May 20 2012
A slightly worrying review of the Renault Fluence ZE – Seeking a surge but suffering range anxiety.
I am still not convinced about leasing the battery, but at least the first two years are now free!
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Oct 29 2011
I read a review of the Renault Fluence ZE during the week in Renault drives into the electric future. The aspect that caught my attention the most is:
Renault has confirmed the price of the Fluence ZE will start at €21,620 on the road (after the €5,000 Government grant), the same pricing as a Fluence diesel. But the big difference between the Fenault’s approach and Nissans is that buyers will lease the battery pack for €79 per month instead of buying it outright with the car.
The upfront cost seems very reasonable, but I think that the monthly rental would be quite significant to somebody who does low kilometrage. However, the reasoning behind this approach is explained as follows:
Renault’s approach is based on the fact that the industry is focussing on battery technology these days there are likely to be significant advances in the coming years, particularly in terms of range and weight.
As these improvements are rolled out, owners can upgrade the Fluence’s battery pack and benefit from the better range. The risk of obsolence and redundancy therefore rests with the car firm.
It is an interesting approach, and I wonder if it will succeed.
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