Category Archives: Renault

News and reviews of Renault electric cars (including plug-in hybrids).

Demand for used electric cars grows

November 27, 2023Buying a new car, Cost of ownership, Electric Cars, I-PACE, Jaguar Land Rover, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

Second-hand EV sales double in last quarter, so what’s driving used demand as new electric sales falter?

A spike in demand for used EVs has been reported by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which says the number of pre-owned battery electric vehicles (BEVs) changing hands doubled in the third quarter of this year.

A rise of 99.9 per cent in used EV sales mean battery-electric cars have now reached a record 1.8-per cent share of the second-hand market, in part thanks to prices that have fallen due to the increasing availability of company-owned electric cars being ‘de-fleeted’. A recent report by online car retailer Auto Trader said the average price of a used BEV was around £32,000 at the end of October, with used prices for electric models appearing to stabilise at around 20 per cent below the levels recorded this time last year. Relatively cheap used-EV options range from three-year-old Renault Zoes, which are now undercutting similarly aged petrol Clios by around £500, and three-year-old Jaguar I-Pace EVs that undercut internal-combustion powered F-Pace models by almost £4,000, according to recent Auto Trader figures.

Jaguar I-PACE at Fully Charged Live show (Image: T. Larkum)

With around 750,000 EVs sold into the fleet market in the past three years now fuelling a used-EV sales mini-boom, the government’s approach of stimulating company BEV sales through large benefit-in-kind tax discounts for company drivers appears to be being vindicated as the fastest way to reduce the UK’s tailpipe emisssions.

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What are the best affordable electric cars?

November 23, 2023e-2008, Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, ZOERepost

Switching to electric motoring doesn’t have to be expensive – take a look at our favourite affordable models

Best affordable electric cars

Buying an electric car is an investment, but it doesn’t have to be a pricey one.

There are plenty of used electric cars on the market that come in at affordable price points.

As we move towards the 2035 ban on the sale of brand-new fuel-powered cars, more and more motorists are opting for an electric vehicle (EV).

There are plenty of luxury EVs on the market, but there are also some value-for-money options that won’t break the bank.

We’ve picked some of the best cheap electric cars that you might want to consider if you’re making the switch to an EV.

What are the best-priced electric cars?

Electric cars are typically more expensive than your average fuel-powered runabout, but you’ll cut costs on fuel by relying on electric charging.

Finding a used electric car is another way to cut costs – you might find a cracker of an EV that would be outside of your budget when purchased brand-new.

Don’t worry about battery degradation and health, either. Electric car batteries are expected to last up to 20 years and come with lengthy warranties.

The cost of running and charging an electric car will depend on your usage and how you plan on charging up. The average electricity tariff is usually about 30p/kWh.

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Electric Vehicles Are Testing the UK’s Love of Small Cars

November 22, 2023Electric Cars, MINI, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOE E-SportRepost

Electrification is raising new challenges for compact models, as costly batteries push carmakers toward large, luxury EVs with high price tags.

It’s 4 p.m. on a wet Monday in southeast London, and we’re trying to parallel park uphill, a necessary if unpleasant rite of passage for any city driver. Our electric car, a bright red Ora Funky Cat, has been through a battery of such rites today — hauling furniture, ferrying passengers, avoiding pedestrians — and takes to London’s streets like it was made for them. On the slippery surface of a narrow road, the Ora EV excels: At just over 4 meters (13 feet), it’s easy to parallel park.

The Funky Cat is a head-turning EV with a fun design to match its name; there’s a hint of Porsche in the flared front fenders and squat haunches. The Asian-made car, which went on sale last fall, is also prowling around a sweet spot in the UK’s EV market: models small and light enough that a modest battery can push them a decent distance. Of the 72 electric cars available in the UK, nine have batteries with a capacity under 50 kWh. Just two EVs in the US do.

The UK has a long tradition of popular small cars, perhaps best exemplified by an iconic Mini Cooper chase scene in 1969’s British classic, The Italian Job.

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Electric Vehicles Dominate the Used Car Market, Selling Faster Than Petrol and Diesel

November 16, 2023Audi, Corsa-e, e-tron, Electric Cars, Kia, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, Vauxhall, ZOERepost

Electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as the fastest-selling fuel type in the used car market, surpassing petrol and diesel cars. According to Auto Trader, EVs took an average of just 27 and 25 days to sell in the previous month and the current month, respectively. In comparison, petrol and diesel cars are selling every 31 days on average in October.

The rise in the popularity of EVs is evident in the list of fastest-selling used cars, with seven out of the top 10 being electric or alternatively fuelled vehicles. This includes models such as the Kia Niro, Vauxhall Corsa-e, Renault Megane E-Tech, Audi e-tron, and Renault Zoe. These cars have been highly sought after, taking between 9 and 15 days to sell.

Vauxhall Grandland X Hybrid4 (Image: Vauxhall.co.uk)

One of the contributing factors to the growing demand for used electric cars is the improved affordability and availability. Auto Trader reported that nearly a quarter (22%) of used electric stock on their platform in September was priced between £10,000 and £20,000, providing greater choice in the more affordable end of the market. This increase in options has attracted more consumers to consider purchasing used EVs.

However, the second-hand electric car market is still in its early stages, and as a result, some volatility can be expected as it continues to mature in the coming years. Despite this, retailers have a significant opportunity to future-proof their businesses and gain profits by embracing the data and trends surrounding used electric cars.

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Used Car of the Year Awards: Electric cars

November 10, 2023Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Porsche, Renault, Skoda, Taycan / Mission E, Tesla, ZOERepost

With living costs on the rise, getting a good deal on your next car is more important than ever. That’s where our Used Car Awards come in. These are our favourite electric cars…

Credit where credit is due: Elon Musk has led Tesla to become one of today’s most popular car brands. He’s no stranger to controversy in other matters, but Tesla’s Model 3 has proved to be an electric vehicle (EV) milestone.

This executive car has sold immensely well since its launch, and it continues to do so today, meaning the used market is flooded with them. Examples start with the Standard Range Plus, which can be found for a very tempting £23,000.

While this entry-level model can’t come close to matching the Performance’s 0-60mph time of 3.3sec (in our hands), it’ll still manage the sprint in a hot-hatch-like 6.1sec. You won’t see such acceleration behind the wheel of a Kia e-Niro.

The range is impressive, too: the Standard Range Plus officially travels 254 miles on a single charge, or 267 miles if you go for a post-2020 example. If you need 300-plus miles of range (more than any Jaguar I-Pace can offer), you can pick up a Model 3 Long Range or Performance for a few thousand pounds more; these versions have larger batteries.

The Model 3 is more reliable than the I-Pace, too. In the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the Model 3 ranked eighth out of 20 cars in the EV class, with an impressive 93.9% score.

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2030 UK petrol and diesel car ban: will it be delayed?

September 8, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Sales, ZOE, ZOE E-SportRepost

From 2030 drivers won’t be able to buy new cars powered solely by petrol or diesel, but what does this mean for you and could the ban be delayed?…

Under current Government plans, the sale of new cars powered solely by petrol and diesel will be banned from 2030. The move, announced in 2020, is intended to encourage more drivers to choose electric cars, and reduce emissions from vehicles across the UK.

Hybrid cars which can travel ‘significant’ distances on electric power alone will remain on sale until 2035, when it is expected that they too will be banned in favour of fully electric cars. The Government has yet to define what qualifies as ‘significant’.

According to official figures, electric cars currently account for around 16% of new car sales, with hybrids accounting for about 12% and plug-in hybrids 7%. Combined, that means such cars have accounted for more than a third of sales.

It’s important to note that only new car and van sales will be affected by the ban – you’ll still be able to buy used cars and vans powered solely by petrol or diesel.

In this story, we’ll cover the details of the proposed ban, including how it came about, how it affects car buyers, and whether you should still consider buying a new petrol or diesel car in 2023.

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Date set for the end of Zoe

August 11, 2023Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

Renault will cease production of its Zoe electric car on 30 March 2024. It was already clear that there would be no new Zoe generation, but now the date has been set for the end of production at the Flins plant. Zoe has blazed a trail in her time.

The electric Renault pioneer is making room for a new generation of Renault electric cars, for which Zoe piloted vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, including the electric Renault 5. The R5 will be unveiled as a production model later this year and produced from 2024 onwards in Douai in northern France rather than in Flins like Zoe.

In addition to the Zoe, another of the French electric pioneers is on the brink of extinction – Renault recently announced that production of the Twizy electric microcar will end in September 2023, replaced by the Mobilize Duo and its cargo offshoot Bento. The two new models will be fully integrated into operations at Flins with mechanisms of the circular economy and new approaches to the car as a revenue platform.

To date, around 420,000 units of the Zoe have been produced since the start of production in 2012. Although there are still relatively few B-segment electric cars are still on the market, customer interest in the Zoe has been has been steadily declining. According to French reports, 12,182 Zoes were sold last year, almost half the number sold in 2021. The competing Peugeot e-208 achieved sales of around 19,000.

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Here are the cheapest new EVs you can currently buy

July 28, 2023Dacia, Dacia Spring, Electric Cars, Fiat, MG, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

Next year will see various well-priced EVs come to market, but let’s look at what are currently the most affordable

It’s an exciting time in the electric car world at the moment, with more and more models going on sale.

There is big news today, too, with Dacia’s announcement that it will bring its compact EV, called the Spring, to the UK next year. The Spring has been on sale since 2021 in other European markets and has the title of Europe’s most affordable new electric car – something that it will likely be when it comes to the UK as well.

The Spring is set to become the UK’s cheapest new electric car when it arrives next year. (Dacia)

But if you can’t quite wait for the Dacia Spring to arrive, what are currently the cheapest new EVs today? Let’s take a look.

The MG4 is currently the cheapest new EV. (MG)

MG is now one of the key players in the electric car segment, with its affordable EVs really resonating with buyers that want to go electric, but without having to splash vast amounts of cash.

Its new MG4 is also currently the UK’s most affordable EV, with a starting price of £26,995. That buys the entry-level model, equipped with a 51kWh battery that’s able to achieve a credible claimed 218 miles from a charge.

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Ora Funky Cat UK review: electric hatchack comes up short on range, price and quality

July 19, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, ID.3, Leaf, MG, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Opinion, Renault, Volkswagen, ZOERepost

The first in a new wave of Chinese electric cars stands out for its looks but little else in a crowded market

There’s something to be said for making a splash when launching a new brand or product.

Good or bad, an eye-catching design and an interesting name can help establish a brand in the minds of the public and pave the way for future plans. So Ora is certainly onto a winner with the Funky Cat which not only has a name you won’t forget but brings a wide-eyed and unusual look that’ll stand out in most car parks.

Ora is one of a wave of Chinese brands setting their sights on the UK with a host of electric cars, and the Funky Cat is its first offering, aiming to compete with models such as the Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe, Volkswagen ID.3 and MG4 in the electric hatchback segment.

Volkswagen ID.3 electric car (Image: Volkswagen.com)

We’re largely past the days of Chinese cars being carbon copies of European models but there is an element of Mini to the Funky Cat’s front end and smidge of first-gen Leaf to the sloping, wide tailgate. It looks better in the metal than in photos, which don’t do its proportions any favours, but it still divided opinion during our time with it and is likely to be a bit of a Marmite prospect on the roads.

Under the funky skin, the Funky Cat packs a 48kWh battery and a 169bhp motor. That offers fairly middle-of-the-road performance, with 0-62mph of 8.3 seconds and the usual initial surge tailing off as speeds rise.

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Best value small electric cars 2023: Volkswagen e-up! vs Renault Zoe

May 29, 2023e-Up, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Opinion, Renault, Volkswagen, ZOERepost

Finding a cheap electric car isn’t very easy, so we’ve done the hard work for you

Finding a cheap electric car is still very difficult, but look in the right places and there are bargains to be had. Nowhere is that more clear than with our first contender, the Volkswagen e-up!. At the time of writing, we found an offer for the VW Group’s smallest EV for just £167.99 per month on a two-year deal.

Renault Zoe Volkswagen e-up!
Contract type: Personal Contract Hire (PCH) Personal Contract Hire (PCH)
Monthly cost: £206 £168
Length of contract: 36 months 24 months
Initial payment: £1,853 £1,513
Mileage allowance: 5,000/year 5,000/year

The dinky e-up! punches well above its weight when it comes to interior design. The finish is superb for such a small car, and the overall layout is well thought-out, right down to the neat smartphone cradle on top of the dash which, once an app has been installed, lets your own device act as the car’s infotainment system. A USB port hidden around the back of the mount keeps your phone charged on the move.

The fully-electric model first joined the up! range in 2013, but an update four years ago increased the battery capacity to 36.8kWh, which allows for a 159-mile range. The 80bhp output doesn’t sound like much, but at 1,235kg, the e-up! is much lighter than most EVs. As a result, accelerating to 30mph feels livelier than you might expect.

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