Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. Electric Vehicle Unveiled

Renault yesterday unveiled a new prototype electric vehicle at the Annual General Meeting of its shareholders in Paris that gives us a hint into how the future electric lineup of both Renault and Nissan might look like. Called Kangoo be bop Z.E., the new concept "is very similar to that featured on the brand's upcoming production electric vehicles which are currently under development," Renault said in a release, with first mass-produced vehicles expected to arrive in 2011.

But getting back to the new Kangoo, it is powered by a 44 kW (60 hp) electric unit that goes as high as 12,000 rpm and "boasts greater efficiency (90 percent) than an internal combustion engine," Renault claimed.

Instead of a traditional gearbox, Kangoo be bop Z.E. comes with a so-called reducer with a single, constant output ratio. "Electrical energy is transmitted to the motor by a power electronics unit which incorporates the controller that delivers the required amount of energy to the rotor," the French manufacturer explained.

Obviously, batteries are mandatory in an all-electric vehicle so Renault installed advanced lithium-ion batteries produced by AESC (Automotive Electric Supply Corporation) that is expected to work at between 80 and 100 percent of its capacity for no less than six years. Renault says these batteries would help the Kangoo cover a distance of 100 km (62 miles) but future models will be further enhanced to achieve 160 km (99.4 miles).

There are several other technologies meant to help the driver preserve energy, such as low-energy LED front and rear lights, improved aerodynamics plus a permanent display that shows the battery status at a certain time.