Testing Electric Vehicles

I have recently signed up for a Renault Fluence Electric Vehicle and as #25 on the waiting list I arranged an interview with Soren Hyltoft from Renault Denmark to get answers for my many questions.

I also gave my group members at LinkedIn and Facebook a chance to ask questions I should pass on to Renault. This had an enormous interest but unfortunately it was not possible due to time to cover all your questions.

Questions regarding the cooperation between Renault and Better Place:

The first part of the interview was for me to understand the relationship between Renault and Better Place. In Denmark you buy the car from Renault and if you do not need to battery switch you can simply use the car as an “ordinary” EV by plugging it in. Renault expects to offer leasing possibility for both car and battery.

If you are living in Denmark and you wish to use the opportunity to battery switch you must buy the car form Renault and lease the battery form Better Place. Renault calls this battery switching for “Quick drop”, however they won´t establish “Quick drop” stations in Denmark understood you won´t be able to switch your battery unless you sign up with Better Place.

Better Place is starting up operation in Denmark as the only European country. In other European countries you cannot use the Fluence ability to switch batteries. Better Place will start operation in Israel in 2010 and in Denmark 2011.

We discussed how to charge it at night when you live in the city – Renault’s only solution is to battery switch!

The cars:

In 2011 Renault presents the Fluence ZE witch can battery switch. They also present the Kangoo ZE witch has a fixed battery. The Kangoo will only come as a van-model and not as a passenger car with back seats:

Last year I tested a pre-production model of the Fluence:

http://www.easyecar.com/electric-vehicle-test/test-of-renault-fluence-z-e/

Both cars will have electric heating and still Renault promises that they will
have at least 160 km (100 miles) range. I look forward to seeing if that
counts in winter times as well.

There are no prices on the cars yet. Renault expects that the price will
be the same or slightly lower than the equivalent of a similar Diesel car.
We have very high tax on Petrol/Diesel cars in Denmark and no tax on
Electric Vehicles, so it should be possible in Denmark. Many other
countries in Europe do not have high tax, so it will be very interesting
to see if Renault can keep the price on the same level as the Diesel car
here.

Both cars come with an option on normal charge and fast charging . And the Fluence as already mentionedcan Battery switch.

Renault introduced a family of 4 at Frankfurt Motor show:

In 2012 one more EV will hit the market – Renault Zoe ZE:

This car will also come with the possibility of battery switching.
Some of the questions asked in LinkedIn were more technical and I have
asked Soren if he can find someone at Renault to answer them. I will get
back with these answers ASAP I hear from him.