Nother CarGuy

Europe’s best-selling electric vehicle, the Renault Zoe, has reached its second generation and promises to be better overall compared to its predecessor. A rival of sorts to the likes of the Peugeot e-208 and Opel/Vauxhall Corsa-e newcomers, the 2020 Zoe gets a 52 kWh battery that ensures a WLTP-certified range of up to 242 miles (389 km). With a 30 percent bigger capacity over the old one and identical dimensions, this lithium-ion battery also supports fast charging. Using the new 50kW DC charging option for 30 minutes will give it a range of around 90 miles (145 km), whereas plugging it in a 22kW public charger for 1 hour results in a 78-mile (126 km) range. Charging it from 0-100 percent is an overnight process when using the 7kW Wallbox, which takes 9 hours and 25 minutes. Another big update is the addition of the R135 motor, which delivers 100 kW (135 PS / 133 hp) and 181 lb-ft (245 Nm) of torque, hooked up to a single-speed gearbox. In this guise, the new Zoe takes 10...

Renault has modestly updated the Zoe for the 2018MY, which now uses a more powerful electric motor. Developed in-house and called R110, the motor is an evolution of the R90 that powers the current Zoe. It’s rated at 109PS (107hp) and 225Nm (166lb-ft) of torque, a 16hp improvement. The 2018 Renault Zoe takes 11.4 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h (0-62mph), shaves almost two seconds off its predecessor’s 80-120km/h (50-75mph) sprint, and can reach a top speed of 135km/h (84mph). Renault claims that with the 41kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which can be charged from 0 to 80 percent in as low as 1 hour and 40 minutes, the Zoe R110 has a total range of 300km (186miles) in summer, and 200km (124miles) during winter. “Thanks to this power boost, Zoe is even more responsive and versatile when used for journeys out of town”, said the company’s Assistant Programme Director, Elisabeth Delval. “In addition to being able to enjoy the pleasure of driving a Zoe, drivers will also ben...

Renault's new ZOE e-sport concept was just unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, boasting no fewer than 460 PS (455 HP) and 640 Nm (472 lb-ft) of torque coming from its twin electric motors. Based on the ZOE supermini EV platform, the e-sport concept relies on Renault's three years of success in the FIA Formula E Championship, echoing the styling of Renault's latest single-seater race cars as well as their color schemes. The ZOE e-sport's lightweight body is made of carbon fiber, as the total weight doesn't surpass 1,400 kg (3,086 lbs), which include the 450 kg (992 lbs) battery. What this means is that in a straight line, it's capable of hitting 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill in just 3.2 seconds. "The brief for the Renault ZOE e-sport concept couldn’t have been simpler: ‘Have fun!’. So we came up with something midway between a production model and a racing car...It’s perfect for lovers of extreme driving sensations," explained design exec,...

If you've been holding off on switching to an electric car because the current crop just can't go far enough without stopping to recharge, we have good news. Because battery technology is constantly improving, giving the latest EVs much farther range. And the latest comes from Renault. At the  Paris Motor Show  today, the French automaker has announced the new  Zoe ZE 40  – a revised version of its sleek little electric hatchback. In 40 spec, the Zoe boasts a  new battery pack  that's rated by NEDC standards to power the vehicle for 400 kilometers (or nearly 250 miles) on a single charge. Renault says that in real-world conditions, it'll go a good 300 km (186 miles) before needing to plug in again. Either way you look at it, that's not too shabby. It's not as far as the Tesla Model S or new  Chevy Bolt  will travel, but it's a check of a lot better than electrified versions of conventional cars like the Fiat 500e, Volkswagen e-Golf, or Kia Soul...