Renault, which plans to begin mass marketing "affordable" electric vehicles in 2011, has taken the wraps off a new prototype at its annual shareholder meeting in Paris.

The Kangoo be bop Z.E. (Zero Emission) has Technology "very close to that of the brand's upcoming production electric vehicles, currently under development", the automaker said.

The prototype has a range of 100km (about 60 miles), using lithium-ion batteries and a brake energy recovery system.

Like the Z.E. Concept unveiled at the 2008 Paris motor show, the Kangoo EV has low-energy LED front and rear lighting to optimise energy use.

Aerodynamics have been reworked to reduce energy consumption. The vehicle rides on 18-inch full disc wheels, and ground clearance has been lowered 20mm compared with current production models.

Linear displays on the exterior showing how much charge is left in the battery can be operated by the remote central locking control. Inside, a gauge to the left of the instrument panel provides the driver with a permanent indication of how much battery charge remains.

The prototype has a 60hp (44kw) electric motor which revs to 12,000rpm and boasts greater efficiency (90%) than an internal combustion engine, Renault said.

The electric motor is coupled to a reducer which replaces the traditional gearbox and has a single, constant output ratio. Electrical energy is transmitted to the motor by a power electronics unit which incorporates the controller that delivers the required amount of energy to the rotor.

Compact lithium-ion batteries produced by AESC (Automotive Electric Supply Corporation), a Nissan-NEC joint venture which was founded in April 2007, are used.

"The performance of these batteries compared with former-generation nickel metal hydride batteries is superior in every domain, including performance, reliability, safety and efficiency," Renault said.

"Lithium-ion batteries do not suffer from the so-called memory effect which results from incomplete charge cycles, ultimately leading to a fall in capacity. The AESC battery is expected to deliver between 80 and 100% of its original capacity for six years."

The compact dimensions of these batteries enable the vehicle's configuration to be optimised and a wide range of applications to be envisaged, the automaker added. The prototype's battery is located underneath the dashboard and doesn't reduce either cabin space or luggage capacity, making it possible to keep the same arrangement of four individual seats as used in the standard Kangoo be bop.

The battery comprises 48 modules, each of which incorporates four elementary cells.

Renault said its production EVs "will profit from an evolution to their battery technology which will take their real-world range to 160km (about 100 miles).

The lithium-ion batteries are also recyclable and the Renault-Nissan Alliance is working to establish recycling processes and infrastructures adapted to automotive batteries.

The prototype is charged through a Marechal-type socket located behind a flap at the front of the vehicle alongside the right-hand headlamp. The other end of the cable is fitted with a normal plug which connects to the mains supply.

This plug permits two different battery-charging modes. A conventional charge via a household mains supply (10A or 16A 220V) can charge the vehicle in six to eight hours. Renault said this mode is perfectly suited to vehicles which are parked up overnight or during the day at the workplace.

A so-called 'quick charge' using a 32A 400V three phase socket, enables up to 80% of capacity to be recharged in approximately 30 minutes.

Around 20 car manufacturers - including Renault - and energy groups have been working with the German group RWE to develop a universal standard plug. Shown at April's Hanover Messe technology fair, it will be used to charge the batteries of future Renault electric vehicles.

The three phase plug can be used with a 400V supply enabling a complete charge in approximately 20 minutes.

"This multi-partner agreement marks a significant step forward in the development of mass market electric vehicles," Renault said. The car also has a brake energy recovery system which enables it to be charged while on the move.


The first all-electric Nissan vehicle is due to be launched in the United States and Japan in 2010, and worldwide from 2012.

Renault will start marketing all-electric models in 2011, beginning with a family saloon in Israel, and a utility version of the Kangoo in Europe. Two new, "highly innovative" vehicles are scheduled for release in 2012.

"Renault's zero-emission, silent-running electric vehicles will incontestably break new ground, while at the same being affordable for the majority of road users," the automaker claimed.
Gallery: 2011 Renault Kangoo ZE EV Prototype