insideKENT Magazine Issue 30 - September 2014 | Page 125
Many car manufacturers, it would
appear, have done their bit to
appear PC and eco-friendly by
dipping their toes into the electric
car market. Yet, Renault conversely
has done a Peter Kay-esque
'running bomb' from the top diving
board and totally immersed itself
in developing some fabulous new
state-of-the-art electric cars, the
latest of which, the ZOE, really is
a magnificent example of what you
can do if you are prepared to step
outside of the box.
You have to really admire Renault
on its unswerving faith in this area,
and even more so when you
see what such a strong ethos can
result in.
From the moment you clap eyes
on this splendid little car, you're
reminded of the likes of sci-fi
classics such as Tron or Blade
Runner. It may be based on the
Renault Clio platform (and is
assembled in the same factory, in
fact), but this really does feel like a
car from the future, for the future.
Sleek and shiny, the model we had
was curvy in all of the right places
and finished off with the most
magnificent shimmery pearlescent
white paintwork.
My favourite part is the car's ability to show you whether you're generating
electricity from its wheels when travelling downhill, or if power is being taken
from the battery. Minimalist, and yet very flashy looking, without ever looking
tacky and overdone, everything in the ZOE serves a purpose – and does
it very well indeed.
In regards to driving the ZOE, it really is hard to believe you are driving a
car that runs entirely on electricity. Sure it's very quiet and smooth (meaning
the radio sounds great and holding a conversation is easy), but it has a very
conventional setup, particularly in regards to its gears and handbrakes. In
terms of performance, it lacks almost nothing over a similar sized petrol car.
With the ability to go from 0-30mph in four seconds and 0-62mph in a nottoo-shabby 13.5 seconds, the ZOE is impressively nippy, and even out on
the open roads and motorways, you never really feel aware of a lack of
power. This is partly due to the fact that unlike its petrol-driven counterparts,
an electric car's torque is available from 0mph, which actually makes the
ZOE feel a lot quicker than the figures above suggest. When it comes to
range, Renault suggests that the ZOE should manage about 130 miles on
a single charge.
Internally, you're treated to a hitech and very comfortable
experience. A light airy feel
enhanced by big generous
window s, plush, modern-looking
seats and a white gleaming trim is
set off with the most incredible
looking ergonomic panels and
consoles displaying information
about your journey, plus what the
car is doing in regards to energy
and performance.
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