Renault Zoe
Renault Zoe is a five-door supermini electrified car produced by the French manufacturer Renault. Earlier Zoes have a twenty two kWh lithium-ion battery pack that supplies a range inbetween two hundred ten km (130 mi) [Two] and two hundred forty km (150 mi) [Trio] under the NEDC cycle. [Two] In September 2016, Renault announced the introduction of an optional forty one kWh lithium-ion battery, enlargening the range to four hundred km (250 mi) under the NEDC cycle. [Four]
forty one kW·h lithium ion battery (October 2016–present)
two hundred forty km (150 mi) (NEDC) [Trio]
June 2015–October 2016
four hundred km (250 mi) (NEDC)
Renault had previously unveiled under the Zoe name a number of different concept cars. Primarily in two thousand five as the Zoe City Car and later as the Zoe Z.E. electrical concept was shown in two different versions in two thousand nine and two thousand ten under the Renault Z.E. name. A production ready version of the Zoe was shown at the two thousand twelve Geneva Motor Showcase. [6]
Retail customer deliveries began in France in December 2012, followed in two thousand thirteen by several European countries. Since two thousand thirteen the Zoe is the all-time top selling all-electric car in the French market, with 27,155 units registered through June 2016. [7] Zoe sales achieved the 50,000 unit milestone in June 2016. [7] The Zoe has been the top selling all-electric car in Europe for two years running, two thousand fifteen and 2016, [8] [9] and also topped European sales in the broader plug-in electrified car segment in 2016. [Ten] The Zoe has ranked among the world’s top ten best-selling plug-in electrified cars for two years in a row, two thousand fifteen and 2016. [11] [12]
Contents
Zoe City Car Concept (2005) Edit
The Renault Zoe City Car concept (or Z17) was shown at the two thousand five Geneva Motor Showcase [13] featuring three seats, the Trio.45m long open top vehicle was proposed as an urban focused car. [14] This Zoe had no connection with the later electrical Zoe concept to go after four years later.
Zoe Concept (2009) Edit
The Renault Zoe Concept was shown to the public in two thousand nine at the Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate to showcase the company’s vision for a Clio sized electrical car. [15] It was powered by a ninety five bhp (71 kW; ninety six PS) electrical motor (mounted at the front) and lithium-ion batteries (under the seats). It was estimated it would have a range of one hundred miles and a top speed of ninety mph (140 km/h), and could be charged at a conventional two hundred thirty V socket, or fast-charged from a high-voltage supply to eighty percent in only twenty minutes. A third innovative option was to interchange the batteries for a fresh pack at a Renault Quickdrop centre. [16]
The design was tear-drop shaped featuring a see-through roof features solar panels which run the air-conditioning system [17] and gull-wing doors. A fresh climate control system was also shown, developed with L’Oréal, which could squirt essential oils into the interior to cut out harmful exterior smells, or rehydrate the interior to prevent skin drying out.
Zoe Preview (2010) Edit
The Zoe Preview, a substantially revised version of the Zoe concept, was shown to the public at the two thousand ten Paris Motor Showcase, and was claimed to be a near-definitive representation (90% showroom ready) of the final version of the car. Many of the existing design features of the two thousand nine concept model were discarded such as the gull-wing doors.
The technical specifications had switched from the two thousand nine version with the power of the electrified motor diminished to seventy nine bhp (59 kW; eighty PS), a diminished top speed of eighty four mph (135 km/h), but still with a 100-mile range. [Eighteen] It was suggested that the Zoe ZE would be priced from €15,000. [Nineteen]
A planned Renault battery plant near Paris that will supply batteries for the vehicle was delayed due to technical constraints. Construction was to begin in the 2nd quarter of two thousand twelve and production of batteries was expected to be delayed to two thousand fourteen or 2015. Instead, Renault will have to buy batteries from a joint venture inbetween Nissan Motor and NEC, and from LG Chem of South Korea. [20]
The Zoe e-Sport Concept weighs 1,460 kg and has three hundred forty kW in two motors. [21] [22]
The production version of the Zoe was announced in March two thousand twelve at the Geneva Motor Display. Similar to the two thousand ten version and the design credited to Jean Semeris, it is a five-door supermini at four thousand eighty mm long, a little longer than the Renault Clio. [23] Retail customer deliveries began in limited number in France in December 2012, and Renault planned to increase availability during the very first quarter of 2013. The very first Zoe was delivered to Arnaud Montebourg, French Minister of Industrial Recovery. [24] In France the Zoe pricing starts at €20,700 ( US$27,250 ) before applying the existing €6,300 ( US$8,300 ) tax incentive, plus a monthly fee for the battery. The cost of leasing the battery for thirty six months starts from €79/month ( US$104 /month) for an annual distance travelled of 12,500 km (7,800 mi) and includes comprehensive breakdown assistance. [Two]
The Zoes produced until June two thousand fifteen are powered by a twenty two kWh lithium-ion battery pack, driving a sixty five kW (87 bhp) synchronous electrified motor [Two] supplied by Continental (the Q210). [25] Maximum torque is two hundred twenty N·m (162 lb-ft) with a top speed of one hundred thirty five km/h (84 mph). The NEDC cycle range is two hundred ten km (130 mi). Renault estimates that in suburban use, the Zoe can achieve around one hundred km (62 mi) in cold weather and one hundred fifty km (93 mi) in temperate conditions. The car features a charging system called “Caméléon” (Chameleon) charger that permits the Zoe to be charged at any level of power, taking inbetween thirty minutes and nine hours. [Two] The particular type of grid system in parts of Norway with a different potential for the protective ground requires a special charger, which is included with all Zoes in Norway for summer 2015. [26]
In June 2015, Renault announced the introduction of a fresh, smaller electrified motor called the R240, manufactured at its Cléon engine plant. [25] The fresh motor has the same power and torque that the Q210 unit [Three] with an extended NEDC cycle range of two hundred forty km (150 mi). [Trio] However, the Q210 would still be available as the R240 did not permit quick charging. [25]
In October two thousand sixteen at the Paris Motor Display, Renault unveiled a forty one kWh lithium-ion battery called the ZE40. [Four] The battery was developed by Renault and its playmate LG Chem, and is assembled at the former’s Flins plant. It is mounted on Zoes using the R75/90 motor (formerly R240, the name now doing reference to the motor power output range inbetween seventy five PS (55 kW) and ninety PS (66 kW)) and increases the car range to four hundred km (250 mi) under NEDC and permits quick charging. According to Renault, the battery produces about three hundred km (190 mi) on real driving conditions. [27] Older Zoes using the battery would get a less significant range increase because of various design upgrades. [Four] Options to buy the battery would be available, [Four] and also revised lease plans. [27]
In France, pricing of the Zoe with the forty one kWh battery starts at €23,600 (
US$26,460 ) before any applicable government incentives (€6,300 or US$8,300 ), and without the purchase of the battery. The rental fee for the battery is €69 (
US$77 ) per month for up to 7,500 km (Four,700 mi) per year and €119 (
US$133 ) per month for unlimited mileage. [28] In Norway, pricing starts at 229,400 kroner (
US$28,760 ), and the pricing of the variant with the original twenty two kWh battery starts at 40,000 kroner (
US$Five,000 ) less than the forty one kWh variant. [29]
Safety Edit
The Zoe received a five-star Euro NCAP 2013-rating. The score was:
Sales and markets Edit
Retail customer deliveries began in limited numbers in France in December 2012, and availability was enhanced during the very first quarter of 2013. [24] [31] A total of forty eight units were registered in France during December 2012, and cumulative sales reached Five,559 units through December 2013. [32] The Zoe became the top selling all-electric vehicle in the country in January 2013, and kept the monthly lead through December 2013, indicating 62.8% of electrical car sales in the country during 2013. In addition, the Zoe became the best selling electrified car in France accounting for registrations in the electrical passenger car segment since two thousand ten through December 2013. [32]
Deliveries in the UK began in March 2013, [33] and Germany, Italy and Spain in April 2013. Cumulative global sales totaled 8,874 units through December 2013. [34] Out of 8,792 cars sold in Europe through December 2013, 62.7% were sold in France (Five,511). [32] [34] Germany was the 2nd top selling market, with 1,019 units delivered through December 2013, [35] followed by the Netherlands with five hundred forty seven units registered. [36]
The Renault Zoe was officially launched in the Norwegian market in April 2014, tho’ retail deliveries began in late March. Unlike other European countries, the Zoe is sold in Norway with the battery pack included and there are no battery leasing options available. [37] A total of 11,323 Zoes were sold globally in 2014. [34] France continued as the top selling market with cumulative sales of 11,529 units, and the Zoe continued as the all-time best selling electrified car in the country, with Five,970 units sold in 2014. [32] Global sales reached the Ten,000 unit milestone in January 2014, [38] and the 25,000 mark in May 2015. [39] The milestone of 50,000 units produced was reached in April 2016. [40] Zoe sales achieved the 50,000 unit milestone in June 2016. [7]
With a record Ten,406 units sold in 2015, the Zoe was again the top selling all-electric car in France, and continued as the best-selling electrified car in the country ever. [32] [41] The Zoe, with Eighteen,453 registrations, was the top selling unspoiled electrical car in Europe in 2015. [8] [42] The Zoe ranked as the world’s 8th best-selling electrified car in 2015. [11] As of June two thousand sixteen [update] , France remained as the Zoe’s top country market, with 27,155 units registered since its inception in 2012. Zoe sales in the French market represented 53% of global sales. [7]
The Zoe ranked as the best-selling all-electric car in Europe for the 2nd year in a row in two thousand sixteen with 21,735 units delivered, signifying 21.2% of the segment sales that year. [9] [43] Also, the Zoe topped European sales in the broader plug-in electrified car segment, ahead of the Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV, the top selling plug-in in the previous two years. [Ten] In two thousand sixteen the Zoe ranked again as the world’s 8th best-selling electrified car. [12] Cumulative global sales totaled 61,205 units through December two thousand sixteen including both the passenger and cargo variants, [34] making the Zoe the world’s all-time eighth best selling plug-in car. [12]
Global sales and top country markets
Recognition Edit
The Zoe was one of the top three finalists for the two thousand thirteen World Green Car of the Year. [71]
Criticism Edit
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has criticised Renault’s decision to lease the Zoe battery packs to consumers as a rental service with an alleged Digital Rights Management (DRM) software. They claim it could render the vehicle unusable if the possessor ceases payment or Renault withdraws support. [72] Renault’s monthly fee for the battery and its alleged use of DRM has also been strongly criticised by some technology writers. [73] However, Renault in November two thousand thirteen publicly denied the use of DRM technology through its official Twitter account. [74]
In May 2010, a Parisian woman called Zoe Renault commenced legal act to attempt and force Renault to re-think their choice of name amid claims it would lead to mocking jibes. [75] In November 2010, a French judge ruled that Renault could use the name. [76]
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