Electric Cars: The Basics
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The All-Electric Renault ZOE Hatchback
Groupe Renault (Renault Group/ Renault S.A.), is a leading player in the global automotive sector. The company was established in 1899 and has over the course of its history, manufactured varied vehicles, to include: trucks, tractors, buses and even tanks! Renault has been part of the global Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance since 1999 (previously, Renault-Nissan Alliance). The partnership makes the partnership the 3rd largest automotive group in the world after Volkswagen and Toyota. Renault offers both, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) for passenger cars and commercial electric vehicles. The portfolio includes:
- All-electric Renault TWIZY
- All-electric Renault ZOE E-TECH
- All-electric Renault ZOE Van E-TECH
- All-electric Renault Megane E-TECH
- All-electric Renault Scenic E-TECH
- All-electric Renault 5 E-TECH
- All-electric Renault Kangoo E-TECH
- All-electric Renault Master E-TECH
- Renault Rafale E-Tech Plug-In Hybrid
- Renault Captur E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid
- Renault Megane E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid
- Renault Megane Sport Tourer E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid
The all-electric Renault ZOE was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 2012, with deliveries commencing in the French market in December 2012. Since then, the ZOE EV has been a success for the French automotive behemoth, Renault.
It has ranked as one of the best-selling top 10 electric cars globally in 2015 and 2016 and also been a top selling EV in Europe for the same years. In 2018, the ZOE won the ‘Best Green Car‘ at the inaugural FirstCar awards. In 2021, WHAT CAR? awarded the pure electric car, the prestigious accolade ‘Car of the Year 2021: small electric car best value’. According to Renault, more than 150,000 ZOE EVs have been sold across Europe over the past six years.
The Zoe electric car is available in only one EV battery size (52 kW), with a WLTP emission-free electric range up to 395 km on a full charge. The EV is positioned primarily for urban driving, but given its range, is also useful for motorway trips.
Of course, the real-world electric range will be lower than the quoted range. For those new to electric driving, it is worth noting that the real-world EV range is influenced by a number of factors. Some include: driving profile, weather conditions, road conditions, passenger load and regenerative braking profile!
For the Zoe electric hatchback, expect a real-world e-range closer to 350 km. Sufficient electric range for most day-to-day driving needs and also motorway trips. Do keep in mind that the majority of our commutes are short trips.
The manufacturer also offers a 3-phase 22 kW AC onboard charger as standard. However, as most homes in Ireland are limited to single-phase power supply, taking advantage of the 11 kW charging speed will only be for those with access to 3-phase EV charging at home, workplace or a public charging station.
Using a dedicated three-phase EV charger, like the 22 kW easee EV charger, the Zoe electric car can be fully charged in 3 hours. Charging at 11 kW, the EV will take up to 6 hours to fully charge. Single-phase 7.4 kW charging will take longer: 9 hours and 30 minutes. We at e-zoomed recommend charging overnight at home, when the electricity tariff rates are cheaper. We also encourage using solar energy to charge an electric car.
We discourage the use of a 3-PIN domestic plug for charging an electric car. It would take up to 32 hours to charge the EV. We also encourage charging on a regular basis. This way, there is always available electric range and regular charging is good for the long-term maintenance of the onboard EV battery. Renault offers a 8 years or 160,000 km warranty.
The EV can be rapid fast charged up to 50 kW DC. Not the fastest, nor the slowest. But given the EV battery size, it is appropriate. The EV can be charged from 10%-80% state-of-charge (SOC) in 70 minutes.
In terms of performance, the front-wheel drive (FWD) Zoe can deliver 0-100 km/h in 11,4 seconds. The electric car delivers a maximum power up to 110 hp and 225 Nm torque. The top speed of the EV is 134 km/h. Of course, the EV also benefits from instant torque.
The Zoe E-TECH electric car offers 12 advanced assistance systems, to include: regenerative braking, electronic stability control, cruise control/speed limiter, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, hill start assist, traffic signal recognition, lane keeping assist, blind spot warning, front and rear parking sensors, side parking sensors and hands-free parking.
The EV also incorporates a 10″ digital cluster and a 9.3″ central screen that provides real-time updated navigation information with TomTom. The 5-door Zoe offers decent practicality for rear seat passengers and offer a 338 L boot.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Affordable and practical city electric car | Not as compelling a proposition as some alternative compact EVs |
| 22 kW AC onboard charger as standard | Reliability assessment poor in the 2020 What Car? reliability survey. Awarded Zero-Star for NCAP safety rating assessment |
| Decent electric range | Headroom and legroom for rear seats limited |
Gallery
The All-Electric Renault ZOE Hatchback (credit: Renault)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
| Vehicle Type: | Hatchback |
| Engine: | Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (3 Options) |
|---|
| Renault ZOE Play (from € 28,050) |
| Renault ZOE Iconic (from € 30,750 ) |
| Renault ZOE GT Line (from € 32,750 ) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 52 kWh |
| Charging: | 50 kW Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 1 hrs 10 mins). Onboard charger: 22 kW AC (0%-100%: 3 hrs) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
| Battery Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity: 16.7 kWh | € 4.00 |
| Battery net capacity: 30.0 kWh | € 7.19 |
| Battery net capacity: 39.2 kWh | € 9.39 |
| Battery net capacity: 45.0 kWh | € 10.78 |
| Battery net capacity: 50.0 kWh | € 11.98 |
| Battery net capacity: 64.0 kWh | € 15.34 |
| Battery net capacity: 71.0 kWh | € 17.01 |
| Battery net capacity: 77.0 kWh | € 18.45 |
| Battery net capacity: 90.0 kWh | € 21.57 |
| Battery net capacity: 100.0 kWh | € 23.97 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1562 |
| Width (mm): | 1730 |
| Length (mm): | 4087 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2588 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 10.56 |
| Boot Space (L): | 338 |
| ZOE Electric | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 52 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 383 – 395 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/100km): | 179 – 173 |
| Charging: | 50 kW Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 1 hrs 10 mins). Onboard charger: 22 kW AC (0%-100%: 3 hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 134 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 11.4 seconds |
| Drive: | Front-wheel drive |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 80 |
| Max Power (HP): | 110 |
| Torque (Nm): | 225 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,502 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Electric Vehicles (EVs): Top 5 Jargons
There is no doubt, in that, for those new to electric driving, the terminology can be both daunting and confusing. We have chosen the top 5 jargons to help you get more familiar with electric vehicles (EVs)!
| Top 5 Jargons : Electric Vehicles (EVs) | |
|---|---|
| EV (Electric Vehicle) | An EV is any vehicle that uses ‘electricity’ or an ‘electric motor’ to power the vehicle. The electric motor derives its power from a rechargeable battery or batteries. In general, EVs are less dependent on petrol or diesel as fuel, and in the case of pure electric cars, not dependent at all, on petrol/diesel for propulsion. EVs encompass all types of electric vehicles, to include Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Extended Range Electric Vehicles (E-REVs) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs). |
| Regenerative Braking | Driving at all times requires braking. However, on more densely populated roads, the frequency and intensity of braking increases, reducing the efficiency of the vehicle. Regenerative braking is the process of capturing energy, otherwise wasted during braking. According to the rules of physics, energy cannot be destroyed, instead it simply transfers from one state to another. The same principle applies to braking. The kinetic energy that propels a car forward is usually displaced or wasted as heat. Regenerative braking captures this kinetic energy, that in turn recharges an onboard EV battery, increasing both efficiency and electric range. Electric cars like Toyota Prius PHEV, Jaguar I-PACE BEV and Tesla Model 3 BEV use regenerative braking to increase efficiency and electric range. |
| Torque | Torque (Nm) is the measure of the force that can cause an object to rotate about an axis. Torque is a key factor in determining acceleration of a vehicle and is defined as the engines rotational speed. Torque is most commonly defined as the force required to twist an object. For example, a wrench being used. The heavier a car, the more important is the role of torque i.e. the vehicle needs more rotational force to help it accelerate faster. |
| WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) | In a bid to continue to improve the quality of data released by automotive manufacturers (OEMs), on efficiency, range and CO2 emissions, Europe has introduced the WLTP testing procedure. WLTP is seen as a significant improvement over the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) testing standard designed in the 1980s. In general, WLTP data is more realistic compared to NEDC! WLTP has been developed with the aim of becoming a global standard, so that cars can be easily compared between regions. However, real world driving data will still differ from WLTP data. As an example, the real world electric range of an electric car can be significantly lower than the stated WLTP range, depending on driving style, driving conditions, weather, onboard services used and more! |
| ULEVs (Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles) | An ultra low emission vehicle is any vehicle that emits less than 75g of CO2/km and is capable of operating with zero-tailpipe emissions for at least 10 miles. In general, ULEVs release emissions that are at least 50% lower than petrol and diesel cars, by using low carbon technologies. ULEVs include all types of electric vehicles: BEVs, PHEVs, E-REVs etc. and are a key solution in improving air quality. There are currently numerous ULEVs available, to include e-cars, e-vans, e-motorcycles, e-mopeds and e-taxis. Examples include: Nissan Leaf, BMW i3, MINI Countryman PHEV and Renault Kangoo ZE. |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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