Category Archives: Renault

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

Renault Zoe Wins 2019 EV Model Trophy In Germany, BMW Wins Manufacturer Trophy

February 3, 2020E300e PHEV, Electric Cars, Mercedes, Model 3, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, Tesla, ZOERepost

The German plug-in electric passenger vehicle market ended the year on fire, with registrations more than doubling in December, to 11,328 registrations.

Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were up 198% year over year (YoY), pulling the market up significantly and balancing the 2019 BEV/PHEV share to 58% BEV (fully electric) vs. 42% PHEV (51% / 49% in December).

The PEV share climbed to 4% in December, with BEVs alone hitting 2%, while the final plug-in vehicle (PEV) share for 2019 ended at a record 3% (1.8% BEVs).

Looking at December best sellers, the Mercedes E300e/de twins three-peated the monthly leadership, with 964 units narrowly beating the high tide Tesla Model 3 (926 units). In addition, the Renault Zoe returned to the podium, with 780 units, signaling the return of the French hatchback.

Just off the podium we have the forever young VW e-Golf, with 764 units registered, while the BMW i3 closes this top 5 thanks to 630 registrations, just barely beating the #6 Smart Fortwo EV (623 units) to the finish line.

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:

What Car? Names Renault ZOE Best Small Electric Car 7th Time In A Row

February 1, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

The seventh consecutive win for ZOE in the “Best Small Electric Car” category.

Renault ZOE once again has won the What Car? Awards in the”Best Small Electric Car” category. It’s already the seventh consecutive win for ZOE!

In 2020, the next-generation ZOE with a 52 kWh battery and many improvements was unmatched according to What Car? (see review above), which has been evaluating cars for over 40 years.

In the UK, the new ZOE starts at £25,670 OTR including the Plug-in Car Grant, and comes with a free 7 kW (single-phase) charging wallbox (plus a standard installation).

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:

New Renault Zoe picks up double win at Driving Electric Awards

December 20, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

The new Renault Zoe has won Car of the Year and Best Small Electric Car at the annual Driving Electric Awards, with the judges citing its long range, improved quality and its performance.

Renault has completely restyled the Zoe’s exterior, featuring standard LED headlamps. Wireless smartphone charging is also available, and a free home wallbox charger allows owners to recharge their Zoe overnight with minimal effort. The vehicle is capable of running up to 245 miles (WLTP) on a single charge and features a new 52kWh battery. It is also available with optional 50kW DC fast charging, enabling 90 miles of range to be restored in just 30 minutes.

There is a choice of R135 100 kW or R110 80 kW motors, which both feature a smooth, single-speed automatic transmission with new B-mode function that intensifies the regenerative braking effect to deliver true one pedal driving characteristics.

“The Zoe has always been affordable, but the real joy of the New Zoe is that it has all the comforts – particularly the range and equipment – of a big electric car, in an affordable and compact package. Even with the influx of new rivals, it deserves to remain one of the most popular electric cars in the UK” said Vicky Parrott, Associate Editor at Driving Electric.

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:

New 2019 Renault ZOE: battery leasing axed amid pricing revisions

December 5, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

A revised price list for the Renault ZOE has been released, with the battery lease option removed and the base-price rising to £25,670

Renault has removed the option to rent the all-electric ZOE’s battery pack, which has increased the car’s base-price to £25,670 (including the government’s £3,500 plug-in car grant) as a result. It’s available to order now, with first deliveries expected to arrive in January 2020.

The French firm is also offering the new ZOE on a zero-percent PCP finance deal. Customers can secure an entry-level model with a deposit of £2,995 and 25 monthly repayments of £269. At the end of the term, buyers can pay a fee of £15,657 to keep the car – with the total cost of the rental, repayments and final fee working out to the same price as buying the car outright.

The new Renault ZOE is offered in three trim levels. The entry-level Play model comes as standard with 15-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, air-conditioning, automatic windscreen wipers, a seven-inch infotainment system and a 10-inch digital instrument binnacle. Buyers can also have a free 7kWh wallbox, installed at their home.

Renault’s mid-range Iconic model is priced from £27,170 and adds 16-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, climate control, electric rear windows, a wireless smartphone charger and an improved infotainment system with sat-nav. Additional safety technology, such as lane- keeping assist and traffic sign recognition, also feature.

The range-topping ZOE GT Line is priced from £28,620. It adds a set of 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, front parking sensors, a 9.3-inch infotainment system, a rear parking camera, a blind spot monitoring system and a GT Line-specific interior, trimmed in synthetic leather and recycled cloth upholstery.

Mid-range and top-spec ZOEs can be had with a range of optional extras, including support for 50kW DC fast-charging (£750) and a Winter Pack (£310), which adds a heated steering wheel and heated seats. The ZOE Iconic can also be specced with a Technology Pack (£800), adding the GT Line’s 9.3-inch infotainment, parking sensors and reversing camera.

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

November 29, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

The Zoe is back, and with improved range and residual value forecast, can it prove itself as a fleet favourite in the EV sector?

It may feel like yesterday that the Renault Zoe burst onto the scene, but in electric car years, being born in 2012 makes you pretty ancient.

Renault has already given the Zoe a few nips and tucks, but noticing the fast-paced electric vehicle (EV) market evolving, it was time for a refresh.

The revised Zoe has been given a fresh new look, consisting of a tweaked nose, more chrome, and full LED lights front and rear, plus new wheels and colours. It has also been given a bigger, bolder Renault logo (which hides charging ports), and from the front, you could quite easily confuse the Zoe’s more grown up look with the Clio.

Battery boost

It may not come as a big surprise that the main focus of this upgrade is increased battery capacity; the Zoe now offers up to 245 miles of range on a single charge, depending on spec and wheel size. That is around a third more than the previous model could manage, and is a necessary update if the Zoe wants to keep up with rivals.

This new update brings with it the option of a rapid DC charging upgrade, although it is worth mentioning this is a £750 option. We can’t help but feel this is an odd decision by Renault, and perhaps something that should instead be standard. Opting for this means you can conveniently charge from 0-80% in just over an hour using a 50kW DC rapid charger. A regular roadside charger with 22kW will give you 100% in three hours, while an at-home wallbox can do it in about nine and a half hours.

There is also a choice of two electric motors: the Zoe’s existing 109hp unit – badged the R110 and carried over from the previous model, – or this brand new R135 with 135hp and 245nm of torque.

Get The Right PowerBanx For Your Home

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 cars with the longest range

November 18, 2019Audi, e-tron, Electric Cars, EQC EV, Hyundai, I-PACE, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Kona Electric, Mercedes, Model 3, Model S, Model X, News, Reviews and Comment, Niro EV, Renault, Soul EV, Tesla, ZOERepost

EV range is a hot topic right now so we’ve listed the new electric cars with the longest range you can buy now…

The first question most people have when a new electric car comes out is how much range it has. ‘Range anxiety’ is a phrase often thrown around to describe the fear EV owners could face when driving their electric car with a level of remaining battery charge that may not get them to their destination. As a result, there’s a certain kudos attached to the electric cars with the longest range as well as a valuable competitive advantage manifested as electric car buyers are attracted to them. If you’re wondering which electric car has the longest range, you can find out below.

Manufacturers have quickly realised the importance of range to existing petrol or diesel car owners and now some electric cars can travel just as far on a single charge as an internal combustion engined (ICE) equivalent can manage on a full tank – all the while producing zero emissions at a cheaper running cost to the owner. The fact that most drivers will very rarely travel the kind of distances in a single day that would deplete a modern electric car’s battery is seen as less important than the need to reassure motorists considering the switch to the new technology.

There’s no doubt that the UK’s charging infrastructure still remains a stumbling block for electric cars and their owners. Charging points are increasing in number across the country and charging times are dropping but the chargers that there are are still often in use compounding the fact that recharging an EV is still noticeably slower than filling up a petrol or diesel vehicle.

With increasing investment from the Government and charging infrastructure providers to improve EV charging options coupled with the appeal of emission-free motoring and cheaper running costs than ICE vehicles, electric cars are more appealing than ever. Manufacturers too are in a race to develop enhanced batteries and electric car technology that will increase the range available in electric cars to the point that range anxiety will become a thing of the past.

Electric Renault Zoe is the UK’s fastest selling used car

November 17, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, Sales, ZOERepost

The latest findings from the Auto Trader Fastest Selling Index reveal that second-hand car buyers are clamouring for EVs.

The Renault Zoe is particularly in demand. Renault’s long-serving electric city car takes up three of the top four fastest-selling spots. Zoes dating from 2017, 2016 and 2015 are selling, on average, in no more than 26 days. The 2016 Seat Alhambra diesel (automatic) takes third place among them.

It’s the third time that an EV has come top in the fastest-sellers chart. Last time, it was the Nissan Leaf in March 2019. Before that, it was the Zoe in July 2018. This is the first time, however, that an electric vehicle has taken first and second spots.

Overall, the MPVs and SUVs that normally dominate the top of the table have been deposed, with smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles breaking into the top 10. Examples include the Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Aygo and Volkswagen Up.

“This month’s result is hugely significant as it marks the first time a pure electric has taken both the first and second spot on our list of fastest turners, and it’s only the third time since we’ve been tracking the market that one has been named the overall fastest,” said Auto Trader’s director of commercial products, Karolina Edwards-Smajda.

New Renault Zoe Tries To Shatter Range Anxiety In Funny Ad

November 9, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

Thanks to the constant evolution of battery technology and the constantly increasing number of charging stations in the Western world, electric vehicles have become easier to live with.

However, despite some of them having an autonomy comparable to gasoline-powered cars, range anxiety still remains a concern for many potential customers. This is where Renault has stepped in, attempting to fight the fear of running out of juice with a hilarious ad that demonstrates the versatility of the new Zoe.

Posted by the company’s French arm, the 30-second long clip shows the advantages of having a small electric hatchback like the Zoe. More importantly, it highlights the fact that owners do not have to adapt to the car, as its purpose is not to change your everyday life, even if that means not using public toilets on the go, but the side of the road instead.

You can now compare running costs for electric and petrol cars

November 4, 2019Electric Cars, Kia, Model 3, News, Reviews and Comment, Niro EV, Renault, Sales, Tesla, ZOERepost

The figure – dubbed ‘miles per pound’ (mpp) – reveals how much a car can travel for £1 of petrol, diesel or electricity.

Electric cars travel up to three times the distance of their petrol or diesel rivals for the same amount of money, according to research.

With interest in electric cars rising, many potential buyers are left confused by the way running costs are explained, with ‘miles per kWh’ difficult to compare to ‘miles per gallon’.

To help consumers, car reviews and advice website Parkers.co.uk has developed a way of showing how far your car will go on a single pound – regardless of what fuel it runs on.

The figure – dubbed ‘miles per pound’ (mpp) – reveals how much a car can travel for £1 of petrol, diesel or electricity.

The study found the Kia e-Niro First Edition and the Renault Zoe 65kW are the most efficient models on sale in the UK today, with the cars capable of travelling 33.1 miles per pound (mpp) of electricity.

This is more than three times as far as the most economical version of the Ford Fiesta (9.3mpp), the UK’s best-selling vehicle, when using official testing figures.

With the average UK motorist driving around 7,150 miles per year, they would spend just £216 over a 12 month period if they charged their Kia e-Niro or Renault Zoe from home.

The Tesla Model 3 Standard Range was the third most economical, covering 32.3mpp, while the Volkswagen e-Golf was fourth on 30.8mpp.

New hot Renault ZOE RS electric car to replace Clio RS

October 25, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

A Renault Sport version of the ZOE electric hatch is being eyed up as an indirect replacement for the Clio RS, Auto Express can reveal.

Bosses at the firm told us a successor to the hot Clio is no longer a viable business proposition, and that a hot ZOE is currently the favoured option within the company to plug the gap.

Renault previously flirted with the idea of a performance-based EV back in 2017 when it showed the ZOE e-sport concept. The running prototype featured technology learned from the French firm’s efforts in Formula E; a twin-motor set-up delivered 454bhp and a 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds, but the concept was never intended to be put into production.

However, Ali Kasai, Renault’s executive vice-president of product planning, told us that future Renault Sport models have to be in keeping with the brand’s electrification strategy.

“We need to be in line with the current trends; we have to invent the future sporty cars. This is the role of Renault Sport, to be innovative,” Kasai said. “ZOE, that concept, it is exactly what we were thinking and we still think. That car was appreciated by many people, they loved it, they want to buy it from the feedback we get.”

The latest ZOE is powered by a 52kWh battery that drives a 132bhp electric motor on the front axle. A range of up to 245 miles is claimed. There are various ways in which Renault Sport could develop a more performance-focused model; the first would be to sacrifice some of the car’s range while adding a more powerful electric motor. Another avenue would be to fit an additional motor on the ZOE’s rear axle.