Renault has helped create the first 100% electric town by giving every household in the town of Appy, in the Ariege region of France, a new Zoe electric vehicle (EV) as part of a scheme to prove electric mobility can be suitable for all.

Moreover, because Appy is one of the most isolated towns in the country, the scheme also aims to show that the move to EVs is not just the reserve of those living in urban areas.

The Renault Zoe has a 245-mile range; and since its introduction earlier this year more than 100,000 models are now on roads around Europe.

In Appy, all households receiving the car will be provided with a home charger; there will also be a public charger for the town. When plugged in to a DC charger, the car’s 52kWh battery can be charged to a 90-mile range in just 30min.

Appy residents will run the EVs for three years, sharing their impressions and experiences with Renault, and thereby help the automotive manufacturer understand the way customers interact with and use EVs on a day-to-day basis.

Renault said: “If the inhabitants of one of the country’s most isolated towns can adopt an electric way of life, it will prove that everyone can. That also means the myths around buying and running an EV can be dispelled once and for all.”

All Renault Zoe models come with a free home ‘wallbox’ for fast home-charging, a five-year 100,000-mile warranty and an eight-year 100,000-mile warranty on the battery.