Nissan?s European ally, Renault, has delivered what could be seen as a transatlantic sucker punch in the form of the new version of its urban-chic Zoe Z.E. electric car, which has a significantly longer range than the made-in-America Nissan Leaf.
Renault, along with Nissan, which made a daring move about a decade ago to develop the Leaf as a mass-production electric car, are tackling EVs differently than much of the rest of the industry. They tend to favor around-the-globe affordability, value, and driving range. The latest version of the Renault Zoe EV is an example of that direction, coming as nearly every luxury brand is scrambling to put together all-electric rivals and even EV sub-brands in a post?Tesla Model S reality.
In its top-end Zoe Z.E. 40 guise, this pert subcompact hatchback costs just ?23,500 (about $26,300). It has a new 41-kWh lithium-ion battery pack from LG Chem, equipped with its own air-circulation system to keep it at optimal operating temperature. DC fast charging is optional, but Renault says that with a Level 2 charging port, you can earn back up to 50 miles of range in just 30 minutes. Plans Change amid Rapid Evolution of the Battery Market
The two automakers originally planned to share battery technology that was developed and assembled by Nissan, but the LG battery is one sign that Nissan and Renault already have started to change course. Nissan CEO (and CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance) Carlos Ghosn had previously stated that the ...