Renault Zoe Z.E.

Renault Zoe Z.E. 40 at a glance

What the 41 kWh battery changed

Renault and LG Chem developed new cells for the Z.E. 40 instead of enlarging the old pack. The 192 cells each hold 63.35 Ah at a nominal 3.75 V, and they fit into the same space under the floor and rear seat as the 22 kWh battery of 2012. The total capacity is 45.6 kWh, of which 41 kWh can be used, and the pack weighs about 305 kg. By our calculation it stores about 134 Wh per kg at pack level, against roughly 80 Wh per kg for the first Zoe battery, and holds 86 % more usable energy for a pack that is only about 25 kg heavier.

The gain in range was large. Renault quoted 400 km on the NEDC cycle for the R90 version, compared with 240 km for the R240 car it replaced, and about 300 km in real use against 170 km. On the stricter WLTP cycle, introduced in 2018, the Z.E. 40 is rated at about 300 km. Owners of earlier Zoes with a rented battery could switch to the 41 kWh pack for about €3,500.

R90, Q90 and R110: the three motors

The Z.E. 40 was sold with two motor versions at first, and a third arrived later:

• R90: Renault's own motor, built for the longest range, charging at up to 22 kW AC.
• Q90: a version for fast AC charging at up to 43 kW through the Chameleon charger, with a slightly shorter NEDC range of about 370 km.
• R110: shown in February 2018 and sold in Europe from late summer 2018, with 80 kW and 225 Nm. It gave the Zoe noticeably better acceleration and kept the 41 kWh battery.

Sources disagree on the output of the R90 and Q90: Renault material and the old version of this page give 92 PS (68 kW), while other references list 65 or 66 kW. All three motors drive the front wheels through a single-speed gearbox. The suspension stays simple, with MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear.

Charging times in practice

How long a Z.E. 40 takes to charge depends on the motor version and the power supply. By our calculation, ignoring losses, filling 41 kWh from empty takes about 5.5 hours on a 7.4 kW home wallbox and a little under two hours on a 22 kW public post. A Q90 on a 43 kW AC charger can, in theory, add 80 % in well under an hour. A standard household socket needs a full day or night. The Z.E. 40 has no DC fast-charging socket; CCS arrived only with the Z.E. 50.

Prices and battery rental in France

At the launch in October 2016 Renault sold the Z.E. 40 in France without the battery, which customers rented monthly. The Q90 cost €500 more than the R90 in every trim.

Battery rental started at €69 a month for up to 7,500 km a year (Flex) or €119 a month with unlimited mileage (Relax). A government bonus of €6,300 applied to all versions, and a launch offer combined car and battery for €149 a month for drivers who scrapped a diesel more than ten years old. Buying the battery outright was reported to add about €8,000. Our cost of ownership calculator helps compare rental and purchase over several years.

Cabin, boot and safety

The interior is the same as on the 22 kWh Zoe. It has five seats and a digital instrument display, and Zen and higher trims add the 7-inch R-Link touchscreen also used in the Clio and Captur. Because the battery sits under the floor, the boot keeps its full volume of about 338 litres. The cabin is quiet at town speeds, and the higher seating position gives a good view.

Euro NCAP tested the Zoe in 2013 and gave it five stars, with 89 % for adult occupants, 80 % for children, 66 % for pedestrians and 85 % for safety assistance. That rating covered the Z.E. 40 during its time on sale. The later collapse of the score to zero stars applies to the Z.E. 50 tested in 2021, which is explained on our main Renault Zoe page.

Z.E. 40 against other electric cars of 2017–2019

At its launch the Z.E. 40 offered more range than any electric car at a similar price in Europe. Its weak point was the lack of DC charging for long trips, where the Leaf and Ioniq were stronger. Other battery models of that period and today are gathered in our electric cars section.