A couple of months ago, French carmaker Renault gave its Zoe electric car the well deserved second generation. The main goal of the new model was to provide more range and extra features, as from now on the electric car segment is about to get extremely competitive.
Just as Volkswagen's upcoming ID.3 was getting its official unveiling, the new Zoe went on sale this month, hoping to catch as many customers into its net as possible. And, with a starting price of just over €20,000 (£25,670 in the UK), it's obvious the French are going to fight to the end.
The Zoe uses a 52 kWh battery, the largest fitted so far in the lineup, to achieve a range closer to modern-day expectations. The new unit can hold enough electricity to power the car along for 242 miles (390 km, according to WLTP testing), which is about 30 percent more than before.
A new charging protocol was implemented, thanks to which the Zoe can now be recharged using a 50 kW DC option that provides 180 miles of range per hour, so under two hours for the full charge. The standard 7kW wallbox continues to remain available, but when using it the recharging time soars to nine and a half hours.
The car's electric motor is offered in two power levels, an entry-version with 107 hp and a brand new 134 hp variant for the GT Line.
Other significant changes are the fitting of a new electronic brake that replaces the standard handbrake, and the deployment of the B mode that allows one-pedal operation.
The Renault Zoe is historically the most successful EV on the continent, despite facing fierce opposition from the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model 3.
In the time that has passed since its introduction seven years ago, the car sold over 150,000 units, which amount to a market share of 18 percent.
The Zoe uses a 52 kWh battery, the largest fitted so far in the lineup, to achieve a range closer to modern-day expectations. The new unit can hold enough electricity to power the car along for 242 miles (390 km, according to WLTP testing), which is about 30 percent more than before.
A new charging protocol was implemented, thanks to which the Zoe can now be recharged using a 50 kW DC option that provides 180 miles of range per hour, so under two hours for the full charge. The standard 7kW wallbox continues to remain available, but when using it the recharging time soars to nine and a half hours.
The car's electric motor is offered in two power levels, an entry-version with 107 hp and a brand new 134 hp variant for the GT Line.
Other significant changes are the fitting of a new electronic brake that replaces the standard handbrake, and the deployment of the B mode that allows one-pedal operation.
The Renault Zoe is historically the most successful EV on the continent, despite facing fierce opposition from the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model 3.
In the time that has passed since its introduction seven years ago, the car sold over 150,000 units, which amount to a market share of 18 percent.