The new Renault ZOE was officially unveiled today and brings a more powerful motor, more battery capacity, more range, CCS fast charging and better interior.

[New #RenaultZOE] Introducing the New Renault ZOE that makes electric mobility available for all. ⚡️

🔹52kWh Z.E. 50 battery

🔹Autonomy of up to 390km (WLTP)

🔹DC 50 kW fast charging

🔹R135 e-motor

🔹Brand new interior design

Learn more: https://t.co/3rHckqLUrZ pic.twitter.com/qpSora62OB — Groupe Renault | Electric (@GroupeRenaultEV) June 17, 2019

Let’s see the press release.

New ZOE is more high-performing than ever, notably thanks to its increased power and radius of action. Its assertive design gives it even more character. New ZOE offers a wide range of high-tech equipment serving both the driving comfort and the on-board experience. The pleasure of driving 100% electric takes on a new dimension! Design: an assertive character From the audacity of its youth to the dynamism of its adulthood, New ZOE has also reached a milestone in terms of design. The soft shapes of the previous generation now have more distinct characteristics that make the car stand out on the road as well as providing more seating. Groupe Renault’s designers have paid particular attention to the interior’s quality finishes, its comfort and the ergonomics. A noteworthy addition to New ZOE is the 10-inch driver’s display – a unique feature available right from entry level. Driving range and charging: ZOE goes further and further New ZOE has a Z.E. 50 battery which takes its range up to 390 kilometers on the WLTP*. It now also offers fast direct current charging, an addition to the alternating current charging options already available at home or on the street. Driving pleasure: electrifying sensations New ZOE adds a more powerful 100 kW motor, perfectly suited to the fast lane, to the intrinsic charms of electric driving, and also a new mode particularly adapted to urban driving, allowing for the reduced use of the brake pedal, as well as many driving aids designed for comfort and safety.

Renault EASY CONNECT: a simplified experience from start to finish With Renault EASY CONNECT, New ZOE responds to our ever-more connected lives. It combines the new Renault EASY LINK multimedia system and the MY Renault app, offering drivers a range of applications and services designed to accompany them throughout their daily activities. * WLTP driving range (Worldwide Harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure, standardized cycle: 57% of urban journeys, 25% of suburban journeys, 18% of highway journeys), for the ZOE Life version. In the process of being approved.

This press release confirms the information that was previously leaked.

Motor: 100 kW (R135)

On-board charger: 22 kW

DC fast charging: 50 kW via CCS

Range (WLTP): 380-390 km (236-242 miles)

Battery capacity: 52-54 kWh

The new Renault ZOE is great and in my opinion is still the best looking supermini (electric or not) available in Europe. Long are the days that automakers made electric cars ugly on purpose in order to undermine them. The more powerful motor, more battery capacity, more range, CCS fast charging and better interior shows us that Renault wants to keep this electric car as one of the most successful in Europe.

Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room, the CCS fast charging. Renault says that you can “fast” charge 80 percent of the battery in 70 minutes at a DC fast charger, we can hardly call that fast… Considering that 80 % of 52 kWh is 41,6 kWh and a DC charging efficiency of 95 %, the mean charging rate is around 37,5 kW (52 x 0,8 / 0,95 x 60 / 70).

However, the previous model only had its 22 kW on-board charger and still is very successful in Europe.

I’m curious to know if the 22 kW on-board charger was improved to better handle the Norwegian power grid. If it didn’t at least Norwegians can resort to DC charging. Another bonus of the DC charging port is the future support of the V2G (vehicle-to-grid) technology.

Finally, the price. While we still don’t have any official information in that regard, some rumors say that this new version of the Renault ZOE will only be 500 euros more expensive than the outgoing model. Nevertheless, you might find good deals on the outgoing models R90 and R110.

Having this said at around 30.000 euros, the Renault ZOE isn’t yet the electric car for the masses. Battery technological advancements have been used for increasing the range, instead of decreasing the costs. I hope that the 30 kWh battery that we saw in a Renault parts catalog is either for the Renault Twingo ZE or the Renault K-ZE.

What do you like and dislike the most about the new Renault ZOE?

More info:

https://media.group.renault.com/global/en-gb/groupe-renault/media/presspacks/21227905/nouvelle-renault-zoe-le-plaisir-de-rouler-100-electrique-prend-une-nouvelle-dimension