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Renault Fluence Z.E.

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Renault Fluence Z.E.
Renault Fluence Z.E. (Germany)
Overview
ManufacturerRenault
Production2011-
AssemblyBursa, Turkey (Oyak-Renault)
Santa Isabel, Argentina
Chennai, India
Busan, South Korea (Renault Samsung Motors)
Body and chassis
ClassCompact executive car
Body style4-door sedan
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel drive
Powertrain
Electric motor70 kW (94 hp) synchronous motor, 226 N·m (167 ft-lb)
Battery22 kW·h lithium ion battery
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,701 mm (106.3 in)
Length4,748 mm (186.9 in)
Width1,813 mm (71.4 in)
Height1,458 mm (57.4 in)
Curb weight1,543 kg (3,402 lb)
Renault Fluence Z.E. (Germany)

The Renault Fluence Z.E. is an electric version of the Renault Fluence compact executive sedan, part of the Renault Z.E. program of battery electric vehicles. It was unveiled by Renault at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.[1] The Fluence Z.E. is the first electric car to be operational within the Better Place battery switch network.

In April 2010 the carmaker revealed more details of the Fluence Z.E. and began allowing customers to pre-reserve through a dedicated website.[2] The Fluence Z.E is outfitted with a 22 kWh lithium-ion battery which allows a total all-electric range of 185 km (115 mi) measured on the NEDC combined cycle, with speeds up to 135 km/h (84 mph).[3] The first 100 cars were delivered to customers in Israel on the 22/01/2012.[4]

Specifications

The lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 22 kW·h and weighs 250 kg (551 lb). The Fluence Z.E. is 13 cm (5.1 in) longer than the internal combustion model to accommodate the battery behind the rear seats.[3][5] The 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.[6]

This test drive of the Renault Fluence Z.E. demonstrates its quietness.

There are several ways to charge the battery:

  • using 10 or 16A 220V household mains power from a standard electrical outlet in 6–8 hours
  • at a fast charging station using a 32A 400V 3-phase supply which enables the battery to be charged in approximately 30 minutes[7]
  • the battery uses a "QuickDrop" system that allows it to be quickly switched for a charged battery at a dedicated battery exchange facility.

The Fluence Z.E. uses a synchronous electric motor with rotor coil, weighing 160 kg (350 lb). Its peak power is 70 kW (94 hp) at 11,000rpm, while maximum torque is 226 N⋅m (167 lbf⋅ft).[3][5]

The Fluences uses a PRND gate selector as well as providing a small amount of creep in 'D' to emulate the behaviour of traditional internal combustion engine equipped self-shifters.

Safety

Euro NCAP test results
Renault Fluence ZE (2011)[8]
Test Points %
Overall:
Adult occupant: 26 72%
Child occupant: 41 83%
Pedestrian: 13 37%
Safety assist: 6 84%

Better Place battery swap

Better Place and Renault announced the Fluence Z.E. will be the first modern electric car with a swappable battery available on the Better Place electric vehicle network [9] with (QuickDrop) battery swapping technology. Battery switching or swapping is a technology that enables the driver to swap a depleted battery with a fully charged one by going through a battery switch station. In a demonstration with electric taxi cabs run in Tokyo until the end of 2010, the trial battery switch station allowed drivers to exchange their car's depleted battery pack for a 100 miles (160 km) fully recharged one in 59.1 seconds on average.[10] In August 2010 Better Place announced a non-binding order of 100,000 Renault Fluence ZE[11] and four months later Better Place claimed to have sold 70,000 cars from that order, a year away from the public launch of the Better Place network.[12]

In order to access the battery switch station, Better Place customers will have to swipe their membership card, which authenticates the car and subscription via the Operations Center, to activate the battery switch. The remaining process is fully automated, similar to going through a car wash, so the driver never has to leave the car. In just a few minutes, a robotic arm removes the depleted battery and replaces it with a full one and the driver is back on the road.[13]

Markets

Renault Fluence Z.E. is expected to sell in certain countries at prices similar to those of comparably powerful diesel versions of Renault Fluence with the same equipment level.[14]

Australia

Unveiled at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne, the Fluence Z.E. be sold from the middle of 2012, once the roll out of Better Place's battery swap network had begun, initiating in Canberra. GE Australia & New Zealand has already pledged to purchase at least 1000 of the vehicles in Australia, which will contribute to their goal of purchasing 25,000 electric vehicles globally by 2015.[15]

Denmark

The Fluence Z.E. will be sold in Denmark at a price of 205,000 DKK (€27,496 or US$38,378) including VAT plus the monthly fee for the switchable-battery. Consumers will also pay a one-time fee of 9,995 DKK (€1,341) for a private charging station and there will be offered a choice of five fixed-price switchable-battery packages based on kilometers driven per year. For more than 40,000 km (25,000 mi) a year the monthly fee is 2,995 DKK (€399) per month.[16][17]

The first battery switch station in Denmark, out of 20 planned to be deployed across the country until March 2012, was unveiled in June 2011 at Gladsaxe, near Copenhagen.[13]

Estonia

In Estonia, Fluence Z.E is part of the ELMO program. [18]

France

Fluence Z.E. Concept unveiled in the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

In France prices will start from €26,300 before the applicable €5,000 government incentive that is available for purchases through 2012.[14][19] The monthly fee for the switchable-battery service will start from €79 including VAT.[14]

Israel

Orders for the Renault Fluence ZE will begin in July 2011 starting at NIS 123,000 (€24.580, US$35,114), a price slightly higher than gasoline-powered car of similar size. Deliveries are scheduled for late 2011. Better Place will offer five service packages in Israel. The service plans are priced according to annual mileage and also include installation and maintenance of a home recharging station, free access to Better Place’s battery replacement stations, battery availability, a computerized driver support system, navigation aids, and roadside service. The cheapest monthly package is NIS 1,090 (€218, US$311) for up to 20,000 km (12,000 mi) a year, and the more expensive is NIS 1,599 (€ 320 /US$456) for less than 30,000 km (19,000 mi) a year. These prices include VAT. There is also a special plan that includes the cost of the Fluence Z.E. and a 3-year unlimited-mileage package (up to 25,000 km (16,000 mi) a year) for a total of NIS 157,500 (€31,775, US$45,000).[20][21]

United Kingdom

The Fluence Z.E. will be released in the United Kingdom in Autumn of 2012, although some vehicles were delivered to car hire companies in London in January 2012.[22] The entry level "Prime Time" trim model will sell without batteries for £17,850 (US$28,576), including the £5,000 (US$8,005) plug-in car grant. Batteries will lease for £75 (US$120) per month and according to Renault, it will be the UK's most affordable electric car.[23]

Turkey

Renault Fluence Z.E will be released in Turkey at the end of 2011. The first users will be major municipalities and some other governmental instutions such as Ministry of Industry. Public release is expected to take place on May 2012. All the dealers are recently under infrastructure upgrade that is being held by energy partners of Renault in Turkey [24]

See also

References

  1. ^ Thami Masemola (2009-09-14). "Renault Fluence Zero Emission Concept First Look". World Car Fans. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  2. ^ Sam Abuelsamid (2010-04-15). "Renault finalizes design of Fluence ZE and Kangoo ZE, starts taking reservations". Autoblog Green. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  3. ^ a b c "Renault Unveils Finalized Designs of Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Express Z.E.; Opens Pre-Reservations". Green Car Congress. 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
  4. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/Business/place-live-battery-switch-stations/story?id=13742428
  5. ^ a b "RENAULT FLUENCE Z.E. AND KANGOO EXPRESS Z.E.: FINALIZED DESIGNS REVEALED AND PRE-RESERVATIONS OPEN" (PDF) (Press release). Renault. 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  6. ^ Helen Beresford (2011-06-15). "Renault says battery plant project delayed". Reuters.
  7. ^ "How Can I Recharge My Vehicle (Fast)". Retrieved 2011-11-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  8. ^ "Euro NCAP results for Renault Fluence ZE" (PDF). euroncap.com. 2011.
  9. ^ "The Renault Fluence ZE Concept - the 1st electric vehicle available on the Better Place network". 2010-10-20. Retrieved 2011-02-27. SUNDAY, 27 FEB 2011 This video provides a preview of Renault's Fluence ZE Concept car, the first electric car with a switchable battery available on the Better Place electric vehicle network. The Fluence ZE Concept EV was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |quote= at position 20 (help)
  10. ^ "Better Place expands Tokyo battery swap trials; taxis have changed packs 2,122 times already". AutoblogGreen. 2010-08-27.
  11. ^ "Better Place Moves Ahead with 100,000 Electric Cars". 2010-08-18. Retrieved 2011-02-27. SUNDAY, 27 FEB 2011 Better Place CEO states that he has placed an order for 100,000 electric cars from Renault {{cite web}}: line feed character in |quote= at position 20 (help)
  12. ^ "Better Place CEO: Biggest obstacle to electric cars is auto industry 'scepticism'". 2010-12-10. Retrieved 2011-02-27. SUNDAY, 27 FEB 2011 Shai: ..we're a year away from the public launch of the network, but we've already sold almost 70,000 cars, which is about 1/3 of one year's worth of (new car) sales in Israel. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |quote= at position 20 (help)
  13. ^ a b "Better Place unveils Europe's first battery switch station in Denmark". Green Car Congress. 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
  14. ^ a b c "RENAULT FLUENCE Z.E." Renault. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  15. ^ Davis, Brett. "Renault Fluence Z.E. at Australian International Motor Show 2011". CarAdvice.com.au. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference FZE3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ "Better Place and Renault launch in Copenhagen the first "unlimited mileage" electric car". Renault Press release. 2011-03-03. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
  18. ^ "Renault Fluence Z.E". ELMO. 2011-09-02. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  19. ^ "50,000 Electric Vehicles: France Commits to Infrastructure & Production". ABC Carbon. 2010-04-13. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  20. ^ Daniel Schmil (2011-05-16). "Electric car to go on sale in Israel in July". Haaretz. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  21. ^ Eric Loveday (2011-05-16). "Better Place announces pricing for Renault Fluence Z.E. in Israel". AutoblogGreen. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  22. ^ "Renault Fluence Z.E. Delivered to Car Hire Services". Electric Car News. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  23. ^ Loveday, Eric. "Renault Fluence Z.E. priced as low as £17,850* in UK". Autoblog Green. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  24. ^ {url=http://www.esarj.com}
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