Renault revealed today the ZOE Z.E concept electric car - a preview of the Renault production vehicle set for launch in 2012. The Zoe Z.E. is a 100% electric, zero-emission city car.
The car can be fast recharged in 20 minutes, while a standard charge takes between 4 to 8 hours. The concept features an exclusive "Quickdrop" system that allows an empty battery pack to be swapped with a fully-charged pack in a matter of minutes.
The roof has been designed as an intelligent protective membrane that insulates against heat and cold, optimizes climate control, and recovers energy using honeycomb photovoltaic cells. The car features a
shield of polyurethane gel at the front and the back, acting as a second skin that protects vulnerable parts of the body in the event of mild urban impact.
Press release after the jump.
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The second of the four electric concepts unveiled by Renault in Frankfurt is the Zoe Z.E. - a perfect car for school or work run, or shopping trips. The Zoe ZE is powered by an electric motor that delivers 95 HP and 166 lb-ft of torque. With this motor, the Renault Zoe ZE can reach a top speed of 87 MPH.
With a length of 4,10 meters, the Zoe Z.E. features rather large 21 inch wheels and large body panels, a retractable spoiler deploys at speeds in excess of 55 MPH to make a further contribution to Zoe ZE Concept’s aerodynamic efficiency and also serves as one of the car’s brake lights.
The Zoe Z.E. concept’s dashboard is covered with an intelligent, mineral like membrane and the lightest of touches calls up a range of touchscreen controls while the wide TFT (Thin Film Transistor) screen is housed in a glass bubble. This is the central information point for Zoe ZE Concept and serves to display navigation data, the charge indicator and remaining range.
Press release after the jump.
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