RENAULT Z.E. CONCEPT, AN ALL-ELECTRIC CONCEPT CAR WHICH PROVIDES A GLIMPSE OF MOBILITY IN THE FUTURE

In parallel to its new TCe and dCi engine ranges, Renault is furthering its strategy aimed at
curbing CO2 emissions with the development of electric vehicles. Since the beginning of 2008, the
Renault-Nissan Alliance has signed agreements with several states and regions (Israel, Denmark,
Portugal, Japan's Kanagawa prefecture, the state of Tennessee in the USA), which will lead to the
mass marketing of this form of vehicle from 2011.

Z.E. Concept ('Z.E.': Zero Emission) is Renault's vision of the electric vehicle as an efficient, user-
friendly zero-emission car. Based on the brand new Renault Kangoo be bop, Z.E. Concept features
a design which has been adapted to the spirit of an electric vehicle, with the focus on minimizing
energy consumption while at the same time providing core comfort features.

The energy consumption of auxiliary functions such as lighting, heating, climate control, etc. is a
key factor when it comes to an electric vehicle's range, so special attention has been paid to
optimize energy management. Z.E. Concept also incorporates several interactive information
features which are easy to use.
Z.E. Concept is powered by a 70kW electric motor with torque of 226Nm, with lithium-ion batteries.

Energy saving management at the heart of Z.E. Concept's design

Z.E. Concept is based on Kangoo be bop and its compact dimensions (length: 3.95m, height: 1.85m)
favour manoeuvrability in and about town. This electric vehicle was designed to minimize energy
consumption, without forgetting modern comfort-related refinements.

The employment of heat-reflective paint and insulating bodywork featuring large surface areas
contributes to the reduction of temperature fluctuations which traditionally prompt the use of climate
control or heating systems which are big consumers of energy. Insulation is further optimized by the use
of acid green-tinted glass for the glazed areas.

The bodywork functions along the same lines as a Thermos flask. It comprises two insulating panels with
a sandwich of air.
This air, which is still the most effective insulant known today, limits variations in temperature between the
exterior and the interior of the car.
Solar panels, positioned on the roof, power a temperature regulation system. Cooling the inside of a
vehicle uses a great deal of energy, but this system permits a pleasant temperature to be maintained in
the cabin, even at standstill or when parking, and avoids having to switch on the climate control when

Meanwhile, the layout of the heating and climate control functions has been thought through to produce a
particularly efficient trade-off between performance and energy consumption. For example, the
impression of heat is especially felt on the face and hands. Accordingly, if the cabin temperature is 15°C
but warmth can be channelled as close as possible to key zones (a heated steeringwheel, for example),
the driver will feel comfortable while using less electrical energy.

The conventional drag-producing exterior mirrors have been replaced by streamlined, low-energy
cameras which are also powered by the roof-mounted solar panels to enhance all-round visibility,
especially when manoeuvring. The low-drag full-disc aluminium alloy wheels also improve aerodynamic
performance.

The headlamps use efficient, high-performance light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which are not only long
lasting but also low consumers of energy.

Optimizing energy management is consequently a key aspect of the research that has gone into
the technology employed for this concept car.

An interactive, user-friendly vehicle
The Z.E. Concept concept car offers motorists and passengers a pleasant, relaxing ride and this
sensation is enhanced by a number of interactive communication features. For example, logos light up to
signal that the vehicle recognizes its occupants as they approach.

Z.E. Concept illustrates Renault's vision of mobility in the future. As a socially responsible vehicle, it is
equipped with polyurethane gel bumpers, for example. These deform easily to soak up minor knocks,
while pedestrians are reassured by their absorbent aspect.

A linear display on the outside of the door provides a visual indication of how much range remains even
before the driver gets into the vehicle. This display is redolent of a cell phone charge-indicator.

As a vehicle of the future, Z.E. Concept is seen as a simple link in the overall mobility chain. To facilitate
getting around in areas where space is a premium, an electric scooter is packed into the boot and is
charged via the car's own system. To make loading easier, the rear hatch-type tailgate combines with a
wide, folding sill which enables this scooter – or any other item – to be slid into the boot.

Z.E. Concept contains very few fluids that need recycling at the end of its lifecycle.

The smart navigation interfaces feature an innovative approach to alleviating the vehicle's energy
requirements. Indeed, electricity can be saved by making journeys easier. The MMIs (Man Machine
Interfaces) are able to pinpoint the nearest car parks equipped with charging stations as a function of the
remaining range, making Z.E. Concept a car which not only warns and calculates, but which also thinks
ahead…
Information is relayed from the vehicle to the driver and vice-versa via a cell phone which connects
directly to the dashboard.

Using a cell phone-based navigation system avoids the necessity for an energy-consuming onboard
computer. The dashboard itself takes the form of two distinct functional units:
- a new-format minimalist display which provides specific data relating to the electric motor,
- a remotely-positioned control between the seats incorporating a touchpad to facilitate the
keying in of data.

All-electric power, zero emissions
Z.E. Concept is equipped with a 70kW electric motor which delivers torque of 226Nm, making it
particularly flexible, responsive and comfortable to use. Batteries are lithium-ion type.

Z.E. Concept provides a foretaste of the Renault electric vehicle which will be easy to use,
practical and efficient.

[Source: Renault]

Never mind the Chevy Volt, never mind the Tesla Roadster, never mind the Dodge ev revealed in concept yesterday. None of them are here now. No, if you want an all-electric performance vehicle right now, get this. It's the Strada, and it's a road-legal dual sport (it can be driven both on- and off-road) from Swiss firm Quantya. As you’ve probably gathered by now, it’s electric; recharging from a standard wall outlet. It makes about 16 HP, weighs 195 LBS, tops out around 50 MPH (depending on gearing) and can be ridden for up to three and a half hours or 25 miles before it needs recharging. A full charge takes less than 2 hours. With 23 lb-ft of torque available from 0 RPM, it wheelies pretty good too.

There’s two things about the Strada that make it special. The first is that it makes no performance sacrifices in the drive for zero emissions. The battery pack and electric motor sit in a competition-worthy steel cradle frame that looks incredibly strong, the front forks (40mm Marzocchi Shivers), rear shock (Sachs monoshock with linkage) and other components are all extremely capable. The whole thing has been engineered to perform. Take the chain final drive for instance; the sprocket is mounted on the swingarm pivot and driven by a belt that runs from the driveshaft. This means there’s no chain growth when the rear suspension is compressed or extended and no stress on the driveshaft when landing huge jumps.

The second is that the Strada is available for sale now in all 50 states as a road-legal vehicle. It costs $10,700 for the version you see here, or $9,975 minus the license plate and with knobbier tires. Insurance is cheap (hey, it’s got zero capacity); it costs pennies to run and comes with a 2-year warranty. If the forums are to be believed, customer service and after-sales support are also some of the best in the industry, with one happy customer reporting that the CEO of the company flew out from Switzerland to personally tune his Strada for increased performance.

Back in my apartment, after picking up all the boxes and doing a couple celebratory donuts we carried the Quantya up a flight of steps and onto the roof. It’s hard to think of another bike on which we could have gotten away with this degree of hoonage on without attracting significant attention from crazy neighbors and the local constabulary. The owner of the boxes and luggage? After driving up from Texas the night before, she was asleep on the couch 10 feet away, in the same room, the entire time. Aside from the noise of the chain passing over the sprocket teeth and the tires running across the floor, the Quantya makes virtually no sound.

Facing ever-increasing limits on where and when they can be ridden, dirt bikes are under threat by people and groups lobbying to get them removed from public land and forced into enclosed, built-for-purpose parks. Electric dirt bikes like the Quantya are the future, eliminating most of the complaints people have about motorcycles, or at least allowing riders to go undetected. Ever snuck up on an animal on a noisy thumper? You’ll be able to on the Quantya. Ever wheelied around your suburban back yard (or done donuts on your urban roof) without attracting ire from neighbors? You’ll be able to on the Quantya.

There are drawbacks of course. 25 miles or a couple of hours simply isn’t enough riding time for people looking to explore vast swaths of the great outdoors. 50mph isn’t fast enough to ride on a highway. The 48v Lithium Polymer battery is the Quantya’s greatest strength and its worst flaw. But for some, people looking for the greenest traffic-free commute around, or access to tight trails and other riding areas that are normally off-limits, the Quantya could be the perfect vehicle. It’s those niches that the company is trying to exploit. It won’t be your first vehicle, but it could be your second.

But you forget about how long the battery lasts and the limited top speed when you’re riding it. Faster than an equivalent 125cc two-stroke or 250 four-stroke dirt bike up to about 35 MPH, the experience of accelerating rapidly free of noise is addictive. The motor is punchy enough to push the rear out in corners; the brakes sharp enough to skid on pavement and the suspension all firm enough to make doing all that fun.

It’s at low speeds that the Strada’s unique character really reveals itself. Normally the bane of peaky off-road engines, the electric motor is ideal for picking your way, feet up, between parked cars, over curbs or through that tight gap between your refrigerator and kitchen counter. The acceleration correlates precisely with the throttle, needing no gears, no clutch and leaving you free to concentrate on avoiding couches, sleeping friends or picking yourself up from a pile of spilled boxes. Maybe riding it around an apartment isn’t such a good idea, but anywhere else it’ll work just fine.

Photography credit: Grant Ray