About Renault

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THURSDAY 3RD DECEMBER

 RENAULT PROTOTYPE ELECTRIC VEHICLES AVAILABLE FOR TEST AT COPENHAGEN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

Conscious of the stakes associated with global warming, Renault has been working for many years to bring down the CO₂ emissions of its models during their complete lifecycle as part of its ongoing bid to reduce the automobile’s ecological footprint. As demonstrated by its eco² programme, Renault believes it is essential to ensure that the most effective technologies are available to as many motorists as possible at an affordable price. Renault has made significant efforts in this area over a long period and, today, has the brand has emerged among the three most efficient carmakers in Europe.

To become the number one European carmaker with regard to CO₂ emissions, Renault is working on two main fronts:

• the introduction of new technologies for internal combustion engines and transmissions
• an unprecedented commitment to all-electric vehicles

Renault estimates that electric vehicles will account for 10 per cent of the world market by 2020. The Renault-Nissan Alliance is investing €4 billion in its zero-emissions programme and a 2,000-strong team (1,000 at Renault, and 1,000 at Nissan) is working on electric vehicle programmes.

Against the backdrop of the UN Climate Change Conference, Renault has decided to make a number of electric vehicle prototypes available to accredited attendees who book a test drive.  These prototypes preview the upcoming:

• Fluence Z.E.
• Kangoo Van Z.E.

It will also be possible to test drive Kangoo be bop Z.E., the electric demonstrator vehicle which has just completed a four-month European road show.

The vehicles feature technology which is very similar to that of the upcoming production cars which are currently under development. Electric vehicles mark a clean break which will make zero-emission mobility available to all road users.

Production versions of these electric vehicles will be launched in 2011. 

RENAULT FLUENCE Z.E.

Following Fluence Z.E. Concept's unveiling at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault has decided to make the prototypes of the upcoming Fluence Z.E. available for test drives at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.  These vehicles represent an intermediate step between the original concept car and the production version, the objective being to demonstrate how much the Fluence Z.E. project has progressed and how easy electric vehicles are to drive. Renault Fluence Z.E. will be released for sale in the first half of 2011 in Israel, Denmark and the rest of Europe, and will be the C segment's first production three-box electric vehicle, as well as the world's first car to be compatible with the Quick Drop rapid battery exchange system. It is designed for both private and fleet use and will appeal to customers looking for a status-enhancing vehicle that is both economical and ecological.

RENAULT KANGOO VAN Z.E.

Based on Renault Kangoo Van, Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. brings zero-emission mobility to business users.

The production version of Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. will also go on sale in the first half of 2011 in a number of European markets where the current Kangoo Van is already well established and acclaimed by fleet operators, tradesmen and businesses alike. Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. will be manufactured at Renault's Maubeuge factory in France.

RENAULT KANGOO be bop Z.E.

Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. does not preview an upcoming production vehicle. However, as a demonstrator vehicle, it has covered some 4,000km in road tests in eight European countries since July 2009. This prototype has enabled the dynamic performance potential of electric vehicles to be showcased to the media, official bodies and fleet operators.

Electric vehicles fit perfectly with the Renault eco² environmental policy which aims to mass market products that make  minimal impact on the environment over their complete lifecycle.

Electric vehicles represent a clean break, aimed at bringing sustainable mobility to all road users. In keeping with the philosophy behind the Renault eco² environmental policy, the mass marketing of electric vehicles is set to achieve an extremely significant breakthrough in favour of the environment.

CONTENTS                                                     

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THE ALLIANCE'S ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY                                                       4

Renault's commitment to the environment

The Alliance's commitment to electric vehicles

Synergies within the Alliance                                                                                                 

Renault's product plan                                                                                                            

ELECTRIC PROTOTYPE VEHICLES AVAILABLE FOR

TEST DRIVES                                                                                                                        11                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         11       

Renault Fluence Z.E.

Renault Van Z.E.

Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E.

RENAULT ELECTRIC VEHICLES                                                                                     17

Latest-generation lithium-ion batteries                                                                                 

Battery charging methods                                                                                                      

Driving an electric vehicle: new habits                                                                                  

Safety: an absolute priority                                                                                                    

THE ALLIANCE'S ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY

Renault's commitment to the environment

Every Renault employee is committed to protecting the environment. Economics and ecology must come together to reduce environmental impact on a massive scale. This can only be achieved if the greatest number of people use the greatest number of environmentally-friendly products.

Recycling: New Mégane’s virtuous circle

Renault anticipated the need for authorisation under Directive 2005/64, which sets a deadline in 2015 for manufacturers to demonstrate that the vehicles they sell are designed to be 85% recyclable.

In May 2008, Mégane Hatchback became the first vehicle to obtain global authorisation. This was made possible through year-long work on recovering fluids and materials at the vehicles’ end of life. The choice of recyclable materials is a vital aspect in environmental design. Thanks to the plastics used by Mégane III suppliers, Mégane Hatchback contains 23kg of recycled material, compared with 16kg for Mégane II. The results are even more striking for New Scénic, which contains 34kg of recycled plastic, compared with 18kg for Scénic II.

All sites ISO 14001-certified

All Renault manufacturing facilities are ISO 14001-certified. The last plants to receive certification were the Somaca (Morocco) and AvtoFramos (Russian Federation) facilities.

The Somaca facility, which entered Renault’s reporting scope in 2006, received ISO 14001 certification in early 2008. Renault has invested heavily in personnel and equipment to reduce the plant’s environmental impact. Also, a total waste management system that meets European standards was put in place in 2007. In terms of energy consumption, manufacturing action plans have yielded important savings. Between 2002 and 2008, the saving per vehicle produced reached 15%.

The AvtoFramos facility, which became part of the Renault Group’s reporting scope in 2005, obtained ISO 14001 certification in April 2008, the last of the Group’s industrial facilities to do so. Great attention was paid to raising the environmental awareness of all employees in the facility.

Over the last 10 years, environmental management policies at industrial facilities have cut:

• energy consumption by 25% (kW/vehicle);
• water consumption by 61% (cubic metres/vehicle), or 10 million cubic metres;
• waste by 64% (kg/vehicle);
• volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 34% (kg/vehicle);
• toxic waste discharged into waterways by 47%.

The Alliance's commitment to electric vehicles

In the 2009 edition of its World Energy Outlook, the International Energy Agency (IEA) explains that, without the implementation of new policies, the global demand for energy is expected to rise by 40 per cent by 2030. Three-quarters of new demand will be catered for by fossil fuels which, in this benchmark scenario, will lead to a one-third increase in greenhouse gas emissions. This would double the concentration of greenhouse gases by the end of the century (equivalent to 1,000ppm) and lead to an increase in average temperature of 6°C.

The report also analyses the different political options that might be used to tackle climate change after 2012, the date at which a new worldwide agreement is scheduled to come into force. This will be debated during the UN conference in Copenhagen which starts on 7 December 2009. As far as vehicles are concerned, switching to electric stands out as a clean break solution likely to bring down CO₂ emissions, both at source, by removing the carbon factor involved in the production of electricity, and in use. This represents a major shift and is notably highlighted in the EV/PHEV (plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) roadmap, another document published by the International Energy Agency in November.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance will market a comprehensive range of high-quality, reliable and innovative electrical vehicles at affordable prices. Renault Z.E. electric vehicles will be particularly quiet-running and generate zero emissions in use. As such, they will mark an environmental clean-break which is within the budget of the majority of motorists.

This commitment to the electric vehicle is founded on a single, underlying principle: unlike all other technologies (internal combustion engines, hybrids), electric vehicles are genuine zero-emission vehicles regarding their use on the road. They also permit a reduction in oil-dependency.

Although the well-to-wheel emissions of greenhouse gases (expressed as equivalent CO₂) can vary significantly depending on how the electricity they use is produced in the different countries where they are driven, electric vehicles still account for a smaller quantity of greenhouse gases than equivalent internal combustion vehicles.

When the electricity is produced by nuclear or renewable sources (hydro-electric, wind-generated, photovoltaic), the well-to-wheel performance of electric vehicles is indisputably superior. With the electricity generation methods currently employed in Europe, the results are still compelling, since CO₂ emissions are halved compared to those produced by an internal combustion engine.

Comparison of vehicle CO₂ emissions as a function of electricity production methods

(see attached chart)

The well-to-wheel figure is further improved when the car is charged at night, which promises to be the most frequently used method. This allows customers to:

• profit from electricity when demand for energy is low at night time; such electricity often goes to waste because it is difficult to store
• benefit from appreciable savings by profiting from the off-peak tariffs offered by energy companies; in France, for example, off-peak electricity costs 40 per cent less than at peak times during the day
• use the cleanest forms of electricity (nuclear, hydro-electric, wind power), since thermal power plants are usually on standby at night

Electric vehicles represent a clean-break solution that can put sustainable mobility within everybody's reach. In line with Renault's environmental stance as promoted by its Renault eco² hallmark, Renault Z.E. electric vehicles will be mass-produced to achieve substantial environmental savings.

Synergies within the Alliance

A decade after the establishment of the Alliance, Renault and Nissan stepped up their cooperation in May 2009. This included the creation of a team dedicated to speeding up and broadening the synergies that will enable both companies to improve their performance, and more particularly in the field of electric vehicles.

The electric vehicles produced by Renault and Nissan, for example, will be equipped with batteries developed by AESC, a NISSAN-NEC joint venture. The Alliance has pooled Renault and Nissan expertise of to strengthen synergies at every level and encourage sharing of major electrical assemblies, such as the drive train and batteries. Renault and Nissan also share purchasing requirements and have standardized components to generate economies of scale with a view to making it possible to develop mass-market electric vehicles.

Renault and Nissan are working on shared components but, as is the case with their conventional product line-up, will offer distinct ranges of electric vehicles. Each range will be sold separately, through separate dealer networks.

Furthermore, the Alliance is entering into partnerships with governments, local authorities and energy companies to drive forward the mass-distribution of electric vehicles worldwide. Up to the beginning of December 2009, the Alliance had already signed more than 35 thirty such agreements (see list overleaf). 

Renault's product plan

From 2011, Renault will progressively roll out four electric vehicles.

These include two derivatives of internal-combustion vehicles:

• Fluence Z.E., an electric version of Fluence which will initially be available in Israel and Europe. This vehicle will be manufactured at the Bursa factory in Turkey
• Kangoo Van Z.E. will be an electric version of Renault Kangoo Van, intended primarily for fleet and business use. This vehicle will be manufactured at Renault Maubeuge factory in France

There will be also be two vehicles available in EV form only. The range of electric vehicles will later be extended to cover other segments, including two new cars whose architecture will be designed to run exclusively with electrical power:

• A car derived from the Twizy Z.E. Concept car for motoring in built-up areas. This vehicle will be manufactured at Renault’s Valladolid factory in Spain.
• The fourth vehicle will take its inspiration from Zoe Z.E. Concept and is scheduled to be released at the beginning of 2012. It will be a particularly versatile vehicle intended for everyday motoring in and around cities. It will be manufactured at the Company’s Flins factory in France.

Renault's electric vehicle production strategy

The production of Renault's first four Z.E. vehicles will begin in 2011 and will involve four different factories.

The vehicle previewed by Zoe Z.E. will be manufactured in France at Renault's Flins facilities, near Paris, while the electric versions of Kangoo Van will be made in Maubeuge, in northern France.  Renault will produce the vehicle previewed by Twizy Z.E. Concept in Valladolid, Spain.

Last but not least, the electric versions of Fluence will be made in Bursa, Turkey.

Not only will this arrangement enable Renault to mass market Zero-Emission vehicles across Western Europe thanks to the factories' location close to the marketplace, but it will also allow it to benefit from the expertise of these production sites with regard to their output and build quality.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance's battery production strategy

Battery production is poised to become a core activity for the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Renault and Nissan will manufacture lithium-ion batteries on three continents – America, Asia and Europe – to supply the body assembly factories where the forthcoming EVs will be produced from a local source.

The Alliance has already announced its intention to make batteries in the United States, Japan, France and the United Kingdom.

This multi-locality arrangement will permit a secure supply flow and ensure logistics-related cost-savings, while at the same time enabling significant production volumes to be turned over. In the longer term, this will allow the Alliance to produce 500,000 batteries annually.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROTOTYPES AVAILABLE FOR TEST DRIVES

RENAULT FLUENCE Z.E.

Following Fluence Z.E. Concept's unveiling at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault has decided to make the initial prototypes of the forthcoming Fluence Z.E. available for test drive at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. These prototypes represent an intermediate step between the original concept car and the production version, and the objective is to demonstrate how much the Fluence Z.E. project has progressed and how easy it is to drive an electric vehicle. These prototypes will feature in a European road show scheduled for the first half of 2010.

Fluence Z.E. will go on sale in the first half of 2011 in Israel, Denmark and the rest of Europe, and will be the C segment's first production three-box electric vehicle, as well as the world's first car to be compatible with the Quick Drop rapid battery exchange system. It is suitable for both private and fleet use and will appeal to customers looking for a status-enhancing vehicle that is both economical and ecological.

Fluence Z.E. will be manufactured at the OYAK-Renault factory in Bursa, Turkey, using the same production line as internal combustion engine-powered versions of Fluence. Production is due to begin in the first half of 2011.

The introduction of the Fluence Z.E. concept car at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show generated so much interest that Renault immediately sought to demonstrate the feasibility of the project, as well as the extent of the progress that has been achieved. The vehicles present at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen are prototypes which preview the technical specification of the model that Renault and Better Place will market in Israel from mid-2011.

A spacious, status-enhancing vehicle

Fluence Z.E. is a large, three-box saloon car. Although the prototypes are of the same length as the conventionally-engined Fluence (4.62 metres), the production electric version will be longer in order to house the batteries behind the rear seats and consequently retain good boot space. The cabin is the size of that of a saloon car from the next segment up and boasts best-in-class front and rear knee room. Fluence stands out from rival three-box saloons thanks to its sweeping, fluid lines which suggest sportiness and strength.

The comfortable interior features a raft of useful technologies, including smart navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, automatic dual-zone climate control, and automatic headlamp and windscreen-wiper activation. Fluence Z.E. also innovates with the incorporation of the innovative Quick Drop rapid battery exchange system which will enable this large saloon to overcome the range-related constraints inherent in conventional electric vehicles and thereby permit longer-than-average journeys.

Fluence Z.E. targets families looking for a spacious, comfortable vehicle whilst

the vehicle will be on the shopping lists of fleet operators due to lower running costs.

Technology

Renault Fluence Z.E. is an all-electric zero-emission vehicle which emits no CO₂, smoke or particulates.

• Motor

Fluence Z.E. is powered by a synchronous electric motor with peak power of 70kW at 12,000rpm and maximum torque of 226Nm. The motor's weight, excluding peripherals, is 160kg. Acceleration performance is responsive and linear, with maximum torque available very early on.

• Battery

The energy capacity of Fluence Z.E.'s lithium-ion battery is 20kW/h. On the prototype versions, the battery is located vertically in the boot. In the case of the production version, it will be mounted behind the rear seatbacks to free up minimum boot space of 300dm³. The battery weighs 250kg and an energy recovery system will be used to charge it when the car decelerates.

• Battery charging methods

It will be possible to charge the battery of the forthcoming production version of Fluence Z.E. in one of three ways:

- via a household mains supply (10A or 16A 220V) which will fully charge the battery in between six and eight hours. This method is particularly suited to vehicles which are charged at night since it will permit owners to benefit from the off-peak rates available in certain countries.

- at quick charge stations using a 32A 400V supply which enables the battery to be charged in approximately 30 minutes.

- Quick Drop battery exchange system will enable the Fluence Z.E.'s battery to be swapped in approximately three minutes at bespoke battery exchange stations.

• Chassis

In order to adapt it to Fluence Z.E.'s specific specification (dimensions, weight distribution), the suspension of these prototypes has been modified compared with that of the conventionally-engined Fluence. The front suspension is softer since electric motors are lighter than all the internal combustion engines available for Fluence. The rear suspension has also been revised to cope with the heavier weight due to the presence of the battery.

• Tyres

Renault Fluence Z.E. runs on low-rolling resistance tyres. The Goodyear-developed EfficientGrip enables lower energy consumption thanks to extensive work on the tyre's casing and sidewalls. The tread is identical to that of a conventional tyre for high performance road holding and braking.

• Dialled-in safety

The ABS and ESC electronic driving aids have been recalibrated. On the passive safety front, the body of Fluence Z.E. will be reinforced in order to deliver the same high standard of safety performance as the shorter and consequently lighter internal combustion-engined version.

• Production

Fluence Z.E. will be manufactured at the OYAK-Renault factory in Bursa, Turkey, on the same production line as the internal combustion-engined versions of Fluence. Production will begin in the first half of 2011. This solution will enable Renault to minimize capital outlay and begin production quickly, while at the same time guaranteeing a very high standard of quality.

FLUENCE Z.E. TECHNICAL DATA (prototype of production version)

RENAULT KANGOO VAN Z.E. and RENAULT KANGOO BE BOP Z.E.

The production version of Kangoo Van Z.E. will go on sale in the first half of 2011 and featuring technology similar to that the Kangoo Van Z.E and Kangoo be bop Z.E. prototypes. The production version of Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. will have a range of 160km from launch.

Prototype Renault Kangoo Van Z.E.

Kangoo Van Z.E. previews the forthcoming electric Kangoo, a light commercial vehicle aimed at business users. It’s designed for city and suburban use.

Kangoo Van Z.E. is 4.21 metres in length with a carrying capacity of three cubic metres. Its asymmetric hinged rear doors and sliding side door provide easy access to the cargo area. The batteries are located in a central position beneath the floor, enabling the electric version of Kangoo to boast the same load volume as the internal combustion-engined version.

The upcoming production version of Kangoo Van Z.E. is aimed at exacting business users looking to minimise running costs and the vehicle has been engineered to guarantee a very high standard of reliability and durability. Its outstanding TCO rating (Total Cost of Ownership) makes it a first class solution for small businesses and fleet operators alike. It will also benefit from Renault's extensive experience of utility vehicle production. Indeed, Renault has chosen to manufacture the electric version of the Kangoo Van utility vehicle at its M.C.A. facilities (Maubeuge Carrosserie Automobile) in northern France. Production is due to begin in the first half of 2011.

Renault will manufacture this vehicle on the same line as the diesel-engined versions, benefiting from the same expertise, supplier network and logistics as the current Kangoo. The Maubeuge plant has specialized in utility vehicle production for the past 20 years and currently manufactures Kangoo, Kangoo Van and Kangoo be bop. This factory has the capacity to adapt both to the variety of specifications associated with this type of vehicle (short and long versions, with or without windows, etc.) and to demand. The choice of Maubeuge will enable production to get under way quickly, while at the same time guaranteeing a very high standard of quality.

Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. demonstrator vehicle

Kangoo be bop Z.E. is derived from the production Kangoo be bop, but is instantly recognisable thanks to its Energy Blue body colour. The Renault logos on the grille and wheels are picked out in satin-finish blue-hued chrome. Inside, satin-finish chrome and metallic fluorescent green details provide a unique ambience which is compounded by specific upholstery including embroidered 'printed circuit' motifs.

Like the Z.E. Concept concept car which was unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, Kangoo be bop Z.E. is equipped with low-energy LED (light-emitting diodes) front and rear lights with a view to optimizing energy use. Again in a bid to reduce energy consumption, its aerodynamics have been significantly reworked, too. Kangoo be bop Z.E. sits on full disc wheels and its ground clearance has been lowered by 20mm compared with that of the production Kangoo be bop.

An illuminated gauge on Kangoo be bop Z.E.'s side panels displays how much charge is left in the battery by simply activating the remote central locking control. Inside, another gauge to the left of the instruments provides the driver with a permanent indication of how much battery charge remains.

An all-electric motor

Kangoo Van Z.E. and Kangoo be bop Z.E. are all-electric zero-emission vehicles regarding their use on the road. They do not generate any CO₂ emissions, smoke or particulates.

Kangoo Van Z.E. is powered by a 44kW (60hp) electric motor with 90 per cent energy efficiency, a figure far superior to the 25 per cent efficiency of thermal engines which suffer from energy losses. The motor revs to 12,000rpm and instantly delivers peak torque, which is a constant 226Nm. Acceleration and pull-away from low speeds are particularly responsive. The electric motor is very quiet, too. The battery of the production version of the electrically-powered Kangoo Van will be located beneath the boot floor and will not affect its carrying capacity.

Battery charging methods

Kangoo Van Z.E. and Kangoo be bop Z.E. are charged via a socket located behind a flap at the front of the vehicle alongside the right-hand headlamp.

Renault is developing two different battery-charging methods:

• A conventional charge via a household mains supply (10A or 16A 220V) which can charge the vehicle in between six and eight hours. This method is perfectly suited to vehicles which are parked up overnight or during the day at the workplace.
• A faster charge using a 32A 400V three-phase socket enables 80 per cent of Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E.'s battery to be charged in approximately 30 minutes.

The production Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. will not be equipped for rapid Quick Drop battery exchange. However, this facility will be available for the other vehicles of the future range. 

RENAULT KANGOO VAN Z.E. (prototype of production version)

RENAULT KANGOO BE BOP Z.E. (demonstrator vehicle)

RENAULT ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Latest-generation lithium-ion batteries

All Renault's electric vehicles are powered by the latest-generation lithium-ion batteries.

The battery comprises 48 power modules, each of which incorporates four elementary cells. It is inside these cells that the electrochemical reactions take place, enabling electrical current to be produced or energy to be stored. Modules are similar in size to a laptop computer and are positioned in two rows, side by side. The four cells of each module store 8.4V each, making a combined total of 400V for the 48 modules that make up the battery.

These compact, innovative lithium-ion batteries are produced by AESC (Automotive Electric Supply Corporation), a Nissan-NEC joint venture founded in April 2007. Their performance compared with former-generation nickel metal hydride batteries is superior in every domain, including range, performance, reliability and safety. Lithium-ion batteries do not suffer from the so-called memory effect resulting from incomplete charge cycles which can ultimately lead to a drop-off in capacity in conventional batteries. AESC batteries are maintenance-free and are expected to deliver between 80 and 100 per cent of their original capacity for an average duration of six years. It will also be possible to charge them for short cycles with no adverse effect on capacity.

Batteries are cooled by ambient airflow thanks to the heat-dissipation properties of their aluminium casing.

Finally, lithium-ion batteries are recyclable and the Renault-Nissan Alliance is working on recycling processes and infrastructures suited to automotive batteries. It is important to remember that lithium-ion batteries – which are made from non-toxic materials (lithium, manganese oxide or iron phosphate, and graphite) – do not present any danger for the environment, unlike former nickel-cadmium batteries. Also, to put the demand for lithium supplies into perspective, our 250kg battery contains just 3kg of lithium. According to the mining companies Chemetall and SQM, worldwide lithium reserves are currently estimated to be between 14 and 17 million tonnes.

Range optimisation

Range management is a key consideration when it comes to electric vehicles, and Renault aims to make optimisation as straightforward and efficient as possible.

In addition to the information provided by the exterior gauges, a specific MMI (Man/Machine Interface) has been developed to keep the driver informed about the vehicle's current state of charge and remaining range:

-          a gauge alongside the speedometer displays the battery's charge level,

-          an 'econo-meter' uses a new a new colour-coded system to tell the driver how economical his or her driving is in terms of energy consumption (light blue for 'normal' vehicle use, dark blue for 'optimal' driving and red for excessive energy consumption likely to reduce the vehicle's range).

-           

The trip computer is adapted to the needs of electric vehicles and indicates the number of kWh remaining, average and instantaneous energy consumption and remaining range (in kilometres).

Driving an electric car can be fun, trying to accelerate as gently as possible with a view to minimizing energy consumption.

Driving an electric vehicle: new sensations

Driving an electric vehicle is a new experience. The silent-running motor, the immediate availability of peak torque and the linear acceleration are all new sensations.

High torque at low speeds and the immediate delivery of power are inherent features of electric motors. Kangoo be bop Z.E. consequently pulls away briskly, while mid-range acceleration is sprightly from low speeds. The reducer ensures that this acceleration is particularly progressive (from standstill to 50kph in six seconds) and this in turns contributes to a sensation of driving comfort.

When the driver presses the accelerator pedal, the lithium-ion battery provides energy to the electric motor which converts electricity into mechanical energy to drive the wheels. The battery charges during deceleration: when the driver lifts, kinetic energy is recovered by the motor which converts it into electrical energy. Current generated in this way is used to charge the battery.

Meanwhile, ride performance (body-roll control, steering, etc.) is identical to that of the diesel-engined Renault Kangoo be bop.  The noise generated by the electric motor when running also requires a different mindset. At idle, the motor is totally silent and the driver only knows that it is running thanks to an audible signal and a green warning light. When the vehicle is moving, a faint whine which is specific to electric motors provides the driver with audible, if muted, feedback. Last but not least, the electric motor produces very few vibrations to deliver an appreciable level of ride comfort compared with that of an internal combustion engine.

Safety: an absolute priority

As a leading volume manufacturer, Renault has profited from its significant knowledge in the area of safety to produce electric vehicles which meet the same exacting standards expected of a current IC-engined vehicle.

Renault's safety experts have added their own particular line of expertise to that of all those involved in the project. The advanced tools at Renault's disposal include a range of structural dimensioning calculation software, failure and crash simulators and physical prototype evaluation.

The incorporation of a 250kg battery in the vehicle has naturally not been without effect and has called for specific structural bracing to protect against impact. Given that the battery is as sensitive a component as a conventional fuel tank it has undergone bespoke strengthening to ensure that its modules are effectively protected. The layout of the electrical wiring has also been optimised with a view to preventing chafing, while the power supply is immediately switched off in the case of a big impact.

ENDS

Press enquiries: Contact Jeremy Townsend on 01923 697592 or Mike Gale on 01923 697653 at the Renault UK Press Office. E-mail is firstname.surname@renault.co.uk