Auto Vehicle

Renault has announced prices for its new electric car Zoe. The compact car starts at 20,600 euros - the cost of the battery-month rent are still added.

08.03.2012 | Author / Editor: sp-x / Gerd Steep

Renault is expanding its electric vehicle range. After Fluence and Twizy Pm reported as of the end of the year, Zoe]] $ is launched. To the Geneva Motor Show the manufacturer has now the


Renault is expanding its electric vehicle range. After Fluence and Twizy Pm reported as of the end of the year, Zoe]] $ is launched. To the Geneva Motor Show the manufacturer has now announced the price: The small car will cost 20,600 euros in the basic version and is powered by an electric motor with 65 kW/88 hp, which makes the vehicle up to 135 km / h fast. The purchase price is still the same battery-rent of 79 euros per month. The range is up to 210 miles, a quick charge takes about 30 minutes. In addition to the basic version, including heat pump and touch-screen, there will be more releases from 22,400 euros.

The Zoe is a further component of the electric strategy of Renault-Nissan Alliance. Nissan has introduced in Germany, the Leaf, a five-door and five-seat compact car, with the 80 kW/109 hp power also runs on electric power. In the price of 36,990 euros, the battery is completely contained. He comes in early April on the market.

When it comes to alternative fuels, Volvo long time behaved rather quiet. For this, the Swedes now bringing an eco-version on the market. The middle class estate V60 combines three-saving technologies.

Diesel, electric or hybrid drive: So far these three fuel-saving techniques were more or less side by side. Volvo now unites them in a vehicle. The new V60 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) can drive solely on electricity and will be due to its fuel-efficient diesel engine based on the hybrid technology frugal way even with dead batteries. Premiere of the middle class combined with celebrating the new drive at the Geneva Motor Show (8th to 18th March 2012), the production expected to begin in fall 2012.

The first 50 kilometers of the Volvo electric drive alone. For the drive, a 70 bhp electric motor at the rear axle, to an 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery big power. The battery is charged at any normal household socket - depending on the current intensity to 3.5 to 7.5 hours for a full range cable storage.

Launch late 2012

If the electricity supply of power, it switches to a 158 kW/215 hp five-cylinder diesel on the front axle. The driver can choose via a switch the mode of cooperation and focus on either high or low power consumption. In the combined driving cycle should consume only 1.9 liters per 100 kilometers. Included in it is already the pure electric driving, the hybrid mode, consumption is projected to be considerably higher. Both engines work together, an electric four-wheel drive. This only works up to a speed of 120 km / h, then turns the electric motor as its power output sufficient would not challenge.

The first units are the end of 2012 in Germany on the market, pre-orders are already available in the spring. Very cheap eco-combi is not, requires 57,000 euros Volvo, but donated a host of facilities. The cost compared to a similar model with a conventional drive should be around 5,000 euros.

"A few hundred" for Germany

The high-tech Volvo will remain a rare sight at first. 2012, only 1,000 units were built before 2013, the emissions increase to about 6,000 units. About a third of the cars remain in Sweden, Germany, for a few hundred vehicles per year provided.

The Swedes are the first to introduce such a drive combination on the market. Toyota is offering next year to a principle similar technology, the Prius plug-in hybrid, but with a petrol instead of diesel. The Japanese comes in e-mode around 20 kilometers, the average fuel consumption is 2.2 liters. A diesel hybrid currently offer only to Peugeot and Citroen in different car models. Is a plug-in function is not there, however, the batteries can be charged while driving only by braking force recovery.

Dani Pedrosa was found in the wet at least a first direction

Dani Pedrosa takes the Valencia race like any other, regardless of whether the World Cup is lost or not. On Friday, he could not do much preparation.



He may have lost the battle for the World Championship in Australia for good, for Dani Pedrosa, but that is no reason for the Valencia race on Sunday to address different from those before it. "The World Cup is over, but if you drive a race, then you will go for the race. They want to win, maximum points every round and get the best. Since there is no difference," he said on Friday in Valencia.

Therefore, he also think it wrong, now try to have things that are planned for the test on Tuesday. "We lose nothing, but to win a race." He has noted, in particular, that the first tests come after the season only pure prototype parts are used, which are always only driven a few laps before the team checked for durability and safety. "Once thats done, we must go a few more rounds."

With the tests he wanted the time being anyway not employ, but manage only the task at hand, which on Friday thanks to the weather, however, was difficult because it was wet in the morning and in the afternoon then mixed conditions prevailed that Pedrosa could stay in the box. "We had our first experience in the wet with the new asphalt and it seems as if there are still a few bumps;.. Worst of it is in turn one but we have to wait for dry conditions to evaluate the grip level" Still, he thought it was important to go in the morning because it might rain on Sunday also. Second place, he had not even looked in the wet so bad.