Renault to Launch All-Electric Twingo in 2014, Zoe Z.E. Coming in 2012

Renault will add a new Twingo to its Z.E. range of electric vehicles in the second half of 2014, according to Jacques Bousquet, head of Renault Italy. The French automaker’s official said the Twingo Z.E. will be the company's fifth EV, after the Kangoo, Fluence, Twizy and Zoe.

The executive revealed that Renault’s alliance with Daimler AG helped speed up the development of the next-generation Twingo-based Z.E. model, as the Twingo's new platform will be shared with a future four-seat Smart car.

Bousquet added that the Kangoo Z.E. will be joined by more electric vans in the future. "The Kangoo Z.E. is the first of a broader range of battery-powered light commercial vehicles we are currently developing," he said.

The official also revealed the timetable for the market launch of the Z.E. models as well as their prices in France. The first to go on sale will be the Fluence Z.E. sedan, which will arrive in showrooms in mid-2011 with a base price of €26,000 ($36,200) including sales tax. The monthly fee for the battery lease (on a 36-month plan) will be €79 ($110).

Next up will be the Kangoo Z.E.. The small commercial van will cost €20,000 ($27,850) excluding tax, while there’s also a €72 ($100) fee to be paid each month for the battery pack. In France, the car will cost €15,000 ($20,900) since it qualifies for incentives, equaling the price of the diesel Kangoo.

The two-seater Twizy EV will be launched in December for a price of €6,990 ($9730) including tax, plus €45 ($63) as a monthly payment for the battery. Finally, the core model for the Z.E. range, the Zoe supermini, will arrive in mid-2012. The price hasn't been announced yet, but Renault plans to sell 150,000 units a year of the Zoe Z.E.

As for the Kangoo and Fluence EVs, Renault aims to sell 30,000 to 50,000 units a year of each model.

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: Automotive News

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Renault Unveils the Kangoo Maxi Z.E., the LWB Version of its Small Electric Van

French car manufacturer Renault will use the Geneva Show to unveil the Kangoo Maxi Z.E., the newest member of its EV family that will go on sale in autumn 2011. Available in two or five-seat configurations, the Kangoo Maxi Z.E. has a maximum carrying capacity of 4.6 cubic meters (162.4 cubic feet), thanks to the 40 cm longer wheelbase (1.3 ft) than the Kangoo Z.E., while the load length is 2.9 meters (9.5 ft).

The five-seat version comes with a 60/40-split folding rear bench, which disappears into the floor to release a completely flat deck and free up almost 3.4 cubic meters (120 cubic feet) of carrying space.

The van is powered by a 60-horsepower electric motor, which has an instant peak torque of 226 Nm (166 lb-ft) and is "fuelled" by a 22kWh lithium-ion battery located under the floor. Charging time varies between 6 and 8 hours, with each full charge costing EUR1.5 ($2.05) and the average driving range being around 170 km (105 miles).

As with its other electric models, Renault will offer clients the possibility of either buying or leasing the car, with an additional monthly subscription to be paid for the battery (from EUR72/$99). Renault's calculations indicate the annual maintenance cost for the Kangoo Maxi Z.E. will be similar to the conventional model if the distance traveled is less than 15,000 km (9,320 miles), and become more competitive as the mileage grows.

Pre-tax pricing in Europe starts from €21,200 ($29,100), with prices in France after a €5,000 state subsidy beginning from €16,200 ($22,250), which is very close to the price of a diesel-engined Kangoo Maxi.

By Dan Mihalascu

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Renault Reveals All-Electric 2011 Kangoo Z.E. Van at Hannover Show, Sales Start Next Year

Renault has released pictures and details of the 2011 Kangoo Express Z.E. pure-electric van it showed at this week's International Commercial Vehicles Show in Hanover, Germany. It is the first of several production EVs Renault plans to launch over the next few years and the first all-electric van to be developed and built by a vehicle manufacturer - or so the company claims.

Fitted with a 22 kWh lithium-ion battery, the Kangoo Express Z.E. (Zero Emission) is good for 160 km (99 miles) on a single charge (6 to 8 hours from a standard 220 volt socket). The electric motor produces 44 kw (60 hp) and 226 Nm from idle and top speed is electronically limited to 130 km / h (81 mph).

In Europe, the Kangoo Express Z.E. costs €20,000 (US$26,776), or €15,000 (US$20,082) after the €5,000 (US$6,694) electric vehicle subsidy. This is unavailable in the UK as the Kangoo Express is classed as a light commercial vehicle there.

With the subsidy the price is the same as that for the Kangoo Express diesel. Buyers also have the choice of leasing the van, though prices have not been disclosed.

However, it should be noted that ownership of the vehicle will be separate to that of the battery. According to the French carmaker, customers will be able to purchase, or rent, their Z.E. van and then lease the batteries for €72 (US$96) a month for four years, with a yearly driving limit of 14,490 km (9000 miles).

The cost to fully recharged the batteries (for up to 160km driving range) is believed to be between €1 and €2 (US$1.34 -$2.68) depending on local electricity prices.

The Kangoo Express Z.E. has the same cargo carrying capacity as its ICE siblings and can be pre-ordered today, with first deliveries expected for mid-2011.

By Tristan Hankins

Renault Reveals Production Versions of All-Electric Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Van Z.E

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.

New Renault Kangoo Van Maxi goes to... Extreme Wheelbase Length

Renault is stepping up its product offensive with the presentation of a new Maxi version of its second-generation Kangoo. With the Maxi, the French firm completes the Kangoo's range that includes the compact three-door and five-door models.

With an overall length of 4.60 metres or 181.1 inches, the Kangoo Van Maxi is 384mm longer than the standard Kangoo Van. All of this extra length has gone to the wheelbase that now measures a whopping 3.1 metres or 122 inches, meaning its 65mm longer than that of the standard Mercedes-Benz S-Class!

Renault offers the Kangoo Maxi with either two or five seats, both fitted as standard with twin sliding rear doors.

The two seater version boasts an extra cubic metre of load volume over and above that of Kangoo Van at 4.6m3 and a payload of 800kg. It can be equipped with a folding passenger seat, allowing the maximum load length at floor level to be extended from 2.1 metres to 2.9 metres with the rear bench folded.

In terms of towing capacity it can handle a braked trailer weight of 1.05 tonnes.

The five-seater Kangoo Van Maxi Crew Van has a maximum load length at floor level of 1.33 metres or 2.2 metres with the rear bench seat folded, and a payload of 740kg.

The Maxi will be offered with the same engines as the rest of the Kangoo range including a 1.5-liter dCi unit with 85HP that returns average combined cycle fuel consumption of 5.3 lt/100km or 53.3mpgUK.

The new Renault Kangoo Maxi will go on sale across Europe from the end of April with further details and pricing to be announced closer to this date.