Renault announces EV plans

Renault dealers will sell an electric sedan Down Under in 2012... But you'll buy your battery and power from another place...
discount new cars  » Get the best price on a new Renault Renault will join Mitsubishi and alliance partner Nissan at the pointy end of the electric car games business Down Under as early as July next year.

The renewed French brand made its plans to sell a pure electric car in Australia public in Sydney today. And it wasn't alone -- the announcement was conducted in conjunction with BetterPlace which will provide battery leasing and electricity to Renault EV buyers.

Renault will import and sell the electric version of its Fluence sedan, dubbed Fluence ZE (for zero emission, see pictured), from the last quarter of 2012. That's when the model goes on sale. A small number of Fluence ZEs will arrive in Australia around the middle of next year, however, to 'populate' BetterPlace's electric vehicle infrastructure roll out in Canberra.

The Fluence ZEs will be sold via a discrete group of Renault EV dealers who may also act as agents for BetterPlace. Not all Renault franchises will have the rights to sell the electric cars.

Renault Australia says it will target fleets with the new vehicle, but is also keen to attract private buyers. Unlike Mitsubishi's iMiEV, the conventional four-door sedan will be sold outright -- not leased from day one.

At least the car will... In a departure from conventional 'car for sale' models, the Renault EV purchasers will be required to enter into an agreement with BetterPlace to lease the battery and purchase electricity from the infrastructure company.

BetterPlace will provide recharge points for owners at their homes and in the case of fleets, workplaces. These services will be in addition to it's wider infrastructure roll out which will include a network of automated battery swap-out stations.

BetterPlace boss Evan Thornley was onhand for the Renault announcement. Internationally, the companies are linked, partnering in vehicle/infrastructure roll outs in Israel and Denmark. BetterPlace claims that by the end of 2013 Australia will have the world's largest electric vehicle recharging network.

The Fluence EV is designed to be compatible with the electric infrastructure company's controversial battery-swap system. At this stage it is the only production electric vehicle to be so configured. Renault's other production ready EV, a ZE version of the Kangoo light van features a fixed battery design.

The Fluence ZE also incorporates BetterPlace proprietary technology in it's OSCAR onboard charge monitoring and charge point friendly navigation system. The integrated system also controls audio and other functions.
 
Renault Australia boss, Justin Hocevar, says the Renault BetterPlace joint model will allow Renault to debut the car at pricing that's "competitive" with petrol-powered vehicles. In effect, Renault Australia will wholesale the vehicle to its dealers and the battery to BetterPlace.

Battery lease and power will be sold on what essentially amounts to a parallel of mobile phone call plans. Though BetterPlace is yet to finalise its consumer models, users will be able to nominate a maximum mileage per year. 

"We will be announcing [vehicle] pricing closer to the launch but we intend to provide an EV solution that is both affordable and practical," Hocevar stated.

Hocevar said that pricing for Fluence ZE would be competitive to conventional vehicles.

"Spec adjusted we're talking an equivalent [pricing] level," Hocevar told the Carsales Network at today's launch of the project.

He pointed at the cost of EV battery packs at between $10-15,000 and drew the media's attention to iMiEV's just announced price of just under $50,000.

"I'll let you do the sums," he quipped.

According to Hocevar Renaults Australia and BetterPlace begun negotiations to enter the EV market locally in January of this year. Once presented with the joint sales model, Hocevar described the decision as a "no brainer".

A small group of key Renault dealers travelled to Copenhagen in May to drive Fluence ZEs at BetterPlace's 'Experience Centre' there.

Unlike the conventionally engined Fluences brought Down Under, the ZEs will be built in Renault's Turkish plant. currently the sedans are sourced via South Korea. 

BetterPlace boss Thornley says that cost of operation of the EV Renaults will match or better conventional combustion engine vehicles. He said the company is committed to supplying electricity for its transport infrastructure network from renewable sources.

BetterPlace recently signed an agreement with AGL to purchase $60 million worth of renewable electricity ove 10 years for it's Canberra scheme. AGL is one of three bodies that provided seed funding for the infrastructure company in it's initial capital raising in late 2009.

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