Renault is racing to become one of the first motor manufacturers to have full-on electric vehicles on public roads within the next 18 months or so. Three of its electric concepts from Frankfurt 2009 have been confirmed for production. The Fluence EV is the last to get approval.
The car is to be manufactured on the same production line as fossil-fuel powered Fluence models at the OYAK-Renault Bursa plant in Turkey. A Renault statement says it will benefit from the plant's high quality standards, cost effectiveness and local sourcing power. This will make it a reasonably-priced option when compared to petrol and diesel models. Production starts in the first half of 2011.
Renault will first launch the midsized sedan in Israel and Denmark, followed by other countries. Buyers will be able to choose from three battery charge options; a standard charge, a rapid charge and the so-called 'QuickDrop' battery exchange.
A Renault executive has confirmed to WCF that the Renault-Nissan alliance would share certain platforms in pursuing economies of scale for zero-emission cars. The Japanese brand will go first when it commences sales of the LEAF in the US, Japan and Europe next year.
