Renault Z.E.

The Renault Z.E. (Z.E. stands for Zero Emission) is a line of all-electric cars from Renault. The line began with the Z.E series of concept cars. The first production car is the Renault Fluence Z.E. that is scheduled for sales to the public in Israel and Denmark by late 2011 as part of the Better Place network.^[1][2] In 2011 Renault was awarded a contract to supply 15,600 electric vehicles to the French government and the state-owned postal service, La Poste. The vehicles are to contribute to a planned 25,000 electric vehicle fleet owned by the French government.^[3]

Concept cars

2008 Paris Motor Show

The first model in the Z.E. project was a concept based on the Renault Kangoo Be Bop. It debuted at the 2008 Paris Motor Show ^[4]

It has its compact dimensions (length: 3.95 m (156 in), height: 1.85 m (73 in).^[5] The Z.E. Concept is powered by a 70 kW electric motor with torque of 226 N·m (167 lbf·ft) and its lithium-ion batteries give 200 km electric range. Solar panels positioned on the roof power a temperature regulation system.^[6]

Estimated price is 16,000 € .

2009 Frankfurt Motor Show

In 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault extended the concept from one model to four:

• Fluence Z.E. five-seat saloon which implements Renault's "Quickdrop" rapid battery exchange system that is compatible with Better Place's electric vehicle network
• Kangoo Z.E. van
• Twizy Z.E. ultra-compact city car
• Zoe Z.E. supermini

• 
  Renault Fluence Z.E.
• 
  Renault Kangoo Z.E.
• 
  Renault Twizy Z.E.
• 
  Renault Zoe Z.E.

Renault announced that cars "previewed" by all four Z.E. concept vehicles would be released from 2011 onwards and cater for a wide variety of different customers and uses.^[7]

2010 Paris Motor Show

At the 2010 Paris Motor Show Renault showed the "Zoe Preview", promoting it as "a realistic glimpse of the forthcoming mass-market Renault electric car... a near-definitive representation (90 per cent) of the vehicle that will be manufactured at Renault's Flins plant, France. Its launch is scheduled for mid-2012."^[8] The show car supports the same QuickDrop battery swap capability as the Fluence Z.E., and DC fast charging.

Renault also showed several updated Twizy models^[9] and announced the Kangoo Express Z.E. van "will go on sale from mid-2011 for between €15,000 excluding VAT(with tax incentive of 5,000 euros deducted, and without options, in France) and €20,000 excluding VAT(without tax incentive, and without options), depending on the country."^[10]

Production models

In 2010 Renault announced details of the first vehicles intended for production in 2011, the Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Z.E. models.^[11] Customers in several countries can pre-reserve models at the Renault-ZE web site, although as of April 2010 it has no pricing details.^[12]

Renault announced the city car previewed by Zoé Z.E. Concept will be produced in Flins in France, and the vehicle based on Twizy. Concept will be built in Valladolid in Spain.^[13]

Renault will initially purchase batteries from AESC, the Nissan-NEC joint venture in Japan. It announced development of battery production facilities in France, Japan, Portugal, UK, and the USA.^[11] The Megane Z.E., a hatchback version of the Fluence Z.E., is also in development.

See also

• Renault Eolab

References

1. "Better Place Launches First Battery Switch Station in Israel". Automobile Magazine. 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
2. Eric Loveday (2011-03-03). "Renault, Better Place launch "unlimited mileage" electric car in Copenhagen for $38,000-plus". AutoblogGreen. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
3. Loveday, Eric (7 October 2011). "Renault to sell 15,600 electric vehicles to French government". Autoblog Green. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
4. Abuelsamid, Sam (2008-10-02). "Paris 2008: Renault Z.E. concept". Autobloggreen.com. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
5. Simona (2008-10-02). "2009 Renault Z.E. Concept". TopSpeed. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
6. Brian Potter (2008-10-02). "Renault Z.E. (Zero Emission) Concept Unveiled". WorldCarFans. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
7. Sebastian Blanco (2009-09-16). "Frankfurt 2009: Renault's all-electric four-car attack includes Twizy, the quirkiest car of the IAA". Autoblog Green. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
8. "ZOE Preview". Renault. 2010-09-30. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
9. "What's happening on the Renault stand: press days". 2010 Paris Motor Show Blog. Renault. 2010-10-01. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
10. "The 100% electric LCV: Renault Kangoo Express Z.E.". 2010 Paris Motor Show Blog. Renault. 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
11. "RENAULT FLUENCE Z.E. AND KANGOO EXPRESS Z.E.: FINALIZED DESIGNS REVEALED AND PRE-RESERVATIONS OPEN" (PDF) (Press release). Renault. 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
12. Sam Abuelsamid (2010-04-15). "Renault finalizes design of Fluence ZE and Kangoo ZE, starts taking reservations". Autoblog Green. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
13. "RENAULT TO PRODUCE ELECTRIC FLUENCE IN BURSA, TURKEY" (Press release). Renault. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2010-05-17.

External links

• Renault Z.E. - Zero Emission Car
• Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn: In “A Few Years” Electric Cars Will Have “Three To Four Times More Range”