The Renault Zoe is a very popular electric vehicle in Europe
With Nissan announcing it's 2018 model its worth remembering that Renault's Zoe is already in its second generation and has been very popular in Europe (14.7% market share). This is partly because it is an EU car, it is very reasonably priced, and is more pitched at what the average driver is looking for.
The 2nd gen Zoe has an increased range of 300km (187mi) and can be fully charged in 1-1.5 hours using a fast charger. At home with a regular outlet, the same can be achieved in 8-10 hours. The French government supports EV’s with a 6,000 EUR credit as well as an additional 4,000 EUR “cash-for-clunkers” credit when you trade in an ICE vehicle older than ten years. Public charging for the Renault is free in France with an Z.E. Pass whereas diesel and gasoline are quite expensive. This makes the Zoe an attractive option when compared to other compact ICE cars, like the Renault Clio. The Zoe is available with four different option packages; Life Gamme, Zen Gamme, Intens Gamme and the most luxurious the Edition One. Pricing starts at 23,700 EUR and tops out at 28,100 EUR, excluding the government discounts. What is different with the Zoe is that the battery can be leased from Renault for three years at 69.- EUR per month for 17,500km per year, 79.- EUR for 30,000km per year and 119.- for unlimited kilometers per year. This program was originally introduced to keep the car more competitively priced and to take away any concerns about the longevity and depreciation of the batteries in the Zoe. Renault will maintain the batteries and replace them free of charge when they drop below 75% of their original performance, regardless of the age of the vehicle. In addition to this Renault also offers a four-year, 100,000-mile warranty with European roadside assistance.
