Interview with Serge Yoccoz, electric vehicle project director

Electric vehicles in questions

What is an electric vehicle ?

Electric vehicles are vehicles powered by an electric motor. They are a means of transport that does not emit CO2 while running.

What are its advantages?

• its use does not generate any pollution emissions
• electric motors are silent, considerably reducing noise pollution for both drivers and pedestrians
• electricity is produced in several ways, several of which are respectful of the environment (e.g. solar power, wind, hydroelectric)

What are the disadvantages?

• electric energy is more complex to store than petroleum-based fuels
• limited range compared with vehicles powered by internal combustion engines
• recharging time and life expectancy of the batteries

How has the importance of the electric vehicle changed over the last 10 years?


• rise in worldwide awareness of the link between global warming and CO2 emissions
• toughening legislation (fiscal measures, restricted access to city centres for CO2-emitting vehicles)
• increase in the cost of petroleum-based fuels
• technological evolutions (increased battery range, optimised integration of electric motors)
• a growing call for urban and local mobility

Is Renault working on longer-term solutions?

The Renault-Nissan alliance focuses on continuing work on EV prototypes powered by fuel cells. Though they offer significant gains in range they are more complex to mass-produce and mass-market. See a concrete example with the Scenic ZEV H2 prototype.

The future 100% electric Renault

All the functions of Renault's electric vehicles will only consume electric energy. The zero emissions target will be reached.

The vehicles will be fitted with batteries with increased range and life expectancy, made from materials that produce less pollution that those used in older generation batteries. Recycling procedures will be put into place.

The range could reach 100km in severe driving conditions (combined city and open road use with the air conditioning on) and even more when driving outside cities. A range of more than 50km can be expected. The batteries' life-expectancy is estimated to be six years, i.e. after approximately 5,000 charge cycles.

A concrete example: the project in Israel

The key points

•  an electric vehicle supplied by Renault
•  batteries supplied by Nissan through its joint subsidiary with NEC
•  a nationwide electric battery recharging network built by Project Better Place
•  support from the Israeli government in the shape of tax breaks for customers
The vehicle's performance will meet the expectations of local customers. The vehicle will be launched in Israel in 2011.

> Find out more about Project Better Place
> Find out more about the Renault-Nissan alliance

An innovative economic model

Consumers who buy a vehicle will also take out an energy subscription that includes a per-kilometre charge for the use of the battery.

The battery recharging network infrastructure

Battery life will no longer be an obstacle. Project Better Place plans to build a network of 500,000 battery recharging terminals. An onboard computer will inform the driver of the remaining quantity of electric power and the location of the nearest terminal.

The ideal consumer market

In Israel, where 90% of motorists drive less than 70 km a day and the main urban centres are never more than 150 km apart, the electric vehicle could prove to be the ideal means of transport that meets most of the population's transportation needs.