Poll: Next big "green" powertrain

What will be the next big "green" powertrain in the U.S.?

Home | Green Cars News | Electric | Renault Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Z.E. Ready for Preorder

Renault Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Z.E. Ready for Preorder

15 April, 2010 10:35:00

Font size:

Renault has revealed the finalized production designs of Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Express Z.E. - - two of its forthcoming electric car models.

Customers wishing to be among the first to run on electrical power can preorder their electric vehicle online at www.renault-ze.com.

Aware of the impact that motor vehicles can have on the environment over their complete life cycle, Renault has been working actively for many years to achieve ongoing improvements regarding the ecological footprint of a vehicle at every phase of its life (production, on-road use, recycling).

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

The Renault Fluence Z.E. seen in concept form last year at the Frankfurt Auto Show is s a C-segment sedan that Renault is targeting largely at the fleet market., Recharging takes six to eight hours using household current or quick-charges in 30 minutes using a "fast charge station" that Renault says will be up and running in many areas by 2012 or 2013. Renault has taken the wraps off the finalized design of Fluence Z.E. which is due to go on sale in Israel, Denmark and the rest of Europe from 2011.

Following last December's presentation of prototypes of the forthcoming Kangoo Express Z.E. at the COP 15 (United Nations Climate Change Conference) in Copenhagen, Renault is pleased to reveal the model's finalized design. This vehicle will be released in the first half of 2011 and will have an operational range of 160km. The electric version of Kangoo Express features the same practical functions as the internal combustion-engined vehicle, i.e. the same carrying capacity (ranging from 3 to 3.5m3), the same payload (650kg) and the same high standard of comfort. On top of that, it delivers a silent ride and responsive performance, the immediate availability of torque as soon as it starts, no gear changes, low running costs and, of course, the satisfaction of owning a zero-emissions vehicle.

The French carmaker will supply the first two markets in Israel and Denmark with at least 100,000 vehicles over the first five years. Renault dealers in Denmark will handle sales and service while Better Place will handle distribution in Israel.

Renault plans to produce the lithium-ion batteries needed by the EVs in France, the U.K., Portugal, Japan and Tennessee after an initial period of purchasing them from AESC, a Nissan-NEC joint venture.

Subscribe to the RSS feed or Follow Us on Twitter for more information on green cars, green car news & green car technologies.