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. 125