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The brilliance of the electric motor is frankly
dull past 80 km / h |
Repeatedly delayed, the Zoe is finally here. Very nice city and rather comfortable on the road, it really offers 150 km of autonomy. Remains to develop a charging network to reassure potential customers.
That's it, we are: after driving about 70 km along the hilly and curvy enough of the hinterland between Lisbon and Cascais secondary network, we attack the stomping ground of electric city.
An hour and a half later, the odometer passes the 110 km, 125 km and climbs upon finishing our test, with still enough power in the battery to travel 23 km. Objective completed, just avoid the highway where driving at 120 km / h, consumption rises to just over 20 kWh/100km. Where an operating range down to about 100 km. Without offering the versatility of a car, the Renault electric engine, the size of a Clio (4,08 m) but a little more spacious leg and trunk, does not become less feasible as a second car.
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The dashboard gives pride to the touch screen
of R-Link system, fo ... |
Benefits Interesting autonomy Approval of actual driving Quiet and smooth in town Spacious cabinPitfalls of No adapter for conventional taken Dry amortization Braking perfectible Tire grip "green"Progress it must, in addition to its electric motor with a wound rotor with a very good performance, three innovations. First, the heating / air conditioning heat pump, low-energy. Then, the Michelin tires ultra-low rolling resistance. Finally, a new braking "by wire", run by electronics, which transforms via a hydraulic block kinetic energy during deceleration and gets twice as much electricity generating alone nearly 20 km of autonomy. If braking watch more successful than those of the majority of current hybrid and electric, there is some improvement. Because, if we dispense finely braking, and when pressure variations on the pedal, electronics sometimes reacts with a slight delay and causes discomfort, especially in cities.
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Depreciation appears rather dry,
especially in the back |
The other downside for amortization dry, especially at the rear, all the kinks of the road. A choice taken by Renault who wanted to offer a true driving pleasure, even on winding roads. It is also successful, with an effective frame 1468 kg imposed despite a battery of 290 kg. However, no question of playing sports with his direction a little too power, its electric motor whose brilliance dulls frankly past 80 km / h, and its "green" tires with gusto dulls rather abruptly if one insists on turn. If Zoe is not awkward on the road, she excels in town where its 220 Nm work wonders when stopped. In almost total silence (except for a slight hiss), and without at once since there is a fixed ratio, it always starts in the head lights (0 to 50 km / h in just 4 seconds) . What a bad situation get out, or sneak in traffic with ease.
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| The boot space is more important than a Clio |
Still talking recharge and financial aspects. If the charger Chameleon allows it to accept almost all types of loads, slow 3 kilowatts - full by 9:00 - the rapid but confidential 43 kilowatts - 80% full in 30 minutes - through all intermediaries, The Zoe is supplied with a cord WALLBOX (secure terminal 3 kW to install at home, costs approximately � 1,000) and without adapter conventional jacks (2 kW). For the performance of the charger then impose 20 hours of charging. Handicap because given the paucity of terminals in our cities, it was reassuring to be able to connect anywhere. Renault is working on a solution without giving any date. Finally, price hand, Zoe looks, well equipped, from � 13,700 (� 7,000 Bonus deducted price in April 2013), plus the wallbox, and lease the battery from 79 � / month for a commitment of 3 years and a maximum of 12,500 km / year (0.05 � / km extra). Even incorporating a lower than a Clio maintenance cost, and a lot of energy just below 3 � per 150 km, Renault believes that Zoe will be "profitable" from 10,000 km / year. For everyone to see, but the choice will be more activist economic.
