The Renault Fluence Z.E. is a large family car, powered solely by a 22kW lithium-ion battery and an electric motor. This means that buyers of the Fluence Z.E. need never stop at a petrol station again. On top of this, the Fluence Z.E. is significantly cheaper than its all-electric rivals. However, what are the Renault's drawbacks and is it a viable alternative to a traditional liquid-powered car?
Insurance Groups: 16 - 16
MPG Range: N/A - N/A
Latest Renault Fluence Z.E. Car Reviews:
Compared with many other electric cars the Renault Fluence is much cheaper to purchase, and although there is an additional cost to lease the battery, this system does mean that the cost of replaci...
Renault Fluence Z.E. Overview
Unlike hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius, the Fluence Z.E. does not have a conventional combustion engine to extend its range when the juice from the battery runs out. As such, the Renault can travel for a maximum of 115-miles between charges, making it useless if you need to travel long distances. Also, the electric car charging infrastructure is still in its infancy and you'll have to plan journeys in advance to ensure you're not left without power in the middle of nowhere.
It's surprisingly nice to drive and nippy too, with maximum torque arriving instantaneously thanks to the nature of the electric motor. It'll only reach 84mph but you'll get there quite quickly. The Fluence Z.E. is built for comfort rather than handling and it is very refined and comfortable, even at high speeds.
There's very little outward indication that this is anything other than a standard Renault saloon and it's the same story inside. The cabin is conservatively styled and there's plenty of room in the rear seats, however, the battery pack does steal space from the boot.
At £22,850 (£17,850 with the government electric vehicle grant) the Fluence Z.E. is cheaper than both a Nissan Leaf and a Peugeot iOn but the list price doesn't include a battery. Instead you have to lease the battery from Renault who will charge you around £70 a month for the privilege. Renault claim that this is to allay fears over battery unreliability but to us it seems like a bit of a rip-off.
Background
The Fluence Z.E. is based on the standard Fluence, Renault's offering in the large family market which has been in production since 2009. It is Renault's only offering in this sector since the Laguna was taken off sale in early 2012.
Summary
The Fluence Z.E. is a decent large family car but thanks to its limited range and the weak charging infrastructure currently in place, it is simply not practical enough to cut the mustard. The charging infrastructure will improve in time but the Fluence Z.E. will still be incapable of travelling long distances without lengthy charging stops. If you really have an eco-itch that you need to scratch, buy a hybrid.
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