The Renault Zoe is now available to buy with a 40kW battery, in addition to the 22kW battery offered previously.
Updates to the all-electric Renault supermini also include a new range-topping trim level. The new battery, which joins the existing 22kW battery in the Zoe range, provides an official claimed range of 250 miles, which is around the same as an entry-level Tesla Model S, although Renault reduces this claim to between 186 and 124 miles in real-world driving, depending on the temperature.
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The larger battery is available with Dynamique Nav trims and above; this includes the new Signature Nav trim, which has leather upholstery, heated front seats, a Bose sound system, a reversing camera and 16in alloys, as well as added lumbar adjustment for the driver’s seat. The revised model also gets three new exterior paint colours.
Badging for the new Zoe signifies whether the battery is leased or has been bought outright. Cars with with an owner-bought battery get an 'i' before the trim name; for instance, the entry-level leased battery car is badged Expression Nav, but if the battery is owned outright it is badged iExpression Nav. Every Zoe sold also gets a 7kW fast charger with free home installation. The fast charger takes three to four hours to charge a Zoe to full capacity from empty.
Buying the battery outright adds £5000 to the Zoe's entry-level Expression trim price and £5600 to all other spec levels, with the higher price reflecting the larger 40kW battery pack. Leasing the 22kW battery costs from £49 per month with a 4500-mile per year limit to £89 per month for up to 10,500 miles per year, while the larger battery pack costs £59 per month for 4500 annual miles, or up to £110 for an unlimited annual-mileage lease.
The Zoe gets two entry-level prices: £13,995 with a battery lease, or £18,995 when you buy the battery pack outright. Cars with the larger battery pack are also available with a 43kW quick charger, which is a £750 option that allows an 80% charge in just over one hour. The new top-spec Signature model starts at £19,895, or £25,495 with battery purchase. All prices are after the government’s £4500 plug-in car grant has been applied. Dynamique trim, where the new 40kW engine enters the range, is £17,845 with battery lease, or £23,445 outright.
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Lease option
Another EV advancement (x2). Top job Renault
Secondly luddites are now having to think of something else to have a pop regarding the EV momentum now we're approaching 200 miles in the real world. VW be afraid very afraid.
Cost of leasing or purchase is too high
If I were to purchase a Zoe with a leased battery, my annual mileage is 10k, the battery lease would be £89 per month or £1068 per annum. That would buy me 1068 divided by 1.13, pence per litre, 945 litres of diesel or 208 gallons which in my Honda Civic at 56 mpg would give me fuel for 11658 miles. Assuming my maths is correct why would I buy an electric car? Also I would have contributed a big part of my fuel bill to taxes to fund the NHS etc something the EV user would of course avoid.
So as a "Luddite" I would actually save money by driving my diesel, a better performing car with a better range that is larger and holds its value better. And that is before having to actually purchase the electricity needed and the inconvenience of regular recharging.
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You also need to add in the electricity at 2p per mile but then have lower service costs, road tax and maybe no congestion charges, which are going to be rolled out to other cities. So all on a knife edge in terms of cost. It wouldn't take much of a swing in fuel and battery prices to move in either direction. It's projected that the EV will stand against ICE without subsidies by 2022. I'm guessing by then the standard range will be 400 km plus with a comprehensive charging infrastructure. In the short term you can buy a Nissan leaf with batteries for £6K.
Charging is not an
My annual mileage is around 10,000 a year. For a brand new car and the battery I'm paying the same as what I was paying purely in tax and fuel each month as I was on my 35-40mpg 1.4l petrol car. Charging in a lot of places is still free. I've only ever used the home charger once to check it was working and never paid elsewhere.
If I'd wanted to buy a simialr performing, sized and specced car as the Zoe I'd be looking at another £200 a month plus bigger servicing and ongoing costs. It was a no-brainer.
So stick with your Diesel then
Which is just as well your diesel tax will go some way to contribute to treat the cases of cancer you've contributed to (see the WHO report if you don't believe me).
Oh and I mentioned about an EV not being the best solution in some cases.
Also, rerun your cases comparing a £23,000 Leaf against a £23,000 Focus 1.6 diesel. But like I say it's horses for courses so don't bother and stick with your inconvenient re-fuelling at Asda.