870 Miles Without Refueling? Renault Bets On Range-Extending EVs

The engineers are targeting a 466-mile electric range before the gas engine kicks in.

Renault Group RGEV Medium 2.0 800-volt platform

Photo by: Renault

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Mar 16, at 6:47am ET

Add Motor1.com as a preferred source in Google

Comment

THE BREAKDOWN

Renault's next electric cars will have a gas engine working as a generator to charge the battery.
The range-extender option will boost range by over 400 miles.
Without a range extender, Renault targets nearly 470 miles of range.

Renault’s ally Nissan has been selling range extenders for a decade, but the French brand has so far steered clear of using combustion engines as generators to charge the battery. However, that’s about to change. It’s working on a new platform intended for compact and midsize models, engineered primarily as EVs but with support for a small engine to boost overall range significantly.

The RGEV Medium 2.0 electric platform calls for EVs with a maximum electric range of 466 miles (750 kilometers) in the WLTP cycle. An equivalent model fitted with a range extender is claimed to cover up to 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) without refueling. Renault quotes emissions of under 25 grams per 62 miles (100 kilometers), which would enable the company to meet increasingly stringent regulations across Europe.

The platform’s modularity will make range extenders possible across multiple body styles, including sedans and SUVs. Interestingly, Renault even mentions minivans, which might be a subtle hint that the people mover could return one day after the Espace was turned into an SUV. The R-Space Lab concept could potentially preview the minivan’s comeback.

Photo by: Renault

Future models built on the next-generation platform will also come in 4x4 flavors with a towing capacity of up to two metric tons. All of them will have something in common: ultra-fast charging courtesy of an 800V electrical architecture. Renault says models arriving in Europe from 2028 will be capable of adding significant range in just 10 minutes of charging.

Ideally, the company wants to slash development costs by up to 40 percent. Work is already underway in France on products that will cover the C and D segments, which currently account for 30 percent of the brand’s sales. The new arrivals are part of a “second wave of vehicles” that will also include next-generation hybrids.

For 2030, Renault has set an ambitious target. It wants all cars sold in Europe to be either hybrids or EVs, aiming for a fully electrified lineup in just four years.

Renault 800-Volt Platform RGEV Medium 2.0

Renault Group RGEV Medium 2.0 800-volt platform

Source: Renault

What do you think?

View

Comments

Motor1's Take: While the BMW i3 has come and gone, range extenders are gaining traction in Europe. Besides Nissan, Renault’s rival Volkswagen is also studying the technology, which is increasingly popular in China. In the meantime, the VW-owned Scout brand will sell the Terra truck and Traveler SUV with an optional range extender in the United States.

It remains to be seen whether customers will accept the extra layer of complexity to cure range anxiety. With batteries improving and hybrids getting better, some would argue there’s no need for range extenders. However, charging infrastructure remains unevenly developed, making long trips difficult to plan in some parts of the world. An EV with a gas engine that charges the battery could be a solid alternative to a plug-in hybrid.

Catch Up With Renault:

The Renault Bridger Shows It's Still Hip To Be Square

The New Renault Twingo Is a Retro-Chic EV for the Masses

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The Motor1.com Team

Share this Story

GO TO COMMENTS

(

)

Got a tip for us? Email: tips@motor1.com

View all comments ( )

Popular

Audi Is Spending $4 Billion On A New US Factory For Big SUVs

Porsche Is Building 15 One-Offs, Including A $15 Million Car

Alfa Romeo Has Had It With Huge Screens

Subaru Teases A New Manual WRX, But Only For Japan