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· In a world first, Renault is to make its Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. prototype electric vehicle available for test drives. The technology seen on this car is very similar to that which will feature on the brand’s upcoming production vehicles currently under development.
· The mass-marketing of affordable Renault electric vehicles is poised to begin in 2011.
· The Renault-Nissan Alliance is targeting to become the leading manufacturer of mass-market zero-emission vehicles.

The Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. prototype is powered by a 44kW (60hp) electric motor and is equipped with a 15kWh battery. With 18 months remaining before the release of Renault’s forthcoming production electric vehicles, Kangoo be bop Z.E. provides a range of approximately 100km. By the time of their launch, Renault’s electric vehicles will have benefited from an evolution to their battery technology which will take their real-world range to 160km.

Optimizing the range of electric vehicles is a key parameter, which is why Renault is taking all the necessary steps to make this aspect of electric vehicle use as simple and efficient as possible.

For many motorists, driving an electric vehicle will be a new experience. The absence of noise from the motor, the immediate availability of peak torque and the linear acceleration curve mean that drivers will need to develop new habits. This has led Renault to give motorists an opportunity to the sample Kangoo be bop Z.E. which previews the brand’s forthcoming technology.

As a volume car manufacturer and leader in the field of safety, Renault is also doing everything in its power to produce electric vehicles which meet the same exacting standards as the brand’s current internal-combustion-engined vehicles.

The aim is to produce electric vehicles which boast exactly the same advantages delivered by Renault’s current line-up, namely comfort, cabin space and safety. Electric vehicles are models in their own right.
Electric vehicles are a perfect fit for Renault’s eco? environmental stance which seeks to mass market products that have a minimal ecological footprint across their full lifecycle.

Electric vehicles represent a breakaway solution which permits sustainable mobility for all. In compliance with Renault’s environmental stance as expressed by its Renault eco? hallmark, massmarketed electric vehicles are seen as a means to achieve substantial environmental savings.

CONTENTS

THE ALLIANCE’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE STRATEGY
The Alliance’s commitment to electric vehicles
Synergies within the Alliance
Renault’s product plan
The different phases of the launch of Renault’s electric vehicle range

RENAULT KANGOO BE BOP Z.E.
Specific, functional styling
An all-electric motor
Latest-generation lithium-ion battery
Charging methods
Driving an electric vehicle: new habits
Safety: a core priority
Technical data

THE ALLIANCE’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE STRATEGY

A commitment to electric vehicles

The Renault-Nissan Alliance intends to mass market zero-emission vehicles. This commitment is founded on the underlying principle that electric vehicles – unlike all other technologies (internal combustion engines, hybrids) – are zero-emission vehicles during their use on the road. Depending on how the electricity they use is produced in the different countries where they are driven, their well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions (equivalent carbon dioxide) can vary significantly. That said, electric vehicles generally tend to emit less greenhouse gases than equivalent internal combustion-engined vehicles, as illustrated in the graph below which compares the well-to-wheel emissions of internal combustion-engined and electric vehicles over a standard NEDC European homologation cycle:

In the case of nuclear electricity, or electricity produced from a renewable source (hydro-electric, wind-generated, photovoltaic electricity), the well-to-wheel performance of an electric vehicle is undoubtedly superior. Even based on the techniques currently employed to produce electricity in Europe, the CO2 emissions of an electric vehicle are half those of an internal combustion-engined vehicle.

The carbon footprint is even more favourable in the case of a vehicle which is charged at night. This is the most commonly employed method and enables motorists to:

* use electricity produced during the night at off-peak times which would otherwise be wasted since electricity cannot be stored,
* achieve real savings thanks to the off-peak rates introduced by energy providers. In France, for example, EDF’s off-peak electricity is up to 40 per cent cheaper than peak rates.
* use the cleanest electricity production method (hydraulic, nuclear, wind-generated) when thermal power stations are on stand-by.

Electric vehicles represent a breakaway solution which permits sustainable mobility for all. In compliance with Renault’s environmental stance as expressed by its Renault eco? hallmark, mass-marketed electric vehicles are seen as a means to achieve substantial environmental savings.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) in the 2008 edition of the annual World Energy Outlook claimed that the worldwide demand for energy is likely to increase by 1.6 per cent per year on average between 2006 and 2030 if no new policy is implemented; a figure which would represent a global increase of 45 per cent over the period. This would lead to the same increase in CO2 emissions if the energies employed continue to be principally oil or coal based.

The report also reviews policy options for tackling climate change after 2012, when a new global agreement – to be negotiated at the UN Conference in Copenhagen at the end of the year – is introduced.

Renault and Nissan rank among the leading carmakers in terms of their commitment to achieving significant results regarding the cutting of carbon dioxide emissions. Since the implementation of this ongoing effort several years ago, Renault emerged once again as one of the three most efficient European carmakers in terms of CO2 emissions in 2008.

* 60 per cent of vehicles sold by the group (Renault and Dacia) in Europe in 2008 emit less than 140g of CO2/km (compared with 48 per cent in 2007).
* 20 per cent of vehicles sold by the group in Europe today emit less than 120g of CO2/km.

Meanwhile, when Renault unveiled its strategy in January 2008, it announced that it would mass-market electric vehicles by 2011.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is set to market a comprehensive range of high quality, reliable and innovative electric vehicles at affordable prices. Electric vehicles, which are particularly quiet and which emit zero-emissions during their use on the road, represent an affordable, breakaway environmental solution.

Synergies within the Alliance

The Alliance is actively forging associations with governments, city authorities and energy companies with a view to promoting the widespread use of electric vehicles across the world. The Alliance has already signed 26 such partnerships (up to the end of May 2009).

In May 2009, 10 years after the establishment of the Alliance, Renault and Nissan announced that their cooperation is to be stepped up. A small, bespoke team has been introduced with the mission to speed up and extend the synergies that are expected to enhance the performance of the two companies, and more particularly in the field of electric vehicles.

The electric vehicles produced by Renault and Nissan, for example, will be equipped with jointly-developed batteries. The Alliance is pooling its expertise with a view to achieving synergies at all levels and to enable key electric assemblies, such as the drive train, to be shared. Renault and Nissan are also merging their purchasing activities and pursuing the standardisation of components in order to obtain the economies of scale required to permit the development of mass-market electric vehicles.

Although Renault and Nissan are seeking to share components, they are developing distinct line-ups of electric vehicles, with each line-up to be marketed and distributed separately.

Renault’s product plan

In 2011, Renault will begin by introducing two electric derivatives of vehicles which have until now been powered by an internal combustion engine. The first will be a family saloon and will go on sale in Israel and in Europe. The second, also scheduled for release in 2011, will be an electric version of Renault Kangoo Express which will above all target professionals and fleet operators.

The electric vehicle line-up will then expand into other segments, with two new cars featuring specific, particularly innovative styling and architecture engineered to house an electric motor. This vehicle, too, is planned to be introduced in 2011, while a fourth model is due to come to market at the beginning of 2012.

The different phases of the launch of Renault’s electric vehicle range

It was back in January 2008, that Renault released details of its strategy regarding electric vehicle development. This announcement came three years ahead of the planned launch of its upcoming production electric vehicles in 2011 (NB: new vehicles are currently developed over a period of three years).

* Renault’s first electric concept car was Z.E. Concept which was shown at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.
* The next step in the programme is the release of a demonstrator vehicle – Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. – for test-drive purposes. With 18 months remaining before the launch of the first commercially available models, this demonstration car features technology currently under development. Kangoo be bop Z.E. does not preview the production electric Kangoo Express. Its aim is to enable drivers to get a feel for the sensation of driving an electric vehicle and to familiarise themselves with the new technology.
* In 2010, Renault will bring out prototypes of the forthcoming electric Renault Kangoo Express for road-test purposes and to show how the project has progressed, as well as continuing to introduce Renault customers to this new form of zero-emission mobility.
* The first production electric Renault Kangoo Express will be available in the Renault sales network by the middle of 2011.

RENAULT KANGOO BE BOP Z.E.

Specific, functional styling

Like the Z.E. Concept, which was unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, Kangoo be bop Z.E. is equipped with low-energy LED (light-emitting diodes) front and rear lighting with a view to optimising energy use. Again in a bid to reduce energy consumption, its aerodynamics have also been significantly reworked. Kangoo be bop Z.E. sits on full disc wheels, and its ground clearance has been lowered by 20mm compared with that of the production Kangoo be bop.

An illuminated gauge on Kangoo be bop Z.E.’s body sides displays how much charge is left in the battery by simply activating the remote central locking control. Inside, another gauge to the left of the instrument panel provides the driver with a permanent indication of how much battery charge remains.

Kangoo be bop Z.E. is derived from the production Kangoo be bop but is instantly recognisable by its Energy Blue body colour, while the Renault logos on the grille and wheels are picked out in satin-finish blue-hued chrome. Inside, satin-finish chrome and metallic fluorescent green details provide a unique ambience which is enhanced by the specific grey velour upholstery and embroidered ‘printed circuit’ motifs.

An all-electric motor

Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. is an all-electric zero emission (in road use) vehicle. It generates no emissions of CO2, smoke or particulates.

* Motor

The car is powered by a 44kW (60hp) electric motor which boasts energy efficiency of 90 per cent, a figure which is far superior to the 25 per cent of internal combustion engines due to energy losses. This motor revs to 12,000rpm and immediately delivers peak torque, which is a constant 190Nm. Acceleration and pull-away from low speeds are particularly responsive. The electric motor is also very quiet.

* Reducer

Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E.’s electric motor is coupled to a reducer which replaces the gearbox traditionally mated to internal combustion engines. This reducer has a single output ratio and ensures linear, stepless acceleration. This motor cannot stall since there is no clutch.

* Power electronics

Electrical energy is transmitted to the motor via a power electronics unit which incorporates a controller. This transforms the 400V direct current into three-phase alternating current to power the motor’s rotor and stator. It also regulates the power and torque of the electric motor.
Situated near the controller, the converter converts the 400V DC stored in the traction battery into 12V DC to feed Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E.’s conventional onboard electrics and auxiliary functions (interior and exterior lighting, audio system, electric windows, etc.).

The junction box distributes the power current to the motor functions (battery, climate control and heating systems). This junction box also includes the charger which converts the 220V AC into 400V DC for battery charging purposes.

Latest-generation lithium-ion battery

The battery comprises 48 power modules, each of which incorporates four elementary cells. It is inside these cells that the electrochemical reactions take place, enabling electrical current to be produced or energy to be stored. Each module is of the size of a laptop computer. They are positioned in two rows, side by side. The four cells of each module store 8.4V, making a combined total of 400V for the 48 modules which make up the battery.

The battery of this prototype has a capacity of 15kWh. Kangoo be bop Z.E. ensures a range of approximately 100km. In 18 month’s time, however, production Renault electric vehicles will benefit from an evolution to their battery technology which will deliver a real-world range of 160km.

Kangoo be bop Z.E. is equipped with compact, innovative lithium-ion batteries produced by AESC (Automotive Electric Supply Corporation), a Nissan-NEC joint venture founded in April 2007. The performance of these batteries compared with former-generation nickel metal hydride batteries is superior in every area, including range, performance, reliability and safety. Lithium-ion batteries do not suffer from the so-called memory effect resulting from incomplete charge cycles which can ultimately lead to a fall-off in capacity. The AESC battery is maintenance-free and is expected to deliver between 80 and 100 per cent of its original capacity for an average duration of six years. It will also be possible to charge it for short cycles with no adverse effect on capacity.

The compact dimensions of lithium-ion batteries enable the vehicle’s architecture to be optimised and a wide range of applications to be envisaged. In the case of Kangoo be bop Z.E., the 250kg battery is housed underneath the floor, between the front and rear seats. Its fitment necessitated several modifications to the structure compared with the standard Kangoo be bop:

* The central section of Kangoo be bop’s floor was modified to house the battery without having to modify the wheelbase.
* To accommodate the battery, the floor is 45mm higher. As a consequence:
o the front seat rails are located directly beneath the seats in order to maintain the same cushion height.
o the car’s ride-height has been lowered by 20mm to ensure the same easy access for rear passengers.

The battery of the production electric Kangoo Express will be located underneath the boot floor, without affecting cargo space.

The battery is cooled by ambient air flow thanks to the heat dissipation properties of its aluminium casing.

Last but not least, lithium-ion batteries are recyclable and the Renault-Nissan Alliance is actively working on establishing recycling processes and infrastructures suited to automotive batteries. It is important to remember that lithium-ion batteries – which are made up of non-toxic materials (lithium, manganese oxide or iron phosphate, and graphite) – do not present any danger for the environment, unlike former nickel-cadmium batteries. To put the demand for lithium supplies into perspective, the Alliance’s 250kg AESC batteries contain just 3kg of lithium. According to the mining companies Chemetall and SQM, lithium reserves are currently estimated to be between 14 and 17 million tonnes.

Charging methods

Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. is charged via a socket located behind a flap at the front of the vehicle alongside the right-hand headlamp.

* Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. permits two different battery-charging methods:
o a conventional charge via a household mains supply (10A or 16A 220V) which can charge the vehicle in between six and eight hours. This method is perfectly suited to vehicles which are parked up overnight or during the day at the workplace.
o a faster charge using a 32A 400V three-phase socket (infrastructure in the process of being developed) enables 80 per cent of Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E.’s battery to be charged in approximately 30 minutes.

Although Kangoo be bop Z.E. is not equipped for rapid battery exchange, this facility will be available on the other vehicles of the future range.

* A standard connection

Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. is equipped with a so-called MarechalTM-type socket which will not feature on the production electric Kangoo Express.
Twenty or so car manufacturers – including Renault – and energy groups are currently working with the German group RWE with a view to developing a universal standard plug.

This universal standard plug was shown in Hannover last April and will be employed to charge Renault’s forthcoming electric vehicles. This three-phase plug can be used with a 400V supply and, by the time these vehicles come to market, will enable a complete battery charge in approximately 20 minutes. This multi-partner agreement marks a significant step forward regarding the development of mass-market electric vehicles.

* Range optimisation

Range management is a key consideration when it comes to electric vehicles, and this is why Renault has made a point of making optimisation as straightforward and efficient as possible.

In addition to the information provided by the exterior gauges, a specific MMI (Man Machine Interface) has been developed to keep the driver informed about the vehicle’s current state of charge and remaining range:

* A gauge alongside the speedometer displays the battery’s level of charge,
* An ‘econo-meter’ uses a new a new colour-coded system to tell the driver how economical his or her driving is in terms of energy consumption (light blue for ‘normal’ vehicle use, dark blue for ‘optimal’ driving and red for excessive energy consumption likely to reduce the vehicle’s range).
* The trip computer is adapted to the needs of electric vehicles and indicates the number of kWh remaining, average and instantaneous energy consumption and remaining range (in kilometres).

EDF and Renault recently signed an agreement concerning a battery charging system known as Power Line Communication (PLC) which permits communication between charge terminals and electric vehicles. This EDF-developed technique enables the safe exchange of data between the charge terminal and the vehicle with a view to transferring invoicing details and the location of the nearest station as a function of the vehicle’s remaining range. Renault will carry out integration tests with this system onboard in its upcoming vehicles, and the news marks a concrete step forward to bringing customers additional services likely to contribute to the growth of the electric vehicle market in France.

Driving an electric car can even be fun, trying to accelerate as gently as possible with a view to minimising energy consumption.

Driving an electric vehicle: new habits

Driving an electric vehicle is a new experience. The silent-running motor, immediate availability of peak torque and linear acceleration call for new driving habits.

An electric motor’s inherent features are its high torque at low speeds and the immediate delivery of power. Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. consequently pulls away briskly, while mid-range acceleration is sprightly from low speeds. The reducer ensures that this acceleration is particularly progressive and this in turns contributes to a sensation of driving comfort.

When the driver presses on the accelerator pedal, the lithium-ion battery provides energy to the electric motor which converts this electricity into the mechanical energy necessary to drive the wheels. The battery charges during deceleration: when the driver lifts, kinetic energy is recovered by the motor which converts it into electrical energy. The current generated in this way is used to charge the battery.

Meanwhile, ride performance (body-roll control, steering, etc.) is identical to that of the internal-combustion-engined Kangoo be bop.

The noise generated by the electric motor when running also requires a different mindset. At idle, the motor is totally silent and the driver only knows that it is running thanks to an audible signal and a green warning light. When the vehicle is moving, the faint whining sound which is specific to electric motors provides the driver with audible, if muted feedback. Last but not least, the electric motor produces very few vibrations to deliver an appreciable level of ride comfort compared with that of a internal-combustion engine.

Safety: a core priority

As a volume manufacturer, Renault has benefited from its significant knowledge in the realm of safety to produce electric vehicles which meet the same exacting standards expected of a current internal combustion-engined vehicle.

Renault’s safety experts have added their own particular line of expertise to that of all those involved in the project. The advanced tools at Renault’s disposal include a range of structural dimensioning calculation software, failure and crash simulators, and physical prototype evaluation.

The incorporation of a 250kg battery in the vehicle has naturally not been without effect and has called for specific bracing of the body structure in order to protect against impact. Given that the battery is as sensitive a component as a conventional fuel tank, it, too, has undergone bespoke strengthening with a view to ensuring that its modules are effectively protected. The layout of the electrical wiring has also been optimised with a view to preventing chafing, while the power supply is immediately switched off in the case of a big impact.

RENAULT KANGOO BE BOP Z.E. (prototype demonstrator)