the days that I would be available as I cannot be as flexible during the summer holidays). And again nobody returned my call.

I have tried chasing it again today, but the EV team don't work on weekends so there's nobody that can help me until Monday.

I have to say that I'm seriously unimpressed with British Gas at the moment. We have our Homecare cover with them and I will be having a definite rethink about renewing it for next year.

[MaryBS]

Sorry, been on holiday for the last two weeks... Getting it tomorrow! So excited! Sounds like they're really mucking you around though

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

Have you had your car for a week now Mary?

We had our charger and car delivered today, but we can't charge it because it trips the electrics for the whole house every time it's plugged in!

We need British Gas to install something else to our electric meter to split the supply (or something like that), then the nice chap who fitted the charging point needs to come back and do something else before it will work. Who knows when this will get done! I've got 60 miles left before it needs charging so we'll need to be careful how we use them!

[MaryBS]

You too? Ours also tripped the electric! This caused an error on the car, and its been at the Renault dealership ever since! They're trying to get me a replacement car. Not even driven it yet!

[Northernlurker]

The recent posts on this thread are not exactly selling the electric car idea -sounds like a total nightmare!
Iwish - is there a waitrose near you? Ours has charging points.

[MaryBS]

Not all charging points are suitable, unfortunately.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

Apparently it's to do with the wiring in older houses. More modern ones would routinely have the isolator that we need fitting already installed.

Our fault hasn't affected the car, and I've managed to work locally today so I still have 50 miles left. We've had the go pro delivered today so I need to figure that out (wifi to connect to the iPad). I keep laughing out loud when I'm in the car though - it's ridiculously quiet, you can't even tell if it's on!

We do have a Waitrose in our town, it has a petrol station but no EV chargers unfortunately. I know Ikea which is about 10 miles away have a couple, I'm going to have a look now if there's anything closer.

[MaryBS]

I was given the gopro at the time, so have ipad and gopro, just nothing to demonstrate. The car is eerily quiet. When they interviewed me, they asked what I was most worried about, I said running people over who hadn't heard the car coming! Although I did say I'd like to creep up on someone and beep the horn to get their attention, LO

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

I was worried about that and have been expecting to see pedestrians doing a double take as I glide silently past but nobody has seemed in the least bit surprised so far!

Ikea and our closest motorway service station are the only rapid charging points that we have nearby, I'm not planning on spending 4 hours at our local Renault dealership to charge her up!

Do they know what the fault is that damaged the car? Has that been fixed?

I'm hoping to make good progress tomorrow on getting the charger sorted, but I'll be at work which limits how much time I can spend chasing people. Unfortunately the people that I need to speak to work 8-5 and I'm at work 8.30-5.00 but need to get our ds's to out of school club before work. We should be able to keep the car a little longer than planned to get full use out of it once the charging problem has been resolved.

[Northernlurker]

Interesting about the charging points - that's really got to change for this by a proper option hasn't it?

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

I think hybrids are the way forward tbh Northern.

DH is seriously considering having one for his next company car and this is a good way for us to get a good understanding of EV's. If everyone had EV's there would need to be a huge amount of charging points installed everywhere. With a hybrid there's no risk of getting stuck with no charge.

[MaryBS]

No, they've not said what is wrong with the car, but they said they hope to get a replacement to me tomorrow

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

I'm sorry to say that if British Gas invited me to a piss up in a brewery I wouldn't accept because quite frankly they seem incapable of organising one.

Despite phone calls well into double figures today, we are still no further forward with getting a functional charging unit. I've used the Zoe again today and sworn at the sat nav which I was unable to turn off after I'd reached my destination - ds1 did it for me in the end! I've managed to do a bit of filming now that we've got the go pro. I'm not keen on watching it back though, so I don't know how it's turned out! There's not much charge left now so I need to save what is left to get to ikea on Friday if BG fail to get anything sorted tomorrow.

Hope you get your car tomorrow.

[MaryBS]

Apparently its arriving at 9am, so I'd better get out of my dressing gown and get dressed, LOL! First thing before I go anywhere is to see if the charger will co-operate this time. If it doesn't, I won't be going too far either!

[MaryBS]

Yay its arrived, and more to the point, the fuses didn't trip when we plugged it in! Looking forward to driving it around. Already been on my first trip, to pick up a piece of furniture. Fitted very well on the back seat, very spacious

[MaryBS]

Also been shopping in it. Still have concerns about people not noticing it. Although when I walked away from it at the supermarket, I saw a man pointing it out to a friend, which gave me a warm feeling, LOL. I also had a woman pushing her trolley in front of me, oblivious to the fact I was behind her and trying to drive in the car park! And when I got back home, called in the local shop, someone stepped out in front of me, he was more interested in his shopping than checking where he was going!

So far, found it a very enjoyable experience!

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

Our charger is now working.

[MaryBS]

Yay! I've "lost" the car today, DH is taking it to work.