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Then comes along the Renault Zoe (Zero Emissions).

I’d be lying if I said my heart doesn’t sink whenever an electric car turns up at Motors HQ for a test. It just seems like hard work – working out how far you need to travel, checking the battery level available and then faffing around with charging cables.

But then I open the Zoe’s door and it looks … stunning.

There’s no drab, grey interior here – lots of white plastic and some nice digital displays.

The Star Wars geek in my thought it screamed Stormtrooper…

It’s comfortable and there’s an air of quality and technology all around.

Foot on the brake, press the Start button and the car comes alive. Not that you’d know it though because, being electric, it’s as quiet when fired up as it is turned off.

And this is where it gets good again.

There’s something magical about the way an electric car moves – it glides away, silently.

Except the Zoe has ZE Voice – an artificial noise that sounds like some kind of SFX you’d hear on Star Trek’s Enterprise. It’s all a bit spacey-sounding, and designed to work at low speeds to warn pedestrians that you’re there. It’s noticeable from inside, but not annoyingly loud, and can be turned off on each trip if you choose.

While driving the Zoe, there’s a flurry of excitement at the low-speed power available underfoot that’s mixed with concern over the damage that acceleration does to your battery life.

I never even got close to worrying about running low on juice, but that’s because I’ve learned from my past experiences and didn’t get too ambitious with my destinations.

After each full charge the Zoe told me I had roughly 70 miles of range.

So I stuck to routes that were no further than about 20 miles away, meaning I’d always have a bit extra for diversions, getting lost or just being able to put my foot down.

But the range meter stayed rather true to its estimates on all my trips, and on some regular commutes between Truro and Falmouth I ended up using even less “miles” than those I’d actually travelled.

Despite feeling like it’s carrying a bit of extra weight with all those batteries, the Zoe was totally comfortable and fun to drive.

If you’re brave enough to keep your foot down (on a closed track, obviously) then the Zoe will get to a top speed of 84mph.

Nought to sixty might be 13.5 seconds but bear in mind that nought to thirty is only four seconds. It’s wonderfully nippy for around town and while not intended for long journeys over dual carriageways or motorways, it’ll certainly hold its own, but you’d be a tad foolish to hammer down the right-hand lane, overtaking like glory-days Michael Schumacher.

An installed wall charger will allow you to keep it topped up at home, but you can also get a three-pin plug that can connect to the household mains – with the front Renault logo flipping open to take the connector.

There’s plenty of tech, too – from touchscreens to TFT displays and sat nav to air con, Bluetooth and downloadable apps.

The car we tested is currently £7,995 plus battery hire (which starts from, £43 per month – which is less than the cost of a tank of petrol).

The Renault Zoe feels fresh and futuristic, but shouldn’t be too alien for most drivers.

Much like politics, don’t let yourself be put off by the boring bits you don’t understand or worry might be too complicated.

My love/hate relationship with electrics continues – but this time the Zoe has put me back on a positive.

Source: Cornish Guardian

Actually, says Renault Zoe owner Chris Alvey, it drives exactly the same – and you just plug it in each night like your mobile phone

In the spring of 2015 seven Telegraph readers were given GoPro cameras to record their lives with their ultra-low emission vehicles. Electric cars bring a host of benefits, from a £5,000 Government grant to congestion charge exemption and zero road tax. But for Chris Alvey, a university lecturer from Leicester, the best thing about his fully-electric Renault Zoe Dynamique Zen is how easily it fits into his life.

“You just need to treat it like your mobile phone,” Chris says. “You charge your phone every night. You charge your car every night.”

Chris’s Chargemaster 7kw home charge point, which came free with the car, allows a full charge in three to four hours and has drastically reduced the amount Chris spends on running a car.

“Before we bought it we were talking about £200 a month in fuel costs, plus road tax,” he says. “We don’t have any of that with this car. In terms of our electricity costs, it’s about £20 a month. It made sense from a financial point of view and from a safety point of view.”

The Zoe has all the modern safety features including airbags, parking sensors and a reversing camera. It also has a special ZE Voice system, which lets pedestrians know you’re coming when you drive at less than 18mph. Other hi-tech features include ZE Interactive, which lets you control the car’s charging from your computer and remotely operate the air-con, so that the car’s the right temperature before you get in it.

Read more: The Telegraph

• Chargemaster appointed to install home chargers for ZOE owners
• Free home charging wall-box offer remains unique in EV market
• ZOE can charge at home from 0 to 100% in three to four hours
• ZOE able to rapid charge in public from 0 to 80% in 30 minutes
• ZOE now available with a range of up to 149 miles (NEDC)
• Award-winning ZOE priced from £13,445 (inc PiCG)

Renault ZOE owners can now charge their all-electric superminis at home with a free domestic wall-box from electric infrastructure market leaders Chargemaster.  Renault is unique in the electric vehicle market by offering a completely free home charging solution.

Customers buying a new Renault ZOE will receive a 7kW (30A) wall-box charger fully installed at their home for free by Chargemaster which allows a full charge, from zero to 100 per cent full, in three to four hours.  This provides sufficient range for a ZOE to travel up to 149 miles on the official NEDC cycle – comfortably more than most electric vehicle owners’ daily mileage.

The wall-box is built in Britain by Chargemaster and is weatherproof so can be installed indoors or outside, with a choice of tethered or socketed cables that can be neatly coiled when not in use.  The charger is protected by key controlled access and is covered by a four-year warranty – matching the vehicle manufacturer cover.

Once installed, owners are eligible to apply for a POLAR Network Card which grants access to UK’s largest public charging infrastructure with over 3,000 charging points.   The wall-box offer is available to retail customers who have access to off-street parking and an electricity supply.

Ben Fletcher, Electric Vehicle Product Manager, Renault UK commented:

“We’re delighted to be continuing our unique wall-box included offer, which allows us to ensure ZOE customers have the simplest and most convenient electric vehicle ownership experience.  Chargemaster offer market leading technology and is dedicated to delivering great customer service so they’re the perfect partner to help us deliver the offer.”

Chargemaster is the UK’s leading provider of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, benefitting from over 25 years of experience working within the telematics and automotive industry.  Commenting on the partnership, David Martell, Chargemaster CEO, said:

“We are delighted to be Renault’s official charging partner in the UK.  As government figures show, plug-in car sales are increasing as more and more motorists choose to reduce their emissions and their running costs.”

The ZOE is an all-electric, five-door family hatchback available in three trim levels that comes with a very high level of standard specification, despite its competitive price-tag.  Standard specification includes items such as climate control and sat-nav.

ZOE is available with a number of features that make for seamless electric vehicle ownership including remote monitoring of the battery and pre-heating the cabin via your smartphone.  ZOE’s patented Chameleon charger is able to always make the best use of any charging source ensuring that, unlike some competitors, charging times are always kept to a minimum.

Depending on version, ZOE is able to charge from empty to 80 per cent full in just 30 minutes using a rapid charger and has a range of up to 149 miles (New EDC).  Renault’s research shows that this equates to a real-world range of between 71 and 106 miles depending on driving style, the use of electrical features like air conditioning, the season and where the car is being driven.

Awarded the titles of What Car? 2015 ‘Best Electric Car for less than £20,000’ and ‘Best Electric Vehicle’ in the Auto Express Driver Power 2015 survey, the Renault ZOE is an affordable route to zero emissions (in use) motoring.  ZOE can be purchased in two ways – from £13,445 with a battery lease from £45 per month (including the Government Plug-in Car Grant) or outright as a ZOE i version, from £18,445, with no monthly leasing charge.

In addition to the ZOE supermini, the Renault Z.E. range includes the Twizy urban runaround, an innovative open-sided two-seater vehicle, and the Kangoo Van Z.E. which is perfectly suited to many commercial applications with its choice of four bodystyles, 106 mile range (NEDC) and, like all EVs, its zero emissions and silent operation in use mean that it is perfect for environmentally-friendly and serene motoring.

Sales of Renault electric vehicles in the UK were up by 145.9 per cent, to 949 vehicles, in the first six months of 2015 compared to the same period last year.  Renault car sales were up 14.9 per cent on the first half of 2014 to 36,840 vehicles – significantly outpacing the UK car market growth of seven per cent.

Source: Renault Press

• Renault’s Summer Season continues the heat with new ‘65’ registration plate
• £5,060 manufacturer deposit contribution on all-electric ZOE Dynamique Nav
• 0% APR and nil deposit offers on selected models

With the release of the new 65-registration today, motorists on the lookout for a new car can take advantage of the latest special offers available on selected models across the dynamic and exciting Renault range with the brand’s hot Summer Season. 

The French carmaker has a suite of deals designed to offer car buyers financial flexibility and to make owning a new Renault more affordable.

Those looking to experience the fuel savings and environmental benefits of electric vehicle ownership, will find the 100% electric Renault ZOE – named Best Electric Vehicle in the Auto Express Driver Power 2015 survey and Best Electric Car Less Than £20,000 2015 by What Car? – with an exceptional offer.

Until 30^th September, Renault will make a £5,060 deposit contribution on top of the existing Government £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG)¹ on the ZOE Dynamique Nav.

This means a ZOE – which has an official NEDC range of 149 miles and can cover between 71 and 106 real-world miles – can be driven away for as little as £89 per month (plus monthly battery rental)² and with a deposit of just £599.  Buyers can enjoy the added convenience of a free fully-installed domestic charging wall box from electric infrastructure market leaders, Chargemaster³.

…

A selection of alternative finance options are also available across the wider Renault range.

Whichever option a customer chooses, they will benefit from the Renault 4+ warranty and Renault assistance scheme which provides the ultimate peace of mind for four years or 100,000 miles⁵.

¹  Government Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG) subject to availability and eligibility.

²  Monthly battery rental agreement applies. For full pricing and terms and conditions, visit www.renault.co.uk/vehicles/new-vehicles/zoe/battery-and-charging

³  Subject to eligibility. For full terms and conditions, visit www.chargemasterplc.com/index.php/terms_conditions

Read more: Renault Press

Renault launched earlier this year production of new electric motors R 240 for Renault ZOE.

ZOE’s new electric motor, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, is a 100% Renault motor manufactured at the French site of Cléon, already specialized in highly technical powertrain production.

The launch, benefitting from a part of €300 million investment announced by the plant in 2011, is an integral part of Renault’s electric strategy aimed at improving motor and battery technology to optimize the performance and range of electric vehicles, while supporting the development of the corresponding infrastructure.

Mendi Ammad, Director of the Cléon plant says:

“We aim to become the leading powertrain plant for the Alliance”

Read more: Inside EVs

Next Green Car carry out an indepedent range test

The Renault ZOE has earned a name for itself as the most affordable electric car and you do get a lot of bang for your buck with this all-electric supermini. Innovative purchase options allow you to either buy the car outright or part-purchase the car and rent the battery, an attractive proposition for low mileage drivers or those concerned about battery degradation.

On an independent range test designed by Next Green Car to reflect realistic driving styles on typical roads the ZOE managed to cover 103 miles on a single charge making it suitable for the vast majority of car journeys. The network of rapid AC chargers suitable for use with the ZOE is smaller than for the LEAF (which use rapid DC units) but growing quickly.

Styled to fit in as a ‘normal’ car, the minimalist style inside and out makes the ZOE an attractive city runabout. Five doors, five seats and a big boot for its class make it an ideal second car for the school run, weekly shop and commuting to work and even a great first car for those who don’t need to travel long distances regularly.

Read more: Next Green Car