Category Archives: Renault

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

Renault Samsung Launches ZOE All-electric Car in S. Korea

August 28, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, ZOERepost

SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Renault Samsung Motors Corp., the South Korean unit of Renault S.A., on Tuesday launched the Renault ZOE all-electric car to boost its lackluster sales.

The company began to receive orders for the Renault ZOE on Tuesday, with a plan to begin delivering ordered vehicles in September, a company spokesman said.

The pure electric subcompact will be imported from France after being assembled at the French carmaker’s Flins plant outside Paris, he said.

The Renault ZOE is priced at 39.95 million won-44.95 million won (US$33,600-$37,800), but it will be available for 27.59 million-32.59 million won with state subsidies, the company said.

Renault Samsung has one all-electric model in its lineup — the SM3 Z.E. compact sedan. Its three other models are the SM6 sedan, the XM3 SUV and the QM6 SUV.

The company has struggled with weak sales in Korea due to a lack of new models. Its sales fell 25 percent to 76,588 units in the January-July period from 101,718 a year earlier.

Renault holds an 81 percent stake in Renault Samsung.

Source: The Korea Bizwire

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Renault Zoe R135 Review: Still Top Of The City EV Class

August 17, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, ZOERepost

If you’re in the market for a small electric car with respectable range and city-friendly dimensions, there are, somewhat suddenly, plenty of options to pick from. Your choices include new compact EVs in the form of the Mini Electric, Vauxhall Corsa-e, Honda E and Peugeot e-208, and of course the Renault Zoe.

The latter, Europe’s best-selling electric car, has been with us since 2012 yet still looks pin-sharp and modern without straying too close to the ‘look-at-me-I’m-from-the-future’ aesthetic some EVs are guilty of.

Despite this, and with more plug-in competition than ever in the sub-Tesla Model 3 sector of the market, Renault has face-lifted the little Zoe for 2020. The changes accumulate to more of a remastering than a rewrite, with little changing on the exterior. This is no bad thing, and I think the subtly tweaked exterior still looks fresh, if a little angry from some angles.

Inside though, things have moved forward considerably. Surfaces are universally softer and more premium to the touch, while the central, portrait-orientated 9.3-inch touchscreen display is a big improvement over what went before. The system runs both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so chances are you will plug in your smartphone and use that for all your navigation, media and communication needs.

Below the sharp and responsive display are a set of physical controls for the climate and air conditioning. Hurrah! At a time when too many manufacturers are obsessed with removing tactile switchgear, all-too-often replacing them with distracting touch interfaces, Renault has made the right call. Yes, some touch-only systems work perfectly well, like that of the Polestar 2, but the reassurance one gets from rotating a knob without having to remove eyes from road can’t be understated.

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Traditional European EV Players Under Threat From Surging Peugeot

August 8, 2020e-208, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Peugeot, Renault, ZOERepost

Seemingly from nowhere, French automaker PSA has assaulted a tardy Volkswagen to deliver what could be the people’s electric car.

Yes, the Renault Zoe and the Nissan Leaf, along with strong EV players from Hyundai and Kia, rule the sub-€40,000 EV roost in Europe, but the 210-year-old Peugeot has surprised the market.

PSA has already proven itself well managed to weather the Covid-19 pandemic, with a first half profit of €595 million despite its biggest markets being locked down for months.

And now figures have emerged showing its e-208, the all-electric version of its mass-volume small hatchback, stunning the market in Europe.

The e-208, which is built on the same production lines as the combustion-powered 208 models, achieved orders of 17 percent of Peugeot’s 208 model mix across its 10 biggest European markets in June.

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Renault Set New EV Sales Record In June 2020

August 7, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, SalesRepost

Renault posted an outstanding EV sales result in Europe as both ZOE and Kangoo Z.E. were selling better than ever.

Renault’s preliminary sales result for the month of June 2020 reveals a new all-time record of 12,309, which is 86% more than a year ago!

The French company hugely benefited from stronger incentives for EVs in some European countries, especially in its home market – France, and also in Germany. Demand for ZOE is booming.

After the first six months of 2020, the total result is over 42,600 (up 38% year-over-year).

In Europe, nearly 10% of new passenger Renaults sold in June (and over 10% YTD) were all-electric. Because Renault does not sell many EVs outside of Europe, the global share was lower: 6.5% in June and 6% YTD.

Source: Inside EVs

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Renault Zoe van revealed as practical small EV with 245-mile range

August 4, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

Light modifications to the Zoe road car include a flat floor for easy loading; exterior looks largely unchanged

The Renault Zoe Van will join the firm’s fleet of electric commercial vehicles later this year.

Created by applying modest modifications to the Zoe road car – most notably opaque rear windows and the removal of the rear seats to form a flat load area – the Zoe Van will be powered by the same 52kWh battery pack and 107bhp R110 electric motor. Its range is rated at 245 miles per charge under the WLTP test cycle, allowing for a 50% payload and 75kg driver.

Peak charging via a 50kW DC outlet allows drivers to charge from zero to 80% in 70 minutes and a 30-minute charge is enough for a 90-mile range boost. A 22kW charger can fill the battery from empty in three hours.

Load volume is rated at one cubic metre. The load bay is 1205mm long and maximum load width is 1110mm. Maximum payload is rated at up to 387kg.

The Zoe Van is available in two trims: Business and Business+. Buyers of either can opt for rapid charging capability.

Standard equipment includes a 10.0in TFT instrument cluster, 7.0in infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, manual air conditioning, electric front windows, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, automatic headlights and wipers, full-LED headlights, 15in steel wheels and a USB socket.

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Electric-Car Subsidies Make Renaults Free in Germany

July 29, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, Sales, ZOERepost

Car buyers in Europe can now get their hands on a brand-new electric vehicle for less than the typical cost of a mobile-phone contract. Thanks to newly generous subsidies, some are even free.

Shoppers have swarmed virtual showrooms in Germany and France — the region’s two largest passenger-car markets — after their national governments boosted electric-vehicle incentives to stimulate demand. Their purchase subsidies are now among the most favorable in the world, according to BloombergNEF.

The state support is allowing Autohaus Koenig, a dealership chain with more than 50 locations across Germany, to advertise a lease for the battery-powered Renault Zoe that is entirely covered by subsidies. In the 20 days since it put the offer online, roughly 3,000 people have inquired and about 300 have signed contracts.

“If we had more sales staff, we would have sold even more,” said Wolfgang Huber, head of electric-car sales for the dealer in Berlin, who published a Facebook post asking customers to be patient. “We did expect an increase in sales with the subsidies, but this run really struck us.”

Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Emmanuel Macron have sought to soften the coronavirus pandemic’s blow to the badly hit car sector. Sales in Europe have recovered more slowly in Europe than in China or North America, pressuring policy makers to support major sources of employment and economic activity.

In France, sales of Renault’s Zoe model are on track to double this year even as demand for gasoline vehicles has cratered. And in the Netherlands, where the city of Amsterdam is banning non-electric cars from 2030, a 10 million-euro ($11.4 million) fund to support EV purchases was used up in just eight days this month.

“There are a lot of attractive offers right now because of higher subsidies, and that’s boosting demand,” said Aleksandra O’Donovan, an analyst with BloombergNEF. “The EU is pushing toward decarbonizing transport, and the coronavirus crisis has allowed them to accelerate that.”

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Why I bought a Renault Zoe and a Hyundai Ioniq Electric: owner review

July 28, 2020Electric Cars, Hyundai, IONIQ Electric, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

Back in 2015, Kevin Booker and his wife wanted a quirky car few people owned – now they own two electric cars and wouldn’t look back. Here’s why…

You might say that my wife and I ‘get’ electric cars now: we started our journey with a Renault Zoe Q210 (22kwh battery) back in December 2015 for my wife’s small daily commute as a way to test the feasibility of an electric vehicle and have grown in confidence from there.

Over the past four and a half years we have covered more than 42,000 miles, and I’d say that our experiences have only been positive. What’s not to love? The ease of driving, the quietness, the power and instant torque and the cheap running costs all stand out.

We’ve had adventures all over England and Wales and always been surprised and delighted by the number of people that want to stop for a chat about the car, with lots of questions, around its range and how long it takes to charge.

If there are frustrations, they are not down to the car. We love driving the Zoe, but there are issues with the charging infrastructure, which lags behind what you would find in many other countries.

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

RENAULT DETAILS ALL-NEW CAPTUR PLUG-IN AND ALL-NEW CLIO HYBRID

July 2, 2020Captur E-TECH Plug-in, Electric Cars, RenaultTrevor Larkum

Efficient new E-TECH variants added to two popular Renault models
All-New Captur Plug-in Hybrid brings benefits of PHEV powertrain to best-selling crossover
Renault’s first PHEV boasts up to 30 miles all-electric driving range with CO2 emissions of 33g/km and 188.3mpg
Free BP Chargemaster Wallbox to customers of the All-New Captur Plug-in Hybrid
All-New Clio Hybrid is first hybrid version of the popular supermini, offering performance and efficiency
Available across All-New Clio trim levels, including new range-topping Launch Edition
All-New Clio Hybrid capable of driving on electric power for 80 per cent of urban journeys
All-New Captur customer deliveries starting from September and All-New Clio deliveries beginning in September
Attractive Benefit In Kind (BIK) rates for 2020/2021 with 22 per cent for All-New Clio Hybrid and 10 per cent for All-New Captur Plug-in Hybrid
Prices start OTR from £19,595 for the Clio Hybrid and £30,495 for the Captur Plug-in Hybrid
Available to order now

Renault UK has confirmed full specifications of new E-TECH versions of the two most popular model line-ups: All-New Captur Plug-in Hybrid and All-New Clio Hybrid.

Already offered with a wide range of powertrain options giving customers more choice than ever before, these electrified versions enhance the Captur and Clio’s appeal further for those looking for strong performance and low running costs.

The All-New Captur Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) benefits from a new petrol-electric powertrain, making it the most efficient and economical in the range as well as the most powerful. Meanwhile, All-New Clio Hybrid gets a petrol hybrid setup offering a smooth and responsive drive with all the benefits of an economical hybrid drivetrain capable of completing most urban journeys in zero-emissions electric mode.

The new Plug-in Hybrid and Hybrid variants benefit from technology shared across the Alliance (the 1.6-litre engine and two electric motors, plus clutchless gearbox), while technology influenced by the Renault Formula One Team also features. Energy management and braking system knowledge has been shared, allowing both All-New Captur and All-New Clio E-TECH models to recuperate energy lost during braking and deceleration.

Both All-New Captur and All-New Clio models get unique E-TECH design details on the exterior and interior to differentiate from the rest of the line-up, complementing the eye-catching and sophisticated look of both model ranges.

All-New Renault Captur Plug-in Hybrid
A favourite in the Renault range, the All-New Captur is more athletic and dynamic than ever, and with an even stronger SUV identity. An unmistakable presence on the road the totally redesigned exterior is more modern, distinctive and expressive, yet remains true to Renault’s core design values.

The introduction of this powertrain means that it is unique in offering an appealing plug-in hybrid drivetrain in the compact crossover segment, delivering excellent performance and class-leading low running costs. It makes plug-in hybrid mobility available to a wider spectrum of buyers than ever before, and with attractive BIK rates of just 10 per cent for company car drivers for 2020/2021, the Captur Plug-in Hybrid is a tempting and affordable option for business users too.

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Renault UK offer Zoe with cash and wallbox

June 26, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

Renault UK is offering new car buyers money off its range of electrified models, with up to £1,000 to switch to an all-electric New Zoe, or £500 towards the deposit on All-New Clio Hybrid and All-New Captur Plug-in models.

As countries across the European region introduce stricter emissions targets as well as higher premiums and subsidies for electric vehicles, Renault has added in its own offers to bring more drivers onto emission-free vehicles.

In Germany, Renault is offering an extra subsidy on top of those recently decided-upon by the German government. In the UK, Renault is offering the £1,000 for an all-electric New Zoe, or £500 towards the deposit on All-New Clio Hybrid and All-New Captur Plug-in models only until 30 September this year.

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Renault Kangoo Z.E. Line-up Bolstered by New Business+ Model

June 20, 2020Electric Cars, Electric Vans, Kangoo Z.E., News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, RenaultRepost

New Business+ trim level now available for popular Kangoo Z.E. range
Added to line-up following increasing demand for zero-emission commercial vehicle
New trim features additional equipment for enhanced driver comfort and convenience
Available in medium and long-wheelbase panel vans, Kangoo Z.E. range now mirrors ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) version
Popularity continues to rise since its launch in 2017 with year-on-year sales increase
Latest selection of finance offers from Renault Pro+ add further appeal to the full electric model
Orders open now, with prices starting at £19,836 + VAT and after Plug-in Van Grant

Renault Pro+ today announces the addition of the feature-packed Business+ trim level to the Kangoo Z.E. electric van range. Based on the existing and popular Business trim, the Business+ brings a host of upgrades and equipment delivering enhanced comfort and convenience for drivers.

The Kangoo Z.E. continues to be a hit since going on sale in 2017, with a 217% increase in volume in 2019 compared with the previous year, representing a 30.15% share of the electric van market.

Available in both medium and long-wheelbase panel vans, the Kangoo Z.E. Business+ retains the 33kWh battery and 44kW motor, for the same 143-mile (WLTP) range and zero tailpipe emissions. The Business+ features £1,070 worth of equipment for just £600 compared to the Business version, offering strong value for money.

Sophisticated look and generous equipment list

On the outside, the new Business+ trim benefits from metallic paint with body-coloured bumpers front and rear for a more sophisticated look, while electrically operated and folding wing mirrors are finished in stylish gloss black.

Inside, there’s a comfortable cab environment for the driver and passenger thanks to a central armrest with storage below and an overhead parcel shelf to boost practicality. Further back, the generous load area comes fitted with a practical rubber floor covering.

Making life easier for the driver is standard-fit one-touch functionality for the electric front windows, while rear parking sensors give drivers greater confidence when dealing with tight spaces or difficult manoeuvres.

This all builds on the Kangoo Z.E’s already generous equipment list, payload ranging from 605kg to 640kg and enough space to accommodate a British or Euro pallet. It also benefits from the comprehensive Renault Pro+ three-year/100,000-mile warranty.

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form: