Renault’s 2020 Electric Zoe
The Renault Zoe joins the electric vehicle race as the Auto Expo 2020 revealed the next-generation model. This EV has been hugely popular and highly rated in Europe since its previous showing at the 2018 Auto Expo and now, it is heading to India.
The Zoe isn’t a new car as it was first introduced back in 2012 but it’s come a long way since then. Now, the 2020 model has better styling, a much-improved interior, increased power and significantly more range.
2020 Renault Zoe Specifications And Performance
While the new Renault Zoe loses out on size, it certainly packs a serious punch in terms of range. The new 52 kWh battery replaces the old 41 kWh with a claimed range of 385 km on a single charge. It may not be that high in real-world driving conditions but it’s estimated that the Renault Zoe can do over 300 km which is still rather impressive.
Not that small electric vehicles should be judged on speed but the 2020 Renault Zoe is quite fast. When launched in India, it will be the fastest Renault in the subcontinent with respectable stats of 0-100 km/h in 9.5 seconds. The top speed is 140 km/h which is pretty good if you remember the Tata Nexon EV hits the limit at 120 km/h.
The Renault Zoe’s new 52 kWh battery pushes out 130 bhp and 245 Nm of torque and comes with an 8-year warranty separate from the vehicle itself. One of the big differences in the new generation Zoe is that you can’t buy the battery and car separately as it comes with the integrated power pack.
Charging isn’t pretty efficient as well with the charging socket still hidden behind the Renault logo on the front grille. Here, you will find the type-2 socket for AC charging and the two-pin connector for DC charging for up to 50 kW. It will take about 9 hours and 25 minutes to fully charge the Renault Zoe from a 7kW wall box or 8 hours if you estimate 306 km of charge should be more than enough for your next trip.
Interior And Technology
The 2020 Renault Zoe gets a brand new interior that resembles much of the new Renault Clio. It’s certainly a big improvement as interior finishing is plush with a 7 or 9.3-inch vertically oriented infotainment screen. For the driver, the display is also fully digital at 10-inches and a smart UI and the high position makes it easy to flick through menus while driving.
The good news is that the climate controls are not integrated into the touchscreen and it also comes with several USB ports. In the new Zoe, the centre console and dashboard are mostly made from recycled seat belts and old plastic bottles which is indicative of their environmentally sustainable initiative.
Renault has also added a new gear-lever, an electronic parking brake and wireless phone charger. While the front seat and steering wheel were fixed in the outgoing model and couldn’t be adjusted, the new Zoe features a telescopic steering wheel which helps, especially on longer journeys.
For a small car, the door bins are relatively big and even though the cubbyhole is small, there’s a handy shelf above it for extra storage. The boot is small but it works for a compact four-seater like the Renault Zoe.
The Renault Zoe has generally received good reviews abroad in terms of handling, range and comfort which should hold true for the Indian version as well. While the Renault Zoe will likely become a significant brand builder for the French automaker in India, they also showcased the Renault Kwid Electric. It might be cheaper than the Zoe but it only has a range of just over 200 km and it won’t be launched in India until 2022.
While electric vehicles are in high demand, the infrastructure in South Africa is not at a level compared to Europe, America or other parts of the world. It could be some time until we see electric vehicles like the Renault Zoe roam our streets but until then, read our blog as we bring you all the latest developments in motoring.
