Renault Zoe

Renault

Industry	Automotive
Founded	February 25, 1899 (1899-02-25) in France
Headquarters	France
Products	Automobiles, electric vehicles

The Renault Zoe (marketed as ZOE and renamed Renault Zoe E-Tech Electric since 2021) is a five-door supermini electric car produced by the French automaker Renault. Initially previewed through several concept vehicles from 2005 to 2010, the production model was officially introduced at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. It utilizes the platform derived from the Renault Clio.

Commercial sales commenced in France in December 2012 and gradually expanded throughout Europe during 2013. By June 2020, the Zoe had become France’s top-selling fully electric vehicle with sales exceeding 100,000 units. It dominated European electric vehicle sales in both 2015 and 2016 and frequently led the overall plug-in segment in Europe and France across multiple years. Approaching the end of 2020, worldwide sales neared 285,000 units, establishing it as Europe’s highest-selling plug-in electric car historically.

The original Zoe was equipped with a 22 kWh lithium-ion battery capable of delivering up to 240 km under the NEDC cycle. In September 2016, Renault introduced an extended-range variant featuring a 41 kWh battery that increased the NEDC range to approximately 400 km. Further enhancements included models with more powerful motors: the ZE40 R110 equipped with an 80 kW motor launched in mid-2018, followed by the ZE50 R135 introduced in late 2019, which combined a 52 kWh usable battery with a 100 kW motor supporting CCS fast charging.

After nearly twelve years on the market, production of the Zoe ended on March 30, 2024. Its successor is the retro-inspired Renault 5 E-Tech.

Zoe City Car Concept (2005)

The Renault Zoe City Car concept (Z17), revealed at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, was designed as a compact urban vehicle featuring three seats within a 3.45-meter-long open-top body. This concept bore no direct connection to the later electric Zoe model launched four years later.

Zoe Concept (2009)

Presented at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Renault Zoe Concept represented Renault’s vision for an electric vehicle comparable in size to the Clio. It was powered by a front-mounted electric motor producing 71 kW and housed lithium-ion batteries beneath the seats, providing an estimated driving range of 160 km and a maximum speed of 90 mph. Charging capabilities included standard 230 V outlets, rapid charging to reach 80% capacity within 20 minutes, and a battery exchange system via Renault Quickdrop stations. Designed by Raphaël Linari, this teardrop-shaped vehicle featured gull-wing doors and a transparent roof equipped with solar panels that powered the air conditioning system. Additionally, it incorporated a climate control system developed in partnership with L'Oréal that filtered external odors and regulated interior humidity.

Zoe Preview (2010)

The Zoe Preview, displayed at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, was a near-production prototype (approximately 90% finalized) that omitted features like gull-wing doors seen in earlier concepts. The electric motor output was reduced to 66 kW with a top speed of 145 km/h while maintaining a driving range around 160 km. The anticipated starting price was €15,000, positioning Renault competitively within the electric vehicle market.

Zoe E-Sport (2017)

Unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the Zoe E-sport is an electric hot hatch concept featuring all-wheel drive powered by dual electric motors—one on each axle. Together, they deliver a combined output of 456 bhp and torque of 640 Nm. The lithium-ion battery pack weighs approximately 450 kg and is mounted at the rear. The overall weight of the vehicle is around 1450 kg and it incorporates advanced components such as a carbon fibre chassis, racing-grade brakes, and double wishbone suspension systems on both front and rear axles.

ZE

The Renault Zoe production model was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, with Jean Semeriva responsible for its design. This five-door supermini measures 4080 mm in length, making it marginally longer than the Renault Clio. Initial retail deliveries commenced in France in December 2012, with broader distribution planned for early 2013. Manufacturing takes place at the Flins facility, sharing the assembly line with the Clio and Nissan Micra, producing approximately 170 units each day.

In the French market, the base price is €20,700 before applying a €6,300 government incentive. Additionally, customers pay a monthly battery rental starting at €79 under a 36-month contract that covers 12,500 kilometers annually, including roadside assistance.

The earliest versions (up to June 2015) were equipped with a 22 kWh lithium-ion battery weighing 275 kg, coupled with a 65 kW synchronous electric motor supplied by Continental (model Q210). This setup offered a NEDC range of 210 km. The vehicle delivers 220 N·m of torque and reaches a maximum speed of 135 km/h. Under cold weather conditions, the Zoe achieves roughly 100 km of range, while moderate climates allow up to 150 km. Its "Caméléon" charger supports AC charging rates up to 43 kW, facilitating charging durations between 30 minutes and nine hours. For Norway’s distinct electrical infrastructure, a specialized charger variant was introduced in mid-2015.

In June 2015, Renault introduced the smaller R240 motor produced at the Cléon plant, matching the power and torque of the Q210 but increasing the NEDC range to 240 km. However, this motor supports quick charging only up to 22 kW; therefore, the higher-capacity Q210 motor remained available for customers requiring faster charging.

ZE 40

At the October 2016 Paris Motor Show, Renault presented the 41 kWh lithium-ion ZE 40 battery, developed in partnership with LG Chem and assembled at Flins. Weighing , it was paired with Zoes equipped with the R75/90 motor (formerly known as R240), boosting the NEDC range to . This battery also enabled fast charging capabilities. The Q210 motor continued to be offered under the new designation Q90. Renault indicated that real-world driving yields approximately in range. Due to design variations, earlier Zoe models experienced less benefit from this upgrade. Customers had the option to either purchase the battery outright or select updated leasing agreements.

ZE 50

In June 2019, Renault introduced an updated Zoe featuring a 52 kWh battery, again developed alongside LG Chem, delivering a WLTP range of . Two motor options were available: an 80 kW R110 for the "Iconic" trim and a more powerful 100 kW R135 for "S Edition" and "GT Line +" versions. Charging capabilities were improved by offering optional DC fast charging at up to 50 kW via CCS2.

Minor revisions to the Zoe were implemented in mid-2022.

Battery

	First Generation	Second Generation	Third Generation
Total Capacity	25.92 kWh (usable: 22 kWh)	45.61 kWh (usable: 41 kWh)	55 kWh (usable: 52 kWh)
Cell Specifications	192 cells 36 Ah nominal capacity 3.75 V nominal voltage 860 g per cell	192 cells 63.35 Ah nominal capacity 3.75 V nominal voltage 940 g per cell	192 cells 78 Ah nominal capacity 3.65 V nominal voltage 1073 g per cell
Battery Pack Weight	280 kg	305 kg	326 kg
Thermal Management	Air cooled	Air cooled	Air cooled

Purchase alternatives

In France, the Zoe equipped with the 41 kWh battery is priced from €23,600 (approximately USD 26,460) before applying government subsidies of €6,300 (around USD 8,300), not including the battery itself. Battery leasing options are available at €69 (about USD 77) monthly for an annual limit of 7,500 km, or €119 (roughly USD 133) for unlimited mileage. In Norway, the starting price is 229,400 kroner (approximately USD 28,760), with the original 22 kWh model costing nearly 40,000 kroner (around USD 5,000) less. Upgrading from smaller battery packs to larger rented batteries typically costs about €3,500.

In the United Kingdom, buyers have the choice to either purchase or lease the battery; leasing offers a replacement guarantee if battery capacity falls below 80%.

Charging system

The Renault Zoe incorporates a 'Chameleon' onboard charger that utilizes the motor's power electronics to charge the battery by employing motor windings as inductors within boost or buck converter circuits. This innovative approach minimizes component count but eliminates galvanic isolation between the grid and battery, necessitating rigorous high-voltage fault and grounding checks; charging is interrupted if ground-neutral resistance surpasses 100 ohms.

Its charger employs a three-phase bridge rectifier. For single-phase charging, Neutral is connected to L3 through a 35A relay activated by detection of L2 voltage. However, faults occurring on L2 while L3 remains live can potentially damage this relay.

The 2015 R240 variant discontinued support for 43 kW AC rapid charging to enhance efficiency during low-power home charging. Conversely, the 2017 facelift retained an optional Q90 version capable of full-speed 43 kW rapid AC charging.

Electric motor

Renault introduced an upgraded R110 electric motor for the Zoe in February 2018, delivering increased power output while preserving similar torque and expected energy efficiency. The R90 motor continued to be offered alongside it, with R110-equipped models carrying a slightly higher price tag. Notably, the R110 was Renault’s first motor certified under the WLTP, with commercial availability commencing in Europe by late summer 2018.

In 2019, Renault added the more potent R135 motor (100 kW) to its ZE 50 version.

Safety

The Zoe received a five-star rating from Euro NCAP in 2013, demonstrating solid safety credentials for that period.

However, its updated 2021 model was awarded a zero-star Euro NCAP rating, placing it among a rare group of vehicles with such a low evaluation and raising questions about its compliance with evolving safety standards.

In August 2023, a stationary Renault Zoe was identified as the origin of an explosion within a garage in Neuss caused by a battery malfunction that triggered fire and gas emissions. The event inflicted considerable damage on adjacent properties. Investigations excluded alternative causes and underscored potential hazards linked to electric vehicle battery safety.

Market performance and sales

Retail distribution commenced in France in December 2012 and expanded through early 2013. Initially, 48 units were registered in December 2012; by the end of 2013 total sales reached 5,559 units. Throughout that year, the Zoe dominated France’s all-electric vehicle segment with a market share of 62.8%, becoming the best-selling electric vehicle since its introduction in 2010.

In March 2013, deliveries began in the UK followed by launches in Germany, Italy, and Spain during April. By December of that year, worldwide sales had reached 8,874 units with France contributing approximately 62.7% (5,511 units). Germany ranked as the second-largest market with sales totaling 1,019 units and the Netherlands followed with 547 units sold.

The Zoe entered Norway’s market in April 2014 where it is sold inclusive of the battery rather than leasing it separately. Global sales totaled approximately 11,323 units in that year while France sustained its lead as top market with cumulative sales surpassing 11,529 units. The model achieved global milestones of selling over 10,000 units by January 2014 and exceeding 25,000 by May 2015. Production output reached 50,000 vehicles by April 2016 with cumulative sales exceeding this figure shortly after in June.

In France alone, Zoe set a record with sales totaling 10,406 units in 2015 and emerged as Europe’s best-selling pure electric car that year registering 18,453 new vehicles. Globally it ranked eighth among electric cars sold worldwide in that period. By mid-2016 France accounted for more than half of all Zoe sales worldwide (27,155 units), reinforcing its dominant position.

The Zoe maintained its position as Europe’s leading all-electric vehicle for a second consecutive year in 2016 with total sales of 21,735 units representing a market share of approximately 21.2%, also topping the broader plug-in segment ahead of competitors like the Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV. Worldwide sales approached nearly 32,000 units in 2017 and exceeded over 40,000 units by the end of 2018. By June 2019 cumulative global sales surpassed the milestone of 150,000 units while production at Renault’s Flins plant passed the threshold of 200,000 vehicles in November.

Annual global sales exceeded the landmark figure of 100,000 for the first time in calendar year 2020; during this period Zoe was Europe’s best-selling plug-in passenger car and became Europe’s all-time best-selling plug-in model by December. As of mid-2020 it remained France’s leading plug-in model with registrations exceeding the six-digit mark and had led French electric vehicle sales continuously from years 2013 through to 2019. Total worldwide deliveries reached approximately 285,000 units through December of that year.

In contrast, during calendar year 2021 Tesla Model 3 overtook Zoe as France’s top-selling plug-in electric vehicle.

Renault Zoe sales by leading national markets⁽¹⁾ from 2012 to 2020

Country	Sales
	Total	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012
Template:FRA	84,437	—	18,817	17,038	15,245	11,402	10,406	5,970	5,511	48
REDIRECT Template:DEU	57,603	30,381	9,431	6,360	4,322	2,805	1,787	1,498	1,019
Template:NOR	13,995	2,346	2,090	3,141	2,533	1,818	1,634	433
Template:UK	10,510	—	2,380	1,981	1,175	1,647	1,971	1,104	252
Template:AUT	7,440	2,071	944	1,170	1,391	829	279	387	369
Template:SWE	7,364	2,132	2,036	1,663	533	418	378	204
Template:NED	7,284	2,073	2,208	1,017	781	183	223	252	547
Template:SWI	5,055	—	1,799	908	741	406	478	381	342
Template:ESP	5,025		1,051	1,418	1,327	446	312	289	182
Template:POR	3,381		968	1,305	751	170	153	34
Template:DEN	2,564		568	431	386	612	330	145	92
Template:BEL	1,749		666	294	351	210	33	110	85
Notes: (1) Figures include both passenger cars and light commercial versions.

Accolades

The Zoe secured a position among the top three finalists for the 2013 World Green Car of the Year award.

Concerns

The technology website Techdirt expressed apprehensions regarding the possibility that the Zoe's battery system might incorporate digital rights management software. This speculation arose from Renault’s initial battery leasing contracts, which permitted them to deactivate charging capabilities once the lease concluded. An article from the Electronic Frontier Foundation highlighted that such measures could potentially make the vehicle inoperable if payments ceased or support was discontinued. Renault publicly refuted claims of employing DRM technology through its official Twitter communication.

Trademark dispute

In May 2010, a woman named Zoe Renault from Paris initiated legal action contesting the use of the car’s name, arguing it could subject her to ridicule. However, a French court decided in November 2010 that Renault was entitled to continue using the name.

Phase-out

After a production run spanning 12 model years, Renault plans to succeed the Zoe with the 5 E-Tech in 2024. The Zoe ceased sales in the United Kingdom as of December 2023, and manufacturing concluded in March 2024, having reached a total output of 426,706 units.

See also

• Battery balancing (LBC)
• Government incentives for plug-in electric vehicles
• List of production battery electric vehicles
• Plug-in electric vehicle
• Renault Twizy
• Renault Z.E.
• Zero-emissions vehicle
• Nissan Leaf

External links

• (UK)
• Overview of Zoe models: Equipment, Accessories & Interior
• Renault battery lease buyout and Renault ZOE battery upgrade terms
• Renault Zoe ZE 40 battery specifications