Following the Fluence Z.E. all-electric sedan concept's unveiling at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and last December's presentation of the Kangoo Van Z.E. prototype at the COP 15 (United Nations Climate Change Conference) in Copenhagen, Renault today unveiled the finalized designs of both models.
The French automaker said that customers in Europe and in a few more select countries including Singapore, South Africa and Russia, who are interested in the two models can pre-reserve their vehicle at "www.renault-ze.com" with first deliveries expected in the first half of 2011.
The Fluence Z.E. will be built at the OYAK-Renault factory in Bursa, Turkey, on the same production line as the internal combustion engine-powered versions of Fluence.
It is powered by an electric motor producing 70kW / 94HP and 226Nm / 167.7 lb-ft of torque that motivates the front wheels through a direct drive transmission.
The capacity of the Fluence Z.E.'s lithium-ion battery is 22kW/h. The battery itself tips the scales at 250kg and is located behind the rear seats.
The driver can charge the battery in one of three ways: through a household supply, which will fully charge the battery in between six and eight hours; at fast charge stations using a 32A 400V supply in approximately 30 minutes (available from 2012), and via a QuickDrop battery switch system that will enable the car's battery to be swapped in approximately three minutes at bespoke battery exchange stations.
In addition, an energy recovery system enables the battery to be charged when the car decelerates.
Renault said that fully charged, the Fluence Z.E. has a driving range of up to 160km or about 100 miles, while the car's top speed is electronically limited to 130km/h or 80mph.
The electric version of Fluence stands at a length of 4,750mm, which is 130mm longer than its internal combustion-engined brethren in order to accommodate the battery behind the rear seats.
Cosmetic changes over the standard model include a blue-hued tint on the headlamps, tail lamps, foglamps, logos and boot trim, gloss black exterior mirror housings, body-colour painted side protective mouldings and the battery charge flaps on both wing.
Also, the rear bumper incorporates a black diffuser, while the wheels have been specially designed to minimize turbulence.
Inside, the rev-counter has been replaced by a bespoke instrument, which displays data concerning remaining range and battery charge, while the decorative trim of the dashboard is exclusive to the model.
Continuing with the Kangoo Z.E., the small van is powered by a 44kW /59HP electric motor with 226Nm of peak torque that drives the front wheels.
It features a lithium-ion battery that is located in a central position beneath the floor, enabling the Kangoo Z.E. to boast the same carrying capacity as the internal combustion-engined model.
The battery can be charged via a household mains supply (16A 220V) in between six and eight hours, offering an operational range of 160 km or 100 miles.
Later on, Renault's range of electric cars will be enhanced with the presentation of the production versions of the Zoe Z.E. small coupe and the Twizy Z.E. urban vehicle that boasts a tandem seating layout.
The French automaker added that it estimates electric vehicles will account for 10 per cent of the world market by 2020 and that the Renault-Nissan Alliance is investing €4 billion in its zero emissions programme.
12 Comments:
wow, even in the future french cars still will be UGLY.. Because for now, french cars are the ugliest things that moves in roads.
...that's my opinion.
Sonata rear lights...?
"Sonata rear lights...?"
Part sharing. Every automaker saves when they buy from the same part maker.
Why cud'nt it just look like the original concept...this is not a gud lukin ryd ..both in and out...the concept car was pretty awesome
They are not Sonata lights, and in fact if you compare they two they aren't even that similiar.
Automakers dont make a habit of sharing visible and distinguishing features with rival carmakers. That's just absurd.
Nice name and alloys on the Fluence. You can keep the rest...
Hasn't Renault already got a dull, ugly and badly made middle range car; The Laguna? Isn't the Fluence supposed to be offered in more markets than the Laguna though? Oh I don't know...
Still, a mid-range French saloon stuffed full of lovely French electronics thrown together in a Turkish factory? It'll be well, made, reliable and retain it's value surprisingly well then :)
This is GUCK.. The Ren-0 sewage. E-fluence..
Why can't EV's "just look like normal cars".
so harsh on the Frenchies...
oh well
we all do understand that we are just transferring emissions from a tailpipe to a smokestack, right? so it'll be more coal, oil or nuclear material being spent, energy plants working at higher capacity producing more emissions and charging more money.
As it is, don't they always claim that because of demand in the summer or winter, rates must increase? In a future with a lot more electric vehicles around [allegedly], what will happen to our electric bill, even if we don't own an e-car?
--JORGE
As the world is getting warmer you know global warming.. solar panels/cells powering an automobile is the future. Erratic climatic conditions...high winds can push a car by itself using a sail, the energy from falling hailstones on the roof of a car can be converted into electricity to run a car.....
superb in every way.
true, almost anything can be converted into energy: from certain high yielding beans to alcohols, chemical, solar, physical, nuclear energy etc...
Point is however NOW we're not really using any of those "renewable" sources. Right now and for the next years probably decades most of the power will continue to come from the cheapest sources; from sources where a lot of investment dollars have gone into; where an infrastructure and extraction and delivery systems already exist. Any guesses what these are?
Consumer prices will go up due to added demand. And if other sources are tapped into, research and development costs will be passed down to the consumers again raising rates...
--JORGE
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