Electric Cars: The Basics
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The Renault Rafale PHEV SUV
Groupe Renault (Renault Group/ Renault S.A.), is a leading player in the global automotive sector. The company was established in 1899 and has over the course of its history, manufactured varied vehicles, to include: trucks, tractors, buses and even tanks! Renault has been part of the global Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance since 1999 (previously, Renault-Nissan Alliance). The partnership makes the partnership the 3rd largest automotive group in the world after Volkswagen and Toyota. Renault offers both, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) for passenger cars and commercial electric vehicles. The portfolio includes:
- All-electric Renault TWIZY
- All-electric Renault ZOE E-TECH
- All-electric Renault ZOE Van E-TECH
- All-electric Renault Megane E-TECH
- All-electric Renault Scenic E-TECH
- All-electric Renault 5 E-TECH
- All-electric Renault Kangoo E-TECH
- All-electric Renault Master E-TECH
- Renault Rafale E-Tech Plug-In Hybrid
- Renault Captur E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid
- Renault Megane E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid
- Renault Megane Sport Tourer E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid
For those keen to migrate to electric vehicles (EVs), but undecided between an all-electric car (pure electric car) or a plug-in hybrid electric car, we at e-zoomed encourage opting for an all-electric car. The availability of pure electric cars across all segments and budgets is excellent, offering style, technology, versatility, practicality, fun and more than adequate real-world zero-tailpipe emission electric range. Though there are many reasons to chose a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) over a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), the two key reasons are, lower life-cycle ownership costs and lower life-cycle environmental impact.
Contrary to what is usually suggested, BEVs, also known as all-electric cars/ pure electric cars, are cheaper to own, operate, charge (refill) and maintain over the life of the vehicle, compared to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) petrol and diesel cars. In stark contrast, conventional petrol and diesel vehicles have the highest cost of ownership of a vehicle.
Moreover, on a life-cycle emission basis, BEVs have far lower emissions compared to PHEVs or conventional petrol and diesel vehicles. BEVs life-cycle emissions are potentially 50% lower compared to a conventional petrol or diesel vehicle! And do keep in mind a BEV does not have a tailpipe i.e. zero-tailpipe emissions (improving local air quality). So owning a BEV is both, good for the environment and the household wallet!
Of course, for those still keen on a plug-in electric car, the choice and availability has also increased significantly over the recent years, with PHEVs capable of delivering practical real-world zero-tailpipe emission electric range. The earlier generation of PHEVs had a small (less than 10 kWh) onboard EV battery, with a real-world range less than 30 km. Though the electric range (105 km) for the Renault Rafale EV is an improvement from the earlier PHEVs, some of the latest-generation of PHEVs offer a range up to 160 km on a single charge.
The Renault Rafale E-TECH PHEV has a 22 kWh (400V Lithium-ion) onboard EV battery with a claimed WLTP range up to 105 km. Adjusting for real-world driving conditions, expect a zero-tailpipe emission electric range closer to 90 km. In comparison, an all-electric car can deliver a range up to 500 km on a single charge, if not more! It is worth noting that most day-to-day driving needs are short distances (less than 30 km) i.e. to the local grocery store, gym, school runs etc. Therefore a 90 km e-range is certainly more than adequate! To leverage the benefits of driving a plug-in hybrid electric car, it is imperative that the electric mode/ electric range is leveraged. Owning a PHEV and not driving on the electric mode, is similar to driving a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) car.
The Rafale family coupé-SUV does not offer DC charging capability, but not surprising, given the size of the onboard EV battery. The EV incorporates a 7.2 kW onboard AC charger. The EV can be charged from 0%-100% in 2 hours and 55 minutes via a dedicated smart residential EV charger. We encourage the use of a solar compatible smart EV charger, like myenergi zappi, along with an on-site PV system and energy storage system.
It is the best way to further lower the costs of driving an electric car, and further reducing the vehicles life-cycle emissions footprint. At e-zoomed we offer very attractive home solar & home battery storage bundle offers of varying sizes and budgets. Of course, solar and battery storage can also power your home and further reduce the household energy bills and emissions footprint! Enquire today for a hassle-free quotation!
The all-wheel drive (AWD) mid-sized Renault Rafale PHEV crossover SUV has a 3-cylinder, 1.2 L turbocharged petrol engine with 300 HP maximum power, and 230Nm + 205Nm torque (not cumulative). The PHEV can achieve 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds. The top speed of the EV is 180 km/h. The manufacturer claims a fuel economy up to 0.5 L/100 km. Of course, to achieve anyway close to this claimed economy the PHEV will need to be driven a lot on the e-mode! If the e-SUV is driven primarily using the petrol engine, expect a less efficient fuel economy. The PHEV has 4 driving modes (eco, comfort, sport and personal). For maximising electric range, the eco mode is best!
The coupé styled PHEV is available in two trims: esprit Alpine and atelier Alpine. The manufacturer includes the following as standard: 12.3-inch driver information display, 9.3-inch head-up display, 12-inch OpenR Link screen Arkamys 6-speaker audio with DAB and built-in Google, wireless phone charger, emergency brake assist, blind spot warning, distance warning alert, lane departure warning, sound for pedestrians, rear cross traffic/pedestrian alert, driver attention alert and more! The Rafale PHEV has been awarded a Five-Star NCAP Rating.
The higher trim (atelier Alpine), also includes as standard: intelligent predictive variable damping, electric power hands-free tailgate opening, hands-free parking, 360° around view 3D camera and Solarbay opacifying panoramic sunroof. The five-door five-seat PHEV does not have a frunk, but of course, for good reason i.e. the frunk in a pure electric car is where an internal combustion engine is placed. In a PHEV a frunk is not possible. The five-seat Rafale offers a spacious (legroom/ headroom) and practical interior with a 539 L boot. The interior is also good quality!
The PHEV has been developed using the Renault-Nissan CMF-CD platform. The e-car derives it name from the C.460 Rafale monoplane introduced in 1934. Interestingly, the name is also used by the latest-generation fighter jet, the Dassault Rafale. The Rafale PHEV (D-Segment) is 4.71m long and 1.61m tall. The EV has an attractive exterior styling! By way of comparison, the all-electric Polestar 4 SUV is 4.84m long and 1.53m tall. The Polestar 4 also has a coupé roofline!
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Attractive coupé exterior styling | Zero-tailpipe emission electric range not as good as some of the latest PHEVs |
| Practical electric range for day-to-day needs/ all-wheel drive (AWD) | Interior quality not as premium |
| Decent level of onboard technology/ equipment | Limited rear-view |
Gallery
The Renault Rafale PHEV SUV (credit: Renault)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Body Type: | SUV |
| Engines: | Petrol-Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (2 Options) |
|---|
| Renault Rafale E-TECH techno esprit Alpine (from € N/A) |
| Renault Rafale E-TECH atelier Alpine (from € N/A) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 22 kWh (166 kg) |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard AC charger: 7.2 kW AC (0%-100%: 2 hrs 20 mins) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 12-15g (CO2/km) |
| EV Battery Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity : 8.8 kWh | € 2.10 |
| Battery net capacity : 11.6 kWh | € 2.78 |
| Battery net capacity : 12.0 kWh | € 2.87 |
| Battery net capacity : 13.10 kWh | € 3.14 |
| Battery net capacity : 14.10 kWh | € 3.37 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1613 |
| Width (mm): | 1866 |
| Length (mm): | 4710 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2738 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 10.4 |
| Boot Space (L): | 539 |
| Frunk (L): | N/A |
| E-Tech 4×4 300hp plug-in hybrid | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 22 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 105 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km): | N/A |
| Fuel Consumption (L/100 km): | 0.5 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard AC charger: 7.2 kW AC (0%-100%: 2 hrs 20 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 180 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 6.4 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 220 |
| Horsepower (HP): | 300 |
| Torque (Nm): | 230 + 205 (not cumulative) |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,934 – 1,980 |
| Towing Capacity (Braked/Unbraked)/ (kg): | 1,500/ 750 |
| Colours: | 4 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Top Reasons To Buy A Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Never have the reasons to buy a pure electric car been more compelling, than in 2024. The past decade has witnessed a significant maturity of all types of electric vehicles (EVs), to include, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
In particular, BEVs have improved significantly, to include: e-range, styling, performance, choice, availability and more! A BEV, also known as a pure electric car, is propelled using energy stored in an EV battery via an electric motor. While a PHEV uses ‘hybrid technology’, to include, an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor, to propel the vehicle. A BEV does not use an internal combustion engine!
In terms of zero-emission electric range, the latest generation of all-electric cars can achieve between 200 km to 500 km on a single charge. Some even more. As an example, the all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQE saloon has a claimed electric range up to 618 km (WLTP) on a single charge. We can continue to expect further improvements in battery performance and electric range in the coming years.
In terms of style and performance, we are now spoilt for choice across all budget segments. Even the likes of the famed ultra-luxurious automotive manufacturer, Rolls-Royce Motors Cars has joined the race to the migration to pure electric cars.
The all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre is a defining chapter in the history of the famed luxury automotive manufacturer, as it migrates to the production of electric cars. From 2030, Rolls-Royce will electrify its entire portfolio of luxury cars. The Spectre is the first production pure electric car, which was announced in September 2021. The launch of the Rolls-Royce Spectre is also a defining moment for the global automotive industry!
| Top Reasons To Buy A Pure Electric Car | |
|---|---|
| Tailpipe emissions: | A pure electric car has zero-tailpipe emissions i.e. improves air quality in the immediate area. |
| Cheaper to ‘charge’ than ‘fill’: | Significantly cheaper to recharge a full EV battery, compared to filling a full tank of petrol or diesel. An EV battery can be charged for as little as€10, while filling a tank of fuel is usually over€100! |
| Cheaper running costs: | Cheaper to drive per km, compared to an internal combustion engine (ICE) petrol/ diesel car. An EV costs less than 10 cents per km to drive. |
| Lower maintenance costs: | Lower maintenance costs, compared to aninternal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. Pure electric cars have fewer moving parts, so less can go wrong! |
| Lower noise pollution: | Lower noise pollution,compared to aninternal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. Noise pollution is as detrimental to health, as air pollution! |
| Smoother and quieter drive: | BEVs are in general silent, improving the travel experience in the cabin. Moreover, the delivery of power is smoother, further enhancing the driving experience. |
| Instant torque: | Yes certainly, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) have better torque performance compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. BEVs can deliver immediate torque. The better torque performance of electric cars, further contributes to the ‘fun factor’ in driving an EV, compared to a conventional car. |
| Vast choice for all budgets: | A vast range of fantastic EV available on sale, for all budgets, body types and aspirations. |
| Government grants: | Attractive government subsidies to support the uptake of electric cars. Take advantage while still available. |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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