Renault Zoe teased ahead of Auto Expo debut; launch in 2021

Renault has confirmed the debut of the Renault Zoe EV at the Auto Expo 2020 and is expected to launch the electric hatchback in India next year. The Renault Zoe will be making its debut along with Renault’s sub-4-metre SUV compact in its concept form. The Electric Corner, as reported by EVW earlier this month, will have three electric models – Renault Zoe, Renault Twizy and the Renault K-ZE (Kwid Electric).

Renault Zoe EV charging

Renault will be bringing the Zoe as a CKD/CBU initially, gauge the response to an electric car before launching a locally produced one. The Renault Zoe, designed from the ground up as a pure electric car, has been in production since 2012 and is now in its third generation.

The third generation Renault Zoe EV uses a 52 kWh battery pack that offers a range of up to 390 km in a single charge. This is a huge improvement as the first Zoe came with a 22 kWh battery with around 150 km of range and the second generation of Zoe that had a 41 kWh battery that doubled the range to 300 km.

Placed behind the front diamond logo, the new Combo plug comprises both a European standard socket and a two-pin connector for DC charging. Users can charge the Renault Zoe in 9 hours and 25 minutes to its full capacity with a 7kW Wallbox. In 8 hours of charging, customers would get a range of around 300 km. With a 50kW DC charger, the battery can be charged for a range of 145 km in just half an hour.

2019 Renault Zoe interior press image
The MY Renault app that can be used to remote check on the Zoe’s battery range, charging status, start or schedule heating or cooling without affecting the range and plan charging during off-peak hours.

On the exterior, the new Renault Zoe gets C-shaped DRLs, full LED headlamps, fog lights and tail lights, disc brakes on all four wheels and alloy wheels in 15-, 16- and 17-inch sizes. Inside, the Zoe gets a 10-inch TFT instrument cluster that is customizable for lighting and layout and a 9.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Renault EASY LINK multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

On the safety front, Renault Zoe gets a range of driver assistance systems that include Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, front and rear parking sensors, Blind Spot Monitoring and Easy Park Assist, auto-hill hold and automatic parking brake and Active Emergency Braking System.

The Zoe will not have direct competitors as the only long-range EVs in the market are SUV models Tata Nexon EV, Hyundai Kona EV and the MG ZS EV. Understandably the launch of the imported Zoe would be more to understand the Indian electric car customer than meet high volume targets. The closest competitor would be the Nissan Leaf hatchback that is confirmed to launch later this year.