Renault Fluence Z.E.

Renault
Industry	Automotive
Founded	February 25, 1899; 127 years ago in France
Headquarters	Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Products	Automobiles, electric vehicles
Website	www.renault.com

The Renault Fluence Z.E. represents the electric adaptation of the Renault Fluence compact sedan, developed under Renault's Z.E. (Zero Emission) electric vehicle initiative. It was first introduced at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and is equipped with a 22 kWh lithium-ion battery that offers a driving range of up to on the NEDC cycle, along with a maximum speed of .

Significantly, the Fluence Z.E. was the pioneer among contemporary electric vehicles to incorporate battery swapping technology, implemented via the Better Place network in Israel and Denmark starting in 2012. Sales reached about 948 units in Israel and roughly 400 in Denmark before Better Place ceased operations in 2013. These models were manufactured at Oyak-Renault’s facility located in Bursa, Turkey.

Following the discontinuation of the Fluence Z.E., Renault launched a fixed-battery version named the Renault Samsung SM3 ZE for the South Korean market. This model gained substantial popularity domestically during the mid-2010s, with thousands sold by 2017 and cumulative global sales nearing 10,600 units by December 2019, predominantly consisting of SM3 ZE vehicles.

Renault did not develop an electric hatchback counterpart based on the Megane III hatchback platform but eventually succeeded the Fluence Z.E. with the hatchback-exclusive Renault Megane E-Tech Electric.

Specifications

Originally, the lithium-ion battery had a capacity of 22 kWh and weighed , later upgraded to a 36 kWh pack in the 2018 South Korean Samsung variant.

The Fluence Z.E.'s length exceeds that of its internal combustion counterpart by , accommodating the battery pack behind the rear seats. Due to delays in establishing Renault’s planned battery factory in Paris, cells were procured from LG Chem in South Korea.

Charging capabilities included:

Standard 10 A 220-240 V household outlets requiring 10–12 hours for a full charge
Public or residential charging stations providing 3 kW at 16 A, completing charging within 6–9 hours
The "QuickDrop" battery swapping system available at specialized exchange locations

Powertrain consists of a synchronous electric motor featuring a rotor coil that produces peak power at 11,000 rpm and torque.

The transmission employs a PRND gate selector with a slight creep function in 'D' mode to simulate conventional automatic transmission behavior.

Better Place battery swap

Together with Better Place, Renault launched the Fluence Z.E. as the inaugural modern electric vehicle equipped with swappable batteries on Better Place's electric vehicle network. The "QuickDrop" technology allowed drivers to replace depleted batteries with fully charged ones at dedicated swap stations.

During taxi trials in Tokyo up to 2010, battery exchanges took under one minute on average for fully charged packs offering approximately range. In August 2010, Better Place announced a non-binding commitment for 100,000 Renault Fluence ZE cars, projecting sales of 70,000 units by year-end ahead of network rollout.

Better Place’s automated swap stations utilized RFID and WiFi technologies to recognize vehicles and guide drivers through fast battery replacements without exiting their cars.

Despite being among the first commercial deployments in Israel and Denmark, Better Place filed for bankruptcy in May 2013 due to substantial infrastructure expenses (around million) combined with lower-than-anticipated consumer uptake. By that time, roughly 1,000 Fluence Z.E. vehicles operated in Israel and about 400 units were active in Denmark.

Markets

Since its debut in 2011, the Fluence Z.E. has been distributed across various European nations and Israel through the Better Place network. By October 2014, global sales had reached 3,935 units, with Europe accounting for 2,384 registrations and approximately 1,000 vehicles sold in Israel as of May 2013. Combined worldwide sales of the Fluence Z.E. and SM3 Z.E. reached 10,600 units by December 2019. Renault's electric vehicle lineup has surpassed 273,550 units sold internationally, including 181,893 Zoe models and 48,821 Kangoo Z.E. vehicles.

Australia

Unveiled at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne, the Fluence Z.E. was planned for a mid-2012 launch to coincide with Better Place's introduction of its battery swap infrastructure in Canberra. In 2011, GE committed to procuring a minimum of 1,000 units in Australia as part of its global target to acquire 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015. However, Renault indefinitely delayed the Australian release in December 2012 due to setbacks in establishing the necessary EV infrastructure. This launch lagged behind similar deployments in Israel and Denmark by roughly one to one and a half years. Ultimately, Better Place filed for bankruptcy in May 2013, ceasing further development in the Australian market.

China

At the 2016 Beijing Auto Show, Dongfeng Renault showcased a domestically produced version of the SM3 Z.E., marketed as the Dongfeng Fengnuo E300 EV. Nevertheless, it did not enter mass production, likely influenced by China's increasingly stringent EV range requirements and evolving subsidy regulations in subsequent years.

Denmark

In Denmark, the Fluence Z.E. was offered at a price of 205,000 DKK (€27,496 or ), inclusive of VAT, along with a recurring monthly charge for the swappable battery service. Purchasers also incurred a one-time fee of 9,995 DKK (€1,341) for installing a private charging station. Better Place provided five fixed-rate battery swap subscription options based on annual mileage; the highest tier—covering over per year—cost 2,995 DKK (€399) monthly.

The inaugural Better Place battery swap facility in Denmark opened in June 2011 at Gladsaxe, near Copenhagen, with an initial goal of establishing twenty stations by March 2012. By late 2012, seventeen stations were operational. Sales through Better Place commenced in late 2011, with total units sold reaching 198 by December 2012 and increasing to 234 by April 2013. Despite reporting between four and five hundred customers, Better Place declared bankruptcy in May 2013. Following this event, Renault pledged to maintain servicing support for Fluence Z.E. owners within Denmark.

Estonia

The Fluence Z.E. was initially included in Estonia’s ELMO program but was subsequently withdrawn, likely due to limited availability of vehicles.

France

In France during 2012, the Fluence Z.E.'s starting price was €26,300 before applying a €5,000 government rebate. The battery swap subscription began at €82 per month including VAT. From the vehicle's introduction until October 2014, France registered a total of 727 units, with peak sales occurring in both 2011 and 2012.

Israel

Orders for the Renault Fluence Z.E. commenced in July 2011 at a price of NIS 123,000 (€24,580 or USD 35,114), slightly higher than comparable gasoline-powered models. Better Place offered five service plans based on yearly mileage that included home charger installation, battery swaps, navigation assistance, and roadside support. Monthly fees ranged from NIS 1,090 (€218) for coverage up to 20,000 km to NIS 1,599 (€320) for up to 30,000 km annually. An all-inclusive package featuring the vehicle plus a three-year unlimited mileage plan (up to 25,000 km per year) was priced at NIS 157,500 (€31,775).

The first production units arrived in Israel in January 2012 and were initially allocated to Better Place employees; retail deliveries began during the second quarter of that year. By the end of 2012, sales totaled 518 vehicles; early 2013 saw an additional 422 units sold by mid-year for a cumulative total of 940 cars.

After Better Place’s bankruptcy filing in May 2013 raised concerns regarding battery ownership—since batteries remained owned by Better Place under their model—Renault committed to continue providing maintenance services for Fluence Z.E.s in Israel. The court-appointed liquidator faced decisions concerning customer rights and the future operation of battery swap stations.

South Korea

In South Korea, the Fluence Z.E. is sold as the SM3 Z.E. under the Renault Samsung Motors marque. It was first revealed at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show, with manufacturing commencing at the Busan plant in October 2013. The production goal was approximately 4,000 units per year, supported in part by government subsidies. During its inaugural year of domestic assembly in 2013, the SM3 Z.E. dominated the South Korean electric vehicle market, capturing a 58% share with 453 units sold. This success was largely due to its AC-3 charging capability, extended driving range, and an improved battery warranty.

However, by the late 2010s, the SM3 Z.E.'s market share diminished as competitors offering longer-range electric vehicles such as the Tesla Model 3, Chevrolet Bolt, and Hyundai-Kia SUVs became more prevalent. Despite this, the SM3 continued to be offered with a 36 kWh battery pack through 2019. Renault Samsung had plans to broaden its electric vehicle portfolio in 2022 but ultimately ceased production of this model in 2020.

Turkey

The Renault Fluence Z.E., produced in Turkey, was anticipated to enter the local market by late 2011; nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether any sales occurred before manufacturing stopped in 2013.

United Kingdom

Introduced in early 2012, the Fluence Z.E. was withdrawn from the UK market by 2014 after selling just 79 units. Renault marketed the vehicle with a compulsory battery rental scheme—costing over £7,000—that permitted immediate battery replacement at no additional charge if faults arose. This approach positioned it among the most cost-effective electric cars available in the UK at launch.

Sales

Year	Global Sales
2011	762
2012	2,086
2013	796
2014	203
2015	at least 640
2016	623
2017	2,014

External links

fr:Renault Fluence#Renault Fluence Z.E.