Renault axes Fluence Z.E. electric saloon

Renault has ceased production of its all-electric Fluence Z.E. saloon car at its European factory in Turkey due to poor sales.

Figures from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that only 75 Fluence Z.E.s were sold in the UK since the car went on the market in 2011. Of those 75 units, just eight were registered in the UK during 2013.

On Bing: see pictures of the Renault Fluence Z.E.

Find out how much a used Renault Fluence Z.E. costs on Auto Trader

Priced from £17,845 after the £5,000 government plug-in car grant subsidy and with an official range of 115 miles, the Fluence Z.E. appears to have failed to appeal to UK buyers. 

The car uses a 94hp electric motor, which means the Fluence Z.E. can accelerate from 0-62mph in 13.7 seconds, while top speed is limited to 84mph – although the performance and claimed range are more than likely mutually exclusive.

Renault

Once the battery is depleted, like many electric cars there are a number of ways to recharge the electric Fluence.

The car can be topped up using a standard household mains electricity supply, with recharge times standing anywhere between 10 and 12 hours.

There’s also the option of a 3kW ‘quick-charge’ at public charging points, taking six to nine hours to recharge.

For the Fluence Z.E. Renault also devised a third charging option – in conjunction with EV battery switching company Better Place, the Fluence Z.E. was the first fully electric vehicle to use a ‘Quick Drop’ system, whereby the physical battery unit could be unbolted and replaced with a fresh item in a few minutes.

A sign that electric cars remain a niche product

However, alongside the news that Renault will cease production of the car, Better Place has also recently filed for liquidation.

The Israeli company has been trading for only six years, but a lack of funds and resources has meant founder Shai Agassi has now asked the Lord District Court in the firm’s home territory for permissions to dissolve the company.

Dan Cohen, Better Place chief executive officer, said:

"Unfortunately, after a year’s commercial operation, it was clear to us that despite many satisfied customers, the wider public take-up would not be sufficient and that the support from the car producers was not forthcoming."

With Renault investing so heavily in its electric car strategy, offering the Twizy urban mobility vehicle, the Zoe all-electric supermini and the Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. for commercial purposes, the news that production of its first electric car to market – the Fluence Z.E. – will be stopped is a blow for the manufacturer.

It’s a sign that, in the UK at least, electric cars remain a niche product, despite the number that have been launched or which are due on sale within the next few months.

Interestingly, there are rumours that Renault is working on a super-frugal plug-in hybrid car that will be revealed at the Geneva 2014 motor show.

The Fluence Z.E. will remain in production at Renault’s Busan plant in South Korea as the Renault-Samsung SM3 EV for sale in other global markets.

On Bing: see pictures of the Renault Fluence Z.E.
Find out how much a used Renault Fluence Z.E. costs on Auto Trader
Renault Fluence Z.E. review (2012 onwards)
Renault Fluence Z.E. battery leasing deal
Renault working on 141mpg plug-in hybrid

By Sean Carson, contributor, MSN Cars