EV - Renault Zoe - good choice?
Discussion
We have decided that we want one of those EV things - you can tell I am keeping neutral on the subject!
Renault Zoe have been spotted- looking at approx 4 years old so around 2021.
Are these good cars?
Especially from a long term cost of ownership perspective?
Is the Battery reliable, especially as it ages? 8 year warranty fairly applied? Earlier vehicles showing low risk of failure after 8years?
There are loads to chose from, but of course they are not all in the right colour! Typical mileage range from 15k to 30k. I usually buy purely on condition (occasionally 100k mls plus for ICE)....
...But what is the wisdom re EVs. If a good one is say 30k mls is there a line of thinking that it may be better for battery life, likely exercised more, likely not sat at 100% for weeks.
Or is lower mileage better?
Or is mileage completely irrelevant? Just go off the battery State of Health?
Which brings me to (as an EV virgin), if SoH is an important figure, why don't any adverts seem to state it?
Thanks folks...
Renault Zoe have been spotted- looking at approx 4 years old so around 2021.
Are these good cars?
Especially from a long term cost of ownership perspective?
Is the Battery reliable, especially as it ages? 8 year warranty fairly applied? Earlier vehicles showing low risk of failure after 8years?
There are loads to chose from, but of course they are not all in the right colour! Typical mileage range from 15k to 30k. I usually buy purely on condition (occasionally 100k mls plus for ICE)....
...But what is the wisdom re EVs. If a good one is say 30k mls is there a line of thinking that it may be better for battery life, likely exercised more, likely not sat at 100% for weeks.
Or is lower mileage better?
Or is mileage completely irrelevant? Just go off the battery State of Health?
Which brings me to (as an EV virgin), if SoH is an important figure, why don't any adverts seem to state it?
Thanks folks...
Edited by C-J on Wednesday 23 July 15:56
My son has owned one of about this vintage for the past year. He's in France which meant choice was even wider I guess but can't change things otherwise. All I can say is he's been very happy with it so far. Performs exactly as promised and no battery issues. Research we did before hand suggested the earlier cars did have some battery issues and there was some discussion about owning/renting the battery but he chose to own with the 8 year guarantee. I briefly worked for a company that recycles these batteries and I wouldn't see replacement after that as overly impractical/impossible. Probably not DIY but easier than swapping an engine. If you have any specific questions I'll pass them on.
Think it's hard to read too much into the mileage about battery health without knowing more about charging cycles and journey length which could impact on it. A lot of them here are ex company cars so I imagine mostly short journeys.
Think it's hard to read too much into the mileage about battery health without knowing more about charging cycles and journey length which could impact on it. A lot of them here are ex company cars so I imagine mostly short journeys.
Super - thanks.
If he or anyone knows what a 'good' SoH (at say 30-35k mls) is that could be useful as a comparator.
Or perhaps utterly irrelevant! Maybe my best strategy for second hand purchase is to ensure 100% that the warranty is valid - and then not worry about it until year 8!
Good point re battery purchase v lease, I'd forgotten that. Did Renault stop offering that option at some stage? I assume that all are owned unless stated otherwise - but perhaps that is a risky assumption.
If he or anyone knows what a 'good' SoH (at say 30-35k mls) is that could be useful as a comparator.
Or perhaps utterly irrelevant! Maybe my best strategy for second hand purchase is to ensure 100% that the warranty is valid - and then not worry about it until year 8!
Good point re battery purchase v lease, I'd forgotten that. Did Renault stop offering that option at some stage? I assume that all are owned unless stated otherwise - but perhaps that is a risky assumption.
I spoke to a Renailt salesperson today - his opinion is that battery degradation is typically 1%-2% a year. Appreciate that it depends on charging and usage - but does that figure sound typical?
Also I've noticed that a few Zoe's around 15k-20k miles have either new front tyres- or MOT advisories for low tread. Compared to a any fwd ICE that I've had that seems fast wearing (especially considering that the OEM tyre seems ro be Michelin). Or is 20k-ish normal for the extra weight and torque of an EV.
Also I've noticed that a few Zoe's around 15k-20k miles have either new front tyres- or MOT advisories for low tread. Compared to a any fwd ICE that I've had that seems fast wearing (especially considering that the OEM tyre seems ro be Michelin). Or is 20k-ish normal for the extra weight and torque of an EV.
We bought a 22 plate Zoe used on its first anniversary and they are good little family cars. It’s mainly used for school/nursery run, and local shopping, they have a big boot, reasonably comfortable, very quiet (obviously) and are much nippier than any normal petrol or diesel car of similar size. Ours is the GT+ and it has heated seats, heated steering wheel, reverse camera, fast charging, heat pump, etc. Will apparently do about 220 miles on a charge, and we only charge on a 3pin plug once a week, ideally when the Octopus Tracker rate drops down.
The downsides the build is a bit cheap (we haven’t broken any bits) but the doors are lightweight, the paint is thin, and they have silly push/pull handles on the rear doors that small kids can’t use. The entertainment system is basic, but has android auto/car play, and its own nav function. The app is basic and can be temperamental, should be able to time charging and heating, but really needs to be plugged in each night for that. It is not one of the vehicles approved by octopus for the cheaper agile ev rate, so you need a wall charger that is approved, (for our low mileage we didn’t bother).
It does respond reasonably well to a heavy right foot and whilst not “fun” you can hustle it along, the brakes aren’t bad with the regeneration, but no one pedal driving like you can on a Leaf or Tesla. Ours has a 5 year warranty on the car and 8 on the battery, worth checking this as Renault went from 3 years to 5 years, but then back to 3 years again, I guess that is telling in itself, so worth trying to get the extra cover, I just don’t know what time period it covers.
The depreciation in early years is big, our when we bought ours it was 1 year old less than 5,000 miles and was about 60% of the OTR price, the recent models should not have any battery leases to worry about, and I would not consider a battery lease car. For popping about they are great, and it’s perfectly ok doing 50-100 mile trip including the motorway, but if I had to do those daily then I would probably look elsewhere unless I had to have a small car.
The downsides the build is a bit cheap (we haven’t broken any bits) but the doors are lightweight, the paint is thin, and they have silly push/pull handles on the rear doors that small kids can’t use. The entertainment system is basic, but has android auto/car play, and its own nav function. The app is basic and can be temperamental, should be able to time charging and heating, but really needs to be plugged in each night for that. It is not one of the vehicles approved by octopus for the cheaper agile ev rate, so you need a wall charger that is approved, (for our low mileage we didn’t bother).
It does respond reasonably well to a heavy right foot and whilst not “fun” you can hustle it along, the brakes aren’t bad with the regeneration, but no one pedal driving like you can on a Leaf or Tesla. Ours has a 5 year warranty on the car and 8 on the battery, worth checking this as Renault went from 3 years to 5 years, but then back to 3 years again, I guess that is telling in itself, so worth trying to get the extra cover, I just don’t know what time period it covers.
The depreciation in early years is big, our when we bought ours it was 1 year old less than 5,000 miles and was about 60% of the OTR price, the recent models should not have any battery leases to worry about, and I would not consider a battery lease car. For popping about they are great, and it’s perfectly ok doing 50-100 mile trip including the motorway, but if I had to do those daily then I would probably look elsewhere unless I had to have a small car.
C-J said:
I spoke to a Renailt salesperson today - his opinion is that battery degradation is typically 1%-2% a year. Appreciate that it depends on charging and usage - but does that figure sound typical?
Also I've noticed that a few Zoe's around 15k-20k miles have either new front tyres- or MOT advisories for low tread. Compared to a any fwd ICE that I've had that seems fast wearing (especially considering that the OEM tyre seems ro be Michelin). Or is 20k-ish normal for the extra weight and torque of an EV.
No experience of the Zoe but they’re on our radar to replace our e-up so this thread piqued my interest. On the tyre thing, I think it’s the torque. Our up only has 90 ish bhp but is likely to be on its third set of front tyres soon at only 34k miles. My other half is a bit all or nothing when it comes to throttle modulation which doesn’t help, but I admit jumping back and forward from ICE to EV, I can sometimes be a bit clumsy off the line in it too. Also I've noticed that a few Zoe's around 15k-20k miles have either new front tyres- or MOT advisories for low tread. Compared to a any fwd ICE that I've had that seems fast wearing (especially considering that the OEM tyre seems ro be Michelin). Or is 20k-ish normal for the extra weight and torque of an EV.
Thanks for the replies and interest.
Test drove one today - actually drove quite nicely.
Less nice was the realisation that a coolant change is required periodically - at approx 500 quid! Anyone know if this is fluid strength dependant - or mandatory to preserve guarantee period? Online renaukt table seems to indicate mandatory.
Anywhere that can carryout at a more palatable cost - with sufficient paperwork to satisfy battery waranty?
Also - is the % v range display an accurate indicator of max range (in current conditions etc). Eg. If showing 20% remaining and say 50 mile range, does that scale up to approx 250miles range now at 100% charge / 200miles at 80% etc.
Test drove one today - actually drove quite nicely.
Less nice was the realisation that a coolant change is required periodically - at approx 500 quid! Anyone know if this is fluid strength dependant - or mandatory to preserve guarantee period? Online renaukt table seems to indicate mandatory.
Anywhere that can carryout at a more palatable cost - with sufficient paperwork to satisfy battery waranty?
Also - is the % v range display an accurate indicator of max range (in current conditions etc). Eg. If showing 20% remaining and say 50 mile range, does that scale up to approx 250miles range now at 100% charge / 200miles at 80% etc.
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