Renault ZOE

2013 Renault ZOE

It is as simple as a Nissan LEAF, as perplexed as making a home-made soy latte that you bought one from Starbucks but between you and me, driving an electric car on on normal or open roads is a silence that you might consider because when electric motors kick in, they hum like happy monks. On the Renault ZOE though, that is no exception to the rule when it comes to creating what I'm referring as the French take on the Nissan LEAF.

2013 Renault ZOE

As an everyday commuter car, the Renault ZOE is not what you called sublime but it is well civilized for the civilized drivers who don't care about petrol engines because thanks to such conditions like for instance the emission standards, the war in Syria, lessons learned from Copenhagen, rising gas prices, anything that hits in our way. Because this is a zero-emission electric car, no more pain in the pumps for the driver though because what you do is recharge the batteries at home.

One thing about the ZOE is that within the year 2015, the ZOE will represent more than two-thirds of its sales from Renault and for the starter price, that would lovely because it's cheaper than the Nissan Leaf. It starts at 20,700 Euros but thanks to the government, the tax deduction will slash the starter price by 5,000 Euros off. So, how much is the ZOE now with tax deduction? 15,700 Euros! And when converted, it would be....at an estimated 860,000 Pesos! It's about the same price as an average Thai-built Japanese compact sedan, well forget about stuff and what I heard that in the more expensive versions, there would be active scent diffuser, air purifier, toxicity sensor, Teflon seats, 3D Audio Sound system by Arkamys, hands-free card, reverse camera, and that's it.

How much power is the ZOE? Let's see...oh yes, a measly 65kW of power output and 220Nm of torque so by paper, it's less powerful than the Nissan LEAF but never mind about that. By NEDC standards, the ZOE's electric range will keep you going up to 210km in suburban roads. Because France is in winter season, there's going to be some cold weather out here but Renault told that it can achieve around 100 km (62 mi) in cold weather and 150 km (93 mi) in temperate conditions.

2013 Renault ZOE interior

What's amazing though that Renault made a new kind of electric charger developed specifically on the ZOE and they called it the Caméléon charger. True to its name because chameleons are adapt to their camouflaging in any environment to confuse its enemies, this eccentric charger can charged the ZOE at any level of power, taking between 30 minutes and nine hours.

The Renault ZOE though, a good city car for an average salaryman in France and if you're looking for a car that is well cheaper than the Nissan LEAF, this is the car you should be looking at. Hmmm....kinda remind me of the time Nissan made a commercial about what if everything runs on gas and then Renault took Nissan's idea for their own Renault Z.E. commercial. Infringement? That's just the Renault-Nissan Alliance way so they shared their ideas.

Available Colors: Bleu Energy, Gris Givre, Gris Neptune, Noir Etoile, Blanc Nacre, Blanc Glacier, Bleu Azur, and Teinte Fictive.

PRICE LIST:

Life - 20,700 Euros
Intens - 22,500 Euros
Zen - 22,500 Euros

Photo: Renault