News: Renault Zoe Eliminates Range Anxiety

Renault Zoe E-Tech R135 EV 50kWh GT Line hit a fresh record by driving nearly 425 miles on a single charge.

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Performance

Renault Zoe E-Tech R135 EV 50kWh GT Line hit a fresh record by driving nearly 425 miles on a single charge. 180 miles more than her official range WLTP. For the range fearers roaming ironically out there, this should floor you. Even more so at the detail that she performed this at a speed averaging only 19mph, circling a circuit, with the absence of any features for comfort turned on.

Test of Endurance

These tests rely on the type of people carrying them out. This one occurred at Thruxton; it was tried out by Mission Motorsport: a charity for motorsport armed services. Each one, except one, served as veterans. The sixth and only exception was Kevin Booker, an EV Fleet Manager holding a strong love for hypermiling, the term given for using the highest amount possible of range from a car.

The Ride

So, as the sun rose, they began the test. 20 miles for each motorist, the batteries in their Zoe's kept snug and warm during the night. As a trial run, the cold conditions quickly cooled the batteries down & the trial was halted.

A re-do was necessary. Recharged for another go, each driver knew exactly what to do, they had practised countless times for two weeks beforehand. James Cameron, CEO and founder of Mission Motorsport declared

No plan survives first contact- a very military geared line, one that made sense. Our attempts often need two tries to reach satisfaction, and that is natural.

The Real Run

The only time I felt range anxiety was when I thought we wouldn't crack 450 miles- Booker.

The following day, the Zoe had broken Desjardins' record. The driver was Tristan Dover, of the Queen's Royal Lancashire Regiment in earlier days- I got a lump in my throat breaking the record.

As a result, the Zoe had a battery range of 5 percent left, am Enso-shod compatriot of 13 percent, yet they continued for a long time before finally easing down to stop.

Moral

Think of this when an unwanted fear of venturing out in your EV occurs.