One highlight of the event was the 300-km Inter-city rally. Renault Fluence Z.E. took part, alongside about 100 vehicles, including hybrid, electric, and cell-fueled cars, to evaluate performance, safety, fuel savings and, vitally, CO2 emissions. Although the total distance to be covered is greater than the EV’s maximum range, the driving team swapped batteries at half distance to demonstrate that electric vehicles need not be restricted to a life within the city walls.
Fluence Z.E. won the Inter-city rally, in front of competitors such as Tesla Roadster or Opel Ampera, thus proving its superiority.
Fluence Z.E. also won 5 other prizes, thanks to its driver, Grégory Fargier, its co-pilot Sylvie Savornin, and Renault's tech team: 1st place in the manoeuvrability test, award for the best energy efficiency, Fluence Z.E.’s entire well-to-wheel CO2 output of 57g/km was also rewarded, award for its local emissions and a design award for vehicle having the best integrated charging solution.
Members of the press and public were able to test drive Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Z.E. on display on a "Ride and Drive" track. Participants also had the opportunity to pit their eco-driving skills against targets set by Renault’s Challenge Bibendum experts.
"Challenge Bibendum sees the vehicles needed for tomorrow’s road mobility as ‘Clean, Safe and Connected.’ The Renault Fluence Z.E. embodies those three attributes completely. The Alliance is at the forefront of EV technology and Challenge Bibendum is the perfect platform for us to demonstrate how the future of personal mobility will look,” said Thierry Koskas, Electric Vehicle Program Manager at Renault.