COLLABORATION
CAR FOR FASHION GIRLS
I was standing in a pretty long line at the coffee desk of publisher Sanoma, the place for the best latte in the country. Costs a fortune and a shitload of calories, but then you got something. And oh yes, also at least seven minutes of waiting time, because you were never alone in your coffee quest.
At the front of the line stood a somewhat left-leaning colleague whom I had just encountered in the parking garage where I was trying to maneuver my, it must be said, somewhat bulky vehicle between the concrete pillars. She turned around and addressed me. With at least seven people between us, she called out in a clear tone: “May-Britt, why do you have such a big car?” I think I raised an eyebrow and laughed it off a bit. But she continued. “But why?? So big?” I found it a bit silly to explain amidst all the listeners that we had two children and one on the way, that strollers take up a lot of space and we had done a lot of renovations where this MPV was perfect for scouring hardware stores, but I looked at her with a look of: what are you talking about?
When that still wasn't enough and she, now with her cappuccino in hand, came over to me and asked the why-question once again, I had had enough: “Such a big car looks so nice and slim.”
Yet this housemate planted a seed. That’s what you get with those green types. That car was of course a diesel guzzler, let me tell you. Not very eco-friendly and not cheap either, but I didn’t think about it further.
Until last week, when I got to try the Renault ZOE (pronounced Zoé, right; just like Lenny Kravitz's daughter. ‘Flowers for Zoe’, did you cry about that too or is this a generational thing?) for two days. Five doors for sure, but wonderfully compact with a high ‘how cute’-factor. And electric, of course. Really electric. “You have 290 kilometers of battery left, so you don’t need to charge,” said colleague Annick who had brought the car for me. And that I shouldn’t find it strange if I didn’t hear anything when starting.
It was good that she had said that, because it remains a unique experience that you start and hear nothing. But that was correct. In a state of zen, I zoomed to Cornelis Schuyt where a great pair of earrings was waiting for me. Of course, no parking spot to be found, because it was nice weather, the terraces were full, and everyone had parked their vehicle, yes, also many of those big ones, right in front of the door. So I took a block around and yes, there it happened. Two free spots. For electric cars. Where you normally get irritated when you see it’s a charging point and you can’t park there, I now said something like ‘yes’ and ‘I need this car’. Because completely zen, maneuverable, drives nice and fast, always a spot, no fuel costs and darn good for your image.
Want to know more about the fully electric Renault ZOE? Click then here.
