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Renault Fluence Z.E.

All-electric Renault Fluence Z.E. is the first zero-emissions saloon – but is it any good?

Renault Fluence ZE front

By Luke Madden

October 2011

  • Rating:
Electric vehicles are currently limited to hatchback models like the Nissan Leaf – but Renault is about to change all that with the introduction of the Renault Fluence Z.E. saloon.

While you might not recognise it, the Fluence is already produced for European markets with a traditional combustion engine. In this Z.E. guise it’s powered by a 70kW electric motor – about 94bhp – and produces 226Nm of torque.  

To fit the Fluence with the batteries necessary to power an electric car, Renault engineers have had to stretch the body by 130mm and it shows in the slightly awkward silhouette. Otherwise though, the Fluence Z.E. looks like any other car and, aside from the charging flaps on both front fenders, you’d be hard pushed to tell it was an electric vehicle. Look closely though and the giveaways are blue tinted lights and badges.

Inside is a well-built cabin with soft-touch materials covering the dashboard and a range of solid feeling buttons and switches. This car’s battery-powered status is marked out by bespoke dials and a few Z.E. badges.

Changes under the skin are more thorough. The electric motor is about 40kgs lighter than a traditional diesel engine but the batteries – located at the rear – add an extra 280kgs. This makes the front suspension softer while the rear subframe has been strengthened to deal with the extra weight. 

The driving experience is typical of an electric car with 226Nm delivered from a standstill. That allows for punchy acceleration that's so impressive we couldn't believe the official 0-62mph time of 13 seconds. Meanwhile the lack of vibration and noise from the engine do wonders for refinement around town. 

Handling is safe and predictable but never particularly rewarding. This feels like a car more geared for town driving with a soft ride and light, but precise steering. 

Range is still a concern though, with Renault claiming an official figure of 115 miles, dropping as low as 50 miles under the worst conditions. By contrast they say good conditions will allow for up to 125 miles of zero tailpipe emissions motoring. 

To top up the batteries you can get a Wall-Box installed at your house for £799 which will fully charge the battery in six to eight hours – charging from a normal 240v socket will take between 10 and 12 hours. 

At launch Renault is only offering one version of the Fluence – called Prime Time – and it costs from £17,850 including the £5,000 government grant for electric vehicles.

The price is so low because it doesn’t include the expensive batteries; instead Renault will lease these to you on a monthly basis. For example a 9,000-mile-a-year lease over three years will cost £81 – though covering 15,000 miles a year will warrant a monthly cost of £103.80.

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6 Comments

Fuel for thought

Anyone who buys into battery technology is committing financial suicide.
The future costs are unknown. As will be the value of your vehicle.
Like petrol, the price of electric is rising yeaar on year.
At leat i have a good idea how much my diesel car will be worth in three years time.
What happens if these crs fail to sell in big numbers and Renault stop making the battery?
I for one will not be buying anything that relies on this stop gap method for propultion.

By toycollector on 20 October, 2011, 8:14am

Exciting!

I want to test it!

By nanoth on 20 October, 2011, 9:04am

Fenders?

Is this the US edition?

By IronChicken on 20 October, 2011, 9:54am

Totally and Utterly Redundant

Hang on a moment...£81 a month for the battery, that's £972 a year plus the cost of the electricity. A 50mpg Diesel car will cost around £1200 to fuel for 9,000.

So basically you pay £17K for a car with a limited range that costs exactly the same to run as a £17K diesel car with an unlimited range.

And as taxpayers we pay £5,000 to laugh at you when you run out of juice.

And its a Renault and they are not known for robust electrics anyway!

By IronChicken on 20 October, 2011, 9:59am

a car that does 5O mpg in a crowded city centre isnt all that common and would likely be somewhat smaller then this car.

at 15k miles per year a 5o mpg car would cost about £2k and the lease for batteries would be about £1.3k so you would save £7oo a year. plus reduced parking charges and no congestion charge in london. savings for fleets are considerable, maybe the small van commercial van market should have been the first to use electric technology

finally, i dont think any car has unlimited range ! in a few years electric car drivers may be the ones laughing at fossilheads !

By cdtiman on 21 October, 2011, 1:20am

Why didn't they call the electric version of the Fluence the effluence

By phil_h2 on 21 October, 2011, 9:36am

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Pictures

Renault Fluence ZE front
Renault Fluence ZE rear
Renault Fluence ZE charging
Renault Fluence ZE interior

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FIRST OPINION

    With reduced running costs, maintenance costs and insurance costs the Fluence ZE makes good financial sense if you can live with the limited range. That's even before you consider the smooth and quiet driving experience you get with an electric motor. Those that do opt for a Fluence ZE will be rewarded with an electric car that comes with very few compromises. And unlike most other electric vehicles it doesn't carry an astronomical price-tag because of the leased batteries.

 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £17,850 (inc. govt grant)
    Engine: 70kW electric motor

    Power: 94bhp
    Torque: 226Nm

    0-62mph: 13 seconds

    Top speed: 87mph
    Equipment: Climate control, electric windows, ZE sat-nav, Bluetooth
     
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