Renault Zoe is a name used for a number of different concept cars created by Renault. The electric Zoe Z.E. concept was shown in two different versions in 2009 and 2010 under the Renault Z.E. name.
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The Renault Zoe City Car concept (or Z17) was shown at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show[1] featuring 3 seats, the 3.45m long open top vehicle was proposed as an urban focussed car.[2] This Zoe had no connection with the later electric Zoe concept to follow four years later.
The Renault Zoe Concept was shown to the public in 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show to show the company's vision for a Clio sized electric car.[3] It was powered by a 95 bhp (71 kW; 96 PS) electric motor (mounted at the front) and lithium-ion batteries (under the seats). It was estimated it would have a With range of 100 miles and a top speed of 90 mph (140 km/h), and could be charged at a conventional 220Vsocket, or fast-charged from a high-voltage supply to 80 per cent in only 20 minutes. A third innovative option was to swap the batteries for a new pack at a Renault Quickdrop centre.[4]
The design was tear-drop shaped featuring a see-through roof features solar panels which run the air-conditioning system [5] and gull-wing doors. A new climate control system was also shown. developed with L'Oréal, which could spray essential oils into the interior to cut out harmful exterior smells, or rehydrate the interior to prevent skin drying out.
The Zoe Preview was a substantially revised version of the Zoe concept was shown to the public at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, and was claimed to be a near-definitive representation (90% showroom ready) of the car that will make production in 2012. Many of the existing design features of the 2009 concept model were discarded such as the gull-wing doors.
The technical specifications had changed from the 2009 version with the power of the electric motor reduced to 79 bhp (59 kW; 80 PS), a reduced top speed of 84 mph (135 km/h), but still with a 100-mile range.[6] It was suggested that the Zoe ZE would be priced from €15,000.[7]
A planned Renault battery plant near Paris that will supply batteries for the vehicle was delayed due to technical constraints. Construction will start in the second quarter of 2012 and production of batteries is expected to be delayed to 2014 or 2015. Instead, Renault will have to buy batteries from a joint venture between Nissan Motor and NEC, and from LG Chem of South Korea.[8]
In May 2010, a Parisian woman called Zoe Renault commenced legal action to try and force Renault to re-think their choice of name amid claims it would lead to mocking jibes.[9] Renault responded by saying the name was not a definitive choice. On 11 November 2010, a French judge ruled that Renault can use the name.[10]
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