The Renault Zoe (stylized ZOE), known as Renault Zoe E-Tech Electric since 2021, is a five-door

supermini The B-segment is the second smallest of the European segments for passenger cars between the A-segment and C-segment, and commonly described as "small cars". The B-segment is the third largest segment in Europe by volume, accounting for 15. ...

electric car An electric car or electric vehicle (EV) is a passenger car, passenger automobile that is propelled by an electric motor, electric traction motor, using electrical energy as the primary source of propulsion. The term normally refers to a p ...

produced by the French manufacturer

Renault Renault S.A., commonly referred to as Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English), is a French Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company curr ...

. Renault originally unveiled, under the Zoe name, a number of different

concept car A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle or show vehicle) is a car made to showcase new styling or new technology. Concept cars are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not ...

s. Initially in 2005 as the Zoe City Car and later as the Zoe Z.E. electric concept was shown in two different versions in 2009 and 2010 under the

Renault Z.E. The Renault Z.E. (Z.E. stands for Zero Emission) is a line of all-electric cars from Renault. The line began with the Z.E series of concept cars. The first production car is the Renault Fluence Z.E. that was slated for sales to the public in Isra ...

name. A production ready version of the Zoe was shown at the

2012 Geneva Motor Show 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, Numeral (linguistics), numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest Positive number, positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in o ...

. The Renault Zoe is based on the

platform Platform may refer to: Arts * Platform, an arts centre at The Bridge, Easterhouse, Glasgow * ''Platform'' (1993 film), a 1993 Bollywood action film * ''Platform'' (2000 film), a 2000 film by Jia Zhangke * '' The Platform'' (2019 film) * Pla ...

of the

Renault Clio The Renault Clio () is a supermini (B-segment) car, produced by French automobile manufacturer Renault. It was launched in 1990, and entered its fifth generation in 2019. The Clio has had substantial critical and commercial success, being consi ...

. Retail customer deliveries began in France in December 2012, followed in 2013 by several European countries. Since 2013, the Zoe has been the all-time top selling all-electric car in the French market, with more than 100,000 units registered through June 2020. The Zoe was the top selling all-electric car in Europe for two years running, 2015 and 2016, and also topped European sales in the broader

plug-in electric car A plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) is any road vehicle that can utilize an external source of electricity (such as a wall socket that connects to the power grid) via an detachable power cable to store electrical energy within its onboard recharg ...

segment in 2016 and 2020. As of 2020, the Zoe ranks as Europe's all-time best selling plug-in electric car. , global sales totaled almost 285,000 units since inception. The first production Zoe had a 22

kWh A kilowatt-hour (unit symbol: kW⋅h or kW h; commonly written as kWh) is a non-SI unit of energy equal to 3.6 megajoules (MJ) in SI units, which is the energy delivered by one kilowatt of power for one hour. Kilowatt-hours are a common b ...

lithium-ion A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery that uses the reversible Intercalation (chemistry), intercalation of Li+ ions into electronically Electrical conductor, conducting solids to store energy. Li-ion batteries are c ...

battery pack A battery pack is a set of any number of (preferably) identical Battery (electricity), batteries or individual battery cells. They may be configured in a series, parallel or a mixture of both to deliver the desired voltage and current. The term ' ...

that delivers a range between and under the NEDC cycle. In September 2016, Renault announced the introduction of new higher range model with a 41 kWh lithium-ion battery, increasing the range to under the NEDC cycle. In mid 2018 a new model with increased motor power of , was announced as the ZE 40 R110. In mid 2019, the ZE 50 R135 was announced, with a 55 kWh battery pack (52 usable) and motor, and CCS charging; the final production-ready model was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show and deliveries started end of 2019. Renault ceased production of the electric 5-door hatchback on 30 March 2024, after nearly twelve years. It was replaced by the retro-styled

Renault 5 E-Tech The Renault 5 E-Tech is a B-segment battery electric car produced by the French manufacturer Renault since 2024. Inspired by the original Renault 5 in styling, the 5 E-Tech was previewed by a concept car shown in January 2021, with the producti ...

Concepts

Zoe City Car Concept (2005)

The Renault Zoe City Car concept (or Z17) was shown at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show featuring 3 seats, the 3.45 m long open top vehicle was proposed as an urban focused car. This Zoe had no connection with the later electric Zoe concept to follow four years later.

Zoe Concept (2009)

The Renault Zoe Concept was shown to the public in 2009 at the

Frankfurt Motor Show The International Motor Show Germany or International Mobility Show Germany, in German known as the ''Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung'' (''IAA'' – International Automobile Exhibition), is one of the world's largest mobility trade fairs. I ...

to show the company's vision for a

Clio In Greek mythology, Clio ( , ; ), also spelled Kleio, Сleio, or Cleo, is the muse of history, or in a few mythological accounts, the muse of lyre-playing. Etymology Clio's name is derived from the Greek root κλέω/κλείω (meaning ...

sized electric car. It was powered by a electric motor (mounted at the front) and

batteries (under the seats). It was estimated it would have a range of and a top speed of , and could be charged at a conventional 230 V socket, or fast-charged from a high-voltage supply to 80 percent in only 20 minutes. A third innovative option was to swap the batteries for a new pack at a Renault Quickdrop centre. The vehicle was designed by Raphaël Linari. The design was tear-drop shaped featuring a see-through roof features

solar panel A solar panel is a device that converts sunlight into electricity by using photovoltaic (PV) cells. PV cells are made of materials that produce excited electrons when exposed to light. These electrons flow through a circuit and produce direct ...

s which run the

air-conditioning Air conditioning, often abbreviated as A/C (US) or air con (UK), is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space to achieve a more comfortable interior temperature, and in some cases, also controlling the humidity of internal air. Air c ...

system and gull-wing doors. A new climate control system was also shown, developed with

L'Oréal L'Oréal S.A. () is a French multinational personal care corporation registered in Paris

, which could spray essential oils into the interior to cut out harmful exterior smells, or rehydrate the interior to prevent skin drying out.

Zoe Preview (2010)

The Zoe Preview, a substantially revised version of the Zoe concept, was shown to the public at the

2010 Paris Motor Show The 2010 Paris Motor Show took place from 2 October to 17 October 2010, in Paris expo Porte de Versailles. For 2010, the theme of the special exhibition was "The Incredible Collection 2: automobile manufacturers collections and museums." Introd ...

, and was claimed to be a near-definitive representation (90% showroom ready) of the final version of the car. Many of the existing design features of the 2009 concept model were discarded such as the gull-wing doors. The technical specifications had changed from the 2009 version with the power of the electric motor reduced to , a reduced top speed of , but still with a range. It was suggested that the Zoe ZE would be priced from €15,000.

Zoe E-Sport (2017)

The Zoe E-sport is a

hot hatch A hot hatch (shortened from hot hatchback) is a high-performance variant of a hatchback car. The term originated in the mid-1980s; however, sportier factory versions of hatchbacks have been produced since the 1970s. A front-engine, front-wheel-dr ...

electric car concept unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. It has an

all-wheel drive An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand. Types The most common forms of all-wheel drive are: ;1x1 : All unicycles Reflects one axle with ...

design with two electric motors, each one powering an axle. The combined power from both is and the torque . The lithium-ion battery package weighs and is on the rear. The car, weighing , has a

carbon fibre Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers ( Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon comp ...

chassis, racing brakes and equipment, and a

double wishbone suspension A double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design for automobiles using two (occasionally parallel) wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckl ...

on both axles.

Production versions

ZE

The production version of the Zoe was announced in March 2012 at the

Geneva Motor Show The Geneva International Motor Show was an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show was hosted at the Palexpo, a convention centre located next to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport. The Salon was organised b ...

. Similar to the Zoe Preview of 2010 and the design credited to Jean Semeriva, it is a five-door supermini at 4080 mm long, a little longer than the

. Retail customer deliveries began in limited number in France in December 2012, and Renault planned to increase availability during the first quarter of 2013. The first Zoe was delivered to

Arnaud Montebourg Arnaud Montebourg (; born 30 October 1962) is a French politician, lawyer and entrepreneur who served as Minister of Industrial Renewal from 2012 to 2014,Flins on the same

assembly line An assembly line, often called ''progressive assembly'', is a manufacturing process where the unfinished product moves in a direct line from workstation to workstation, with parts added in sequence until the final product is completed. By mechan ...

as the

and

Nissan Micra The Nissan Micra, also known as the , is a supermini car (B-segment) that has been produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan from 1982. The March name has always been used in the Japanese markets but also in many export markets a ...

. About 170 Zoes are made per day. In France the Zoe pricing starts at () before applying the existing () tax incentive, plus a monthly fee for the battery. The cost of leasing the battery for 36 months starts from /month (/month) for an annual distance travelled of and includes comprehensive breakdown assistance. The Zoes produced until June 2015 are powered by a 22

lithium-ion battery A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery that uses the reversible intercalation of Li+ ions into electronically conducting solids to store energy. Li-ion batteries are characterized by higher specific energy, energ ...

pack weighing 275 kg, driving a synchronous

electric motor An electric motor is a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Most electric motors operate through the interaction between the motor's magnetic field and electric current in a electromagnetic coil, wire winding to gene ...

supplied by

Continental Continental may refer to: Places * Continental, Arizona, a small community in Pima County, Arizona, US * Continental, Ohio, a small town in Putnam County, US Arts and entertainment * ''Continental'' (album), an album by Saint Etienne * Continen ...

and called the Q210, as the NEDC cycle range is . Maximum torque is 220 N·m (162 lb-ft) with a top speed of . Renault estimates that in suburban use, the Zoe can achieve around in cold weather and in temperate conditions. The car features a charging system called "Caméléon" (

Chameleon Chameleons or chamaeleons (Family (biology), family Chamaeleonidae) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards with 200 species described as of June 2015. The members of this Family (biology), family are best known for ...

) charger that allows the Zoe to be charged at any level of AC power up to 43 kW (63A), taking between 30 minutes and nine hours. The particular type of grid system in parts of Norway with a different potential for the protective ground requires a special charger, which is included with all Zoes in Norway from summer 2015. In June 2015, Renault announced the introduction of a new, smaller electric motor called the R240, manufactured at its Cléon engine plant. The new motor has the same power and torque as the Q210 unit with an extended NEDC cycle range of . However, the Q210 would still be available as the R240 allowed only 22 kW quick charging.

ZE 40

In October 2016 at the

Paris Motor Show The Paris Motor Show () is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held during October, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show presently takes place in Paris expo Porte de V ...

, Renault unveiled a 41 kWh lithium-ion battery called the ZE 40, weighing . The battery was developed by Renault and LG Chem, and is assembled at Renault's Flins plant. It is mounted on Zoes using the R75/90 motor (formerly R240, the name now making reference to the motor power output range between and ) and increases the car range to under NEDC and allows quick charging. The Q210 would still be available, renamed as Q90. According to Renault, the battery delivers about on real driving conditions. Older Zoes using the battery would get a less significant range increase because of various design upgrades. Options to buy the battery would be available, along with revised lease plans.

Facelift

ZE 50

In June 2019 Renault announced a new Zoe with a 52 kWh battery, just as the ZE 40 this was also developed by Renault and LG Chem, achieving range of under WLTP conditions. It comes with either an 80 kW R110 electric motor for the "Iconic" trim level, or a 100 kW R135 electric motor for the "S Edition" and "GT Line +" trim levels. It also has faster charging, with the option to add 50 kW DC capability via

CCS2 The IEC 62196-2 Type 2 connector (sometimes referred to as Mennekes for the German company that designed it) is used for charging electric vehicles using AC power, mainly within Europe, Australia, NZ and many other countries outside of North Am ...

. In mid-2022, the Zoe received some mild updates.

Electrics and Drivetrain variants

Battery

Buying options

In France, pricing of the Zoe with the 41 kWh battery starts at (~ ) before any applicable government incentives ( or ), and without the purchase of the battery. The rental fee for the battery is (~ ) per month for up to per year and (~ ) per month for unlimited mileage. In Norway, pricing starts at 229,400 kroner (~ ), and the pricing of the variant with the original 22 kWh battery starts at 40,000 kroner (~ ) less than the 41 kWh variant. The small battery can be upgraded to the newer one, at a cost of around 3500 Euros for rented batteries. In the UK, it has been possible to buy the Zoe with the battery, or lease the battery. Leasing the battery gives a free replacement if capacity falls under 80%.

Charger

Renault Zoe uses 'Chameleon' onboard charger, that repurposes motor power electronics to charge the battery. Motor windings are used as power inductor for boost (single phase power) or buck (3 phase power) converter. This system saves on number of components, but it has several downsides: There is no galvanic isolation between the grid and the battery. Because of this, Zoe has very strict HV fault and ground tests and will not charge if ground-neutral resistance is more 100 ohm. To perform this test, Zoe injects 20mA pulse between ground and neutral, and might trip some RCDs. At the input side, it has a bridge rectifier with 3 inputs for 3 phases. When it does 1 phase charging, it uses internal 35A relay to connect the Neutral with L3. Decision if there are 3 phases or not is based on whether there is L2 present. If there is a fault on L2 (no voltage) and L3 is present, it would try to charge in single phase mode, which can damage the relay. This damage can be confirmed by multi-meter by checking if there is continuity between L3 and N pins at the charge port. The 2015 R240 version removed the 43 kW AC charging capability, in exchange for better efficiency of low power home charging. The 2017 facelift still allowed for a Q90 rapid charge option (full-speed 43 kW rapid charging).

Motor

In February 2018, Renault introduced an updated version of the R90 motor, the R110, which upped power output to while maintaining the same estimated economy and similar torque (). The R90 would still be available for sale. The price for cars equipped with the new motor would be slightly higher than those using the R90 version. The R110 will be the first Renault motor certified under WLTP and sales would start by the end of the 2018 summer in Europe. In 2019, Renault introduced the R135 motor (100 kW) in the ZE 50.

Safety

The Zoe in its standard European market configuration received a five-star Euro NCAP 2013-rating. The score was: In 2021, the updated Zoe in its standard European market configuration received a zero-star safety rating, becoming the third car in

Euro NCAP The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is a European voluntary car safety performance assessment programme (i.e. a New Car Assessment Program) based in Leuven, Belgium. Formed in 1996, the first results were released in February ...

's history to record a zero-star rating. The score was: According to the investigation, the violent explosion in a garage in

Neuss Neuss (; written ''Neuß'' until 1968; ; ) is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is on the west bank of the Rhine opposite Düsseldorf. Neuss is the largest city within the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district. It is primarily known for its ...

on 27 August 2023 was caused by a parked Renault Zoe electric car. A defect in the car's battery caused a fire and gas escaping from the battery led to the explosion, the Neuss police said. Investigations by the criminal police and an expert have meanwhile been able to rule out other causes, it said. The explosion had caused considerable damage in the residential area. Several neighbouring garages were destroyed and residential buildings damaged.

Sales and markets

Retail customer deliveries began in limited numbers in France in December 2012, and availability was increased during the first quarter of 2013. A total of 48 units were registered in France during December 2012, and cumulative sales reached 5,559 units through December 2013. The Zoe became the top selling all-electric vehicle in the country in January 2013, and kept the monthly lead through December 2013, representing 62.8% of electric car sales in the country during 2013. In addition, the Zoe became the best selling electric car in France accounting for registrations in the electric passenger car segment since 2010 through December 2013. ''See "Ventes de voitures électriques en 2016/2015/2014/2013/2012/2011."'' Renault Zoe SAO 2014 0342

Deliveries in the UK began in March 2013, and Germany, Italy and Spain in April 2013. Cumulative global sales totaled 8,874 units through December 2013. Out of 8,792 cars sold in Europe through December 2013, 62.7% were sold in France (5,511). Germany was the second top selling market, with 1,019 units delivered through December 2013, followed by the Netherlands with 547 units registered. ''Download pdf file for detailed sales in 2013 ("Download nieuwverkoop personenautos 201312")''. The Renault Zoe was officially launched in the Norwegian market in April 2014, though retail deliveries began in late March. Unlike other European countries, the Zoe is sold in Norway with the battery pack included and there are no battery leasing options available. A total of 11,323 Zoes were sold globally in 2014. France continued as the top selling market with cumulative sales of 11,529 units, and the Zoe continued as the all-time best selling electric car in the country, with 5,970 units sold in 2014. Global sales reached the 10,000 unit mark in January 2014, and 25,000 in May 2015. The milestone of 50,000 units produced was reached in April 2016, while sales achieved the 50,000 unit milestone in June 2016. '', cumulative global sales of the top selling plug-in electric cars were led by the Nissan Leaf (about 225,000), Tesla Model S (over 129,000), Volt/Ampera family (over 117,000), Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (about 107,000), Toyota Prius PHV (over 75,000), BYD Qin (56,191), Renault Zoe (51,193), and BMW i3 (almost 50,000).'' With a record 10,406 units sold in 2015, the Zoe was again the top selling all-electric car in France, and continued as the best-selling electric car in the country ever. The Zoe, with 18,453 registrations, was the top selling pure electric car in Europe in 2015. The Zoe ranked as the world's 8th best-selling electric car in 2015. ''Accounting for global cumulative sales by December 2015, plug-in electric car sales are led by the Nissan Leaf (200,000), followed by Volt/Ampera family (104,000), and the Tesla Model S (100,000). , ranking next are the Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV (85,000), and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid (75,000), Mitsubishi i-MiEV family (~50,000), BYD Qin (45,275), BMW i3 (38,581), Renault Zoe (36,040), and the Ford Fusion Energi (26,742). Combines sales of the top 10 PEV models represent almost 50% of cumulative global PEV sales through November 2015)'' , France remained as the Zoe's top country market, with 27,155 units registered since its inception in 2012. Zoe sales in the French market represented 53% of global sales. Renault Zoe ZE50 White

The Zoe ranked as the best-selling

all-electric car An electric car or electric vehicle (EV) is a passenger car, passenger automobile that is propelled by an electric motor, electric traction motor, using electrical energy as the primary source of propulsion. The term normally refers to a p ...

in Europe for the second year in a row in 2016 with 21,735 units delivered, representing 21.2% of the segment sales that year. Also, the Zoe topped European sales in the broader

segment, ahead of the

Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV The is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors since 2001. It was originally known as the when it was introduced in Japan. The original Airtrek name was chosen to "describe the vehicle's ability to tra ...

, the top selling plug-in in the previous two years. In 2016 the Zoe ranked again as the world's 8th best-selling electric car. ''See also detailed 2016 sales and cumulative global sales in the two graphs.'' , the Zoe ranked as the world's all-time eighth best selling plug-in car. Global sales totaled 31,932 units in 2017 and 40,517 in 2018. ''Sales figures includes passenger and light utility variants. Click on link "XLSX - 142 Ko Ventes mensuelles du Groupe (Décembre 2018)" to download the file, and open the tab "Sales by Model" to access sales figures for 2017 and 2018.'' Global sales reached the 150,000 unit milestone in June 2019, and the 200,000th Zoe produced rolled off the Flins plant in November 2019. Annual sales passed the 100,000 unit mark in 2020 for the first time, and the Zoe listed as the best selling plug-in passenger car in Europe in 2020, ''According to Jato Dynamics, the best selling plug-in electric models across 23 European markets in 2020, including the European Union member states, the UK, Norway and Switzerland, were the Renault Zoe (99,261), Tesla Model 3 (85,713), Volkswagen ID 3 (56,118), Hyundai Kona (47,796), and the VW e-Golf (33,650). The Mercedes-Benz A250e was the top selling plug-in hybrid in 2020, with 29,427 units, followed by the Mitsubishi Outlander (26,673), which led the market in 2019. '' and by the end of 2020, the Zoe ranked as the all-time best selling plug-in car in Europe. , the Zoe continued as France's all-time best selling plug-in with more than 100,000 units registered, and has led electric car sales in the French market for seven years running, from 2013 to 2019. ''See "Ventes de voitures électriques en 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010" It shows all electric car registrations between 2010 and June 2020.'' Since inception, global sales totaled 284,761 units through December 2020 including both the passenger and cargo variants. ''See pp. 24 and 39. Since the launch of the Renault electric program, the Group has sold more than 252,000 electric vehicles in Europe and more than 273,550 electric vehicles worldwide. Since inception, a total of 181,893 Zoe cars have been sold globally through December 2019. A total of 40,517 Zoes were sold in 2018 and 48,269 in 2019.'' ''Sales figures includes passenger and light utility variants. Click on the corresponding link to download the file "GROUPE RENAULT - MONTHLY SALES DECEMBER 2020 XLSX - 806 KB", and open the tab "Sales by Model" to access sales figures for 2019 and 2020. Global Zoe sales totaled 102,868 units in 2020 (16,035 in December 2020), and European registrations totaled 100,815 units, including both passenger and LCV variants.'' 2021 saw the Zoe fall behind the

Tesla Model 3 The Tesla Model 3 is a Battery electric vehicle, battery electric powered Mid-size car, mid-size sedan with a fastback body style built by Tesla, Inc., introduced in 2017. The vehicle is marketed as being more affordable to more people than pr ...

as the best-selling plug-in electric car in France.

Recognition

The Zoe was one of the top three finalists for the 2013 World Green Car of the Year.

Criticism

Technology blog Techdirt suggested that the Zoe's battery pack could contain

digital rights management Digital rights management (DRM) is the management of legal access to digital content. Various tools or technological protection measures, such as access control technologies, can restrict the use of proprietary hardware and copyrighted works. DRM ...

software, on the grounds that the original battery lease agreements for the Zoe gave Renault the right to prevent the car's battery from charging at end of lease. Following an

Electronic Frontier Foundation The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is an American international non-profit digital rights group based in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1990 to promote Internet civil liberties. It provides funds for legal defense in court, ...

article which cited Techdirt's supposition to argue that this could render the vehicle unusable if the owner ceases payment or Renault withdraws support, Renault publicly denied any use of DRM technology through its official Twitter account.

Name dispute

In May 2010, a Parisian woman named Zoe Renault commenced legal action to try to force Renault to rethink their choice of name amid claims it would lead to

mocking Mockery or mocking is the act of insulting or making light of a person or other thing, sometimes merely by taunting, but often by making a caricature, purporting to engage in imitation in a way that highlights unflattering characteristics. Mocker ...

her. In November 2010, a French judge ruled that Renault could use the name.

Discontinuation

In 2024, Renault will launch the 5 E-Tech, which will replace the Zoe after being on the market for 12 model years in a single generation. In December 2023, the model was withdrawn from sale in the United Kingdom, production ended in March 2024 with 426,706 units having been manufactured overall.

References

External links

* (UK)
Understanding the different Zoe models: Equipment, Accessories & Interior

Renault now lets you buy out the battery lease
an
Renault ZOE battery upgrade conditions.

Renault Zoe ZE 40 battery details
{{Renault Production electric cars Electric city cars Cars introduced in 2012 Cars discontinued in 2024 2010s cars Euro NCAP superminis Z Hatchbacks