Autocar - First for car news and reviews

Renault has begun planning a range of electric cars will include a bespoke small car that’s bigger than a Twingo, a battery powered version of the Kangoo and a Megane-based saloon.

The small car will be a five-seater, with a unique design that won’t be shared with any other cars. Renault is keen to build an electric car that isn’t just a reworking of a current model, and will give the car what it describes as an ‘emotional design.’

That means a compact city car with flair and style...Read the full article

It is all very plausible that Renault are starting the development of a range of electric cars, but why didn’t they start the development a very long time ago.

 

It does all appear to be very strange that so much publicity is being given to this kind of vehicle when the AirCar as invented by the Frenchman Guy Negre and his company MDI doesn’t appear to get all that much press.

 

Negre has battled so very long and hard to develop this amazing concept through to final production stages, battling along the way world based motor manufacturers and petrochemical companies who have attempted to thwart his plans…………  I wonder why ?

 

It is now very interesting to learn that TATA, the owners of Jaguar and Land Rover are now reported to have purchased exclusive production rights in India and Air France have recently announced they are planning to test MDI’s AirPods for six months before equipping its airports with the vehicles.

 

Such startling alternative and very realistic energy does make Renault’s electric efforts appear to be somewhat non descript……………..

 

 I cetainly know that someone in Israel has devloped a system in which you pull up into a filling station onto a ground level rig; You then release the battery from underneath the car and a fully charged one is placed in your car instead.  The whole process is supposed to take only 1 minute.  Of course you pay a fee that will hopefully will be more competetive than a full tank of petrol.

Oh yes. An electric Renault. That's what we all lust after, isn't it ? Jesus bloody wept.

Not sure about these battery exchange schemes. Imagine you just bought a brand new car. On your first long journey you have to exchange your empty battery for a recharged one. This turns out to be a tired 3 year old with a 40 mile range. The driver of an older car is then lucky enough to be given your new battery, which he then holds onto and recharges at home. Having just replaced the Li-Ion on my laptop after 3 years I know how pathetic older batteries can be at retaining charge, and I certainly would NOT be happy swapping new for old.

The idea of the replacement scheme is that you don't own the battery. You rent it, like a mobile phone SIM in a lot of ways. You can find out all about Israel by looking here: http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretransport/magazine/16-09/ff_agassi Makes some very interesting reading if you ask me.