The French post office bought loads of these to deliver post etc . When they went to sell/replace them after x years use, their batteries were still in great nick. they ended up using the batteries like a large group of Tesla powerwalls on French islands where diesel generators were the power source. Just connected them to a few Windmills...Just think of the Aran Islands running on used car batteries and a few wind turbines...
Zoe has had a decent upgrade under the skin with a light face lift on outside keeping the R&D cash where it matters in that car. The shape was a bit ahead of it's time back in 2014 and seems to sit very well in todays car park world anyway. Liked the geographical demonstration rather than just saying 'it's all you'd need' good job on clearly justifying / illustrating the point. MG ZS EV has to be hunted down, if not available in ROI, be a very interesting glimpse at what is available up the road and will at some point be making it's way south in the used market.
Another good review Bob. I had Renaults many years ago, before being lured to other brands. I did have good experiences with them but then French cars in general gained a reputation for problems when compared to Japanese and German brands. Thank you for all your reviews and expertise.
The 22kW AC charge rate is definitely the big bonus of the Zoe on Irish charging network at the moment. I think there are fees coming in the next few weeks for the 22kW chargers and there are a few 150kW DC chargers starting to roll out according to ESB
I’ve noticed that a lot of new rapid chargers are not installing a 22kw option. I’m so glad the Zoe now has CCS charging. It was in danger of being left behind.
Great Review Bob. I have mine 7 weeks now, some points to note are auto lights & auto wipers as standard. B mode for regenerative braking excellent & displays the brake lights below 65kph. You also can toggle the dash to show another screen instead of the green leaf
Great review, covering all the real world points , not any silly “Top Gear” things. Very glad your assessment is very similar, as am getting one this week. Many thanks Bob.
Great review. Salient, to the point, informative, no bullshit, no polite blowing sunshine up Renault's backside, hard data combined with practical observations. The Map graphic was a great way to illustrate your point on range. I bought a car in the past based on your review, and you were bang on the nail.
Great review and a great car. I would love to have one tomorrow; I have off street parking, so home charger installation a doddle, and want to go electric. Just one problem. Still prohibitively expensive, so ‘no can do.’
Alun Hoskins still prob worth shopping around with Irish suppliers? Couple of phone calls & emails round uk suppliers reduced the cost considerably. Good luck with it.
Hi Bob, enjoyed the review as ever, have an eSoul but the Zoe would certainly be my second choice. Interested in your comments on pricing they are definitely overpriced but huge drop in battery costs over the last 10 years means that we cannot just assume that's the reason. Transport Evolved were looking at this recently and were suggesting that the manufacturers are artificially keeping the prices high as the last thing they want are cheap EVs stifling the sales of their petrol and diesel cars in which they still have a huge investment. Maybe the subject of a future investigation...?
Recently test drove the Zoe. First time doing decent mileage in an EV @ 248klm with 17% remaining. Charged overnight on the granny charger and got up to 40% or 150klms. Agreed on the “tinny”comment regarding doors/boot and no height adjustment on the front seats. Look forward to your review of the Citreon C4e..👍
Thanks, Bob. I can't believe the purchase grants and free charging option! Bought my Zoe RTLine in the UK and it came with a weird boot moulded insert which I don't use. It also came with an annoying clicking sound from the hatch which the dealer fixed after two visits to clean up rough spot welding. Otherwise, it's a great, overpriced second car. Someone's making a killing!
Renault shoukd offer a commuter option pack: arm rest, better phone connectivity option, heated steering wheel and seat cooling and alternative to 🍃 for energy usage assessment.
Great down to earth review for the bogman from the bogman! No bullshit. Only problem with the Renault is that it'll probably break down on a regular basis. I'd love to see the same car built by Toyota.
I wish they'd stop putting subwoofers right in the middle of the storage area! My Prius has speakers in the door and they're fine, all you need. Having a stupid box stuck in the middle of the storage tray is completely useless, and means you can't slide things in and out.
Good evening Bob; another fantastic review by your good self. A proper review non of this bbc crap. I really like the little ZOE but I wish Renault would make a larger ‘ev’ only car because ev is the way forward but I need boot space for wheelchairs. I run an Alhambra and find that fits my needs perfectly. As always, greetings and from Cumbria.
Excellent Review Bob, I like the look of the car. I would love to own an Electric car but at the moment they just don't any sense. I get the range is good in newer EVs but where is the normal family size Saloon/SUVs? They can't be got. It be great to be able to buy a Ford Mondeo EV (for example) under 40k or similar EV that doesn't cost the earth! I even considered buying a Nissan Leaf but found it small not practical lacking in legroom (I am tall). Why can't Renault have the Megane in EV etc? The new Peugeot e208 cost almost must as the 508 petrol/Diesel. Most of these EVs are too small, too pricey and don't suit the needs of most Irish Drivers.
E.X.P.E.N.S.I.V.E!! €32,000+ OUCH!!! This has a range of only 233 miles and with its sardine-can size, this will not appeal to a large majority of families that can only afford ONE car...that needs to be all-versatile to meet their varying travel needs. Consumers will be much better off buying a 'regular' 2020 Corsa or 208 and saving themselves €16,000!
As you know Bob. That, beside you, is Great Britain. It includes Wales and Scotland (with England) - of course, I'm putting this for any American viewers, who still Britain is England!
enjoyed the review as others pointed out great to actually get a "car" review and not a drag/speed test with a few stats thrown in. what would be great to see would be a comparison review of like for like models ICE/EV equivalent (say a Cleo and Zoe) and 2 families over a week or two and how they get on, usability/practicality/cost / overall experience... there are so many people confused and dumbstruck at the whole ICE/EV debate and what they should do when changing next. anyway great review of the Z
Bob, You got out of the car review game for a while, some time back. At least so it seemed to me back in the day. And to be honest, I missed that quite a lot. Then for a while it seemed you started to feel the pressure of the competition on youtube, as somehow the vibe of your channel had changed after you returned. Still getting the updates though and after watching this episode, I am glad to see the old Bob Flavin is back! And maybe, that all went on in my own head and I got a cluttered perception of what car reviewers are supposed to act like based on watching all the other channels. But after some soul searching I cannot but conclude my perception hadn't changed, on the contrary. The smaller independent youtube car content creators are the icing on the cake in this space for me, and to me you were the epitome of that movement. I'm really happy you are back, or maybe and/or also, that I'm back. And possibly you have been back for a while now and this is the first time I noticed it? Who knows, what I am trying to say in a very long winded way, is thanks for sticking around and working so hard to keep your groove! Loved this review and looking forward to other reviews! Lastly, on the Zoe: I have a fetish for sunroofs. I am willing to accept a lower mileage in range, or as it will be for me in the second hand market, a higher one in miles on the clock. Are you aware of a sunroof as an option for the Zoe? I know many fuel efficient cars were devoid of any luxury to limit loss of range to "unnecessary" nice-to-haves in favor of must haves like eco thresholds etc. But as an avid miles gobbler, I have learned for me light coming in from above somehow makes the cabin more airy and gives me more energy on long trips. Preferably the ones who can be opened to create airflow. But that aside. And Renault used to be the king of the sunroofs, so the fact the Zoe doesn't have one, strikes me as odd for this brand. Oh, and the arm rest is really an omission that ought to be banned to the history books. As a safety feature, it is proven the more relaxed you are physically in the car, the better equipped you are to respond to situations around you. Just like cruise control now has been part of almost every car as it has proven to improve fuel efficiency, the arm rest does that to the ability of the driver to stay focused without being strained.
Hi Jan, thanks for the comment. I've been reviewing cars here for ten years and in that time I've missed one week without uploading something so I'm not sure where you got the impression I was gone?
@@BobFlavinVideo Thanks for replying man! I'm not sure now anymore, clearly it was my perception at the time. I think like maybe over a year ago? Or longer, but it doesnt matter as I was clearly mistaken! I surely don't want to give you the feeling I'm holding you accountable. I know how much time and effort goes into scripting, filming, editing and uploading videos. So basically it boils down to the fact I'm back...
It's a great car, enjoyed the review thanks. Way overpriced though considering the huge drop in the cost of batteries in the last few years, that and the rubbish infrastructure (UK) is what's putting off sales.
None of the Tesla's drive really good, Model 3 isn't bad but it's no Porsche Taycan or Mercedes EQC in handling or price. I didn't leave them off the list because I forgot them, it's because they don't drive all that well
My dad had Renault 4s and 5 and a Renault 18 with a 4 stood wheel on front and a 3 stood wheel on the back, cause the parts were to dear. But modern Renault's are not my style, now Bob I do wish to buy an E golf when they prove themselves, I was going to buy a new Prius, but because of Alan Shatters lack of Garda stations and prisons, and so many cars getting stolen for export, and stolen catalytic converters are a common problem now, thanks Bob it was interesting.
Why can't the charging leads be like mains leads on vacuum cleaners - built in on a sprung-loaded recoiling system, so they don't take up valuable boot space?
Probably perfect size for most people. Typically there's only one person driving and maybe 10 percent of the time you have passengers, at least in the US. Higher initial cost but with no maintenance expenses and all the ICE expenses and ever increasing repair costs, EV's are immensely cheaper to operate over time. For people that keep their cars a long time. I think the soonest I've traded a car was 8 years, the longest was 14, other than two leases I had. People that churn through cars always needing the next shiny new toy are just burning money.
"Standard sized family hatch"? Since WHEN is a tiny car like this considered to be standard/family sized? The Fluence and Laguna are officially, "Compact Saloons". The Zoe and Clio are, at best, "Super Minis".
If my Parents could afford the ZOE, this is what i would tell them to buy and to hell with Diesel or Petrol Power as they only drive 2 mile here and 3 mile there.. (Belfast was a bit further to the right when you were doing the journey planner bit, but i'll let you off with that though Bob 🤣)
Whats the interior size - is it bigger than a Fiesta, what would you compare it to in interior size. The leaf seemed to sell alot more than these. Like to hear whether renting the battery was a good idea from any Zoe owners as Renault was unique in offering this as an option to cut the sticker price of the car. I would also note anyone driving such long distances in a car would normally take a brake (often to refill the cars fuel somewhat) and anyone who drives that long without a reasonable stop, I want to avoid driving anywhere near as fatigue is an accident waiting to happen. I would note that in Germany all gas stations will not HAVE to include a recharge station (you can assume it will be fast chargers). Still seems strange that car designers are still unsure what to do with the charging plug and why do car owners need plugs anyway (we don't bring a hose to access gas at a petrol station).
Bob Flavin Brilliant. They should make more of it. It arrived in iOS 9 four years ago and as far as I’m aware Renault are the only OEM to have it. Please keep mentioning in your other reviews when it’s not there 😁 Last year iOS13 allows for maps to be drawn on both displays at same time but I guess it will be another four years until we see that.
The only car that uses Type 2 connector for single phase, 3 phase and DC, as intended. I do not know who allowed the CCS nonsense, as 2 lower pins are not necessary. And most CCS cars do not support 3 phase, even though they have physical connector. They just left 2 puns blank. So, with CCS, it is either 7kW (whole day of charging) or DC fast charging. 22kw is fast enough where DC charging is not available. In my country, 3 phase is everywhere.
That's a very nice car. However its too expensive , in my opinion, as all ev's are. By the way what is your opinion about natural gas cars, Bob? Great review as always....
Why are car designers not considering where the charge cables will be stored. They design where a spare tyre will go but a cable in an specifically designed ev car? It's not like cables differ in europe bar the plug end. Can bob ask the next ev car spokesperson as Renault are not unique to this problem
I like the car just I'm not sure about the ZOE name, or if they keep it at least have a small badge with Z.E on it, I dunno mostly because I'm young and friends will say it's a girly car ect.
manufacturers love EVs. They can push the unit price up to silly levels so instead of selling a new car for £150 profit, they can sell an EV even the size of Zoe for at least £5000 profit if not more. The Zoe is one of the best main stream EVs but like all the others, they are too expensive.
A pre-owned Zoe is really great value. A great car for people wanting an EV city car. But the new Zoe is way too costly. Only a little bit cheaper than the Model 3. And if I was going to spend that much, the Tesla has a lot more going for it.
I agree enirely that (with the possible exception of Tesla) EV pricing is based on huge demand and miserly availability. They can all make great cars like this but the price is the inhibitor. Sure, they add in a few bits and bobs that may be on the option list on a similar ICE but they also (in the UK) take advantage of the Government subsidy that you may not enjoy in Eire. It's common knowledge that the current cost per kwh of a battery pack is $140 and reducing. So this Zoe is $140x52 = $7,280 or around €6,450. Add that to the base cost of a similar ICE and it is still many thousands of Euro below the list price. I suppose you can't expect a Dinosaur to vote for extinction.....
Please renault, Nothing wrong with an ordinary old fashioned key. We bought a new Renault last year, but wont buy another one if it has another key card, such is my dislike of the keycard
You prefer the Zoe to the Kia eSoul? Really? The new eSoul has a 64kWh battery and is a bigger, more practical car.. Not sure about Ireland but in some countries CCS is a paid option in some variants,
It has some stupid flaws that any potential buyer should know about. And the biggest stupidity is that it could be fixed with firmware, but Renault just does not care. If you live in a warm climate (never below 7 degrees C) these complaints/issues do not apply to you. When it is cold, you can not control the traction battery heating. So if being on a journey when it is below -5C your maximum charging speed is 7kW even at 20% SoC. To get full charging speed the traction battery needs to be above +7C. The heating of the cabin can not be controlled during charging. A workaround exists, heating can be turned on thru the app. But the temperature will still be drop to about 10C if it is below -10C outside. The heating/cooling thru the app is limited to 10min, no matter what, but it can be repeated every 10min manually... So it is not sufficient in low temperatures as it will not heat up the cabin or the traction battery enough when it is below +5C in 10min. The supplied single-phase 230V cable is strict 10A only and has no adjustments neither in the charging cable nor in the car settings, it is always maximum charge speed and always to 100% SoC.
If we dont have an alignment with other EU states on pricing and charging costs then the green recovery will be a trickle in Ireland while we watch the rest of the world move on.
HI BOB, GREAT REVIEW IN TNE MAIN, BUT YOU MISSED THE FALSE FLOOR IN THE BOOT, UNDER WHICH THERE IS EXTRA SPACE FOR STOWING THE CABLE(S), AND THE NEW 60/40 SPLIT FOLDING REAR SEATS. NOR DID YOU MENTION THE 50KW DC CCS CHARGING RATE, FASTER THAN A TESLA.. NICK
11:14 What on Earth are you doing?...you wouldn’t be driving as the crow flies! 🤦♂️ Belfast to Wexford is 316 km by road, over undulating terrain. There’s no way it would make it.
Bob throw an adult in the passenger seat 2 kids in isofix in the back and god knows you ll be lucky to get out the estate, never mind the boot is shocking
Not that I will be buying an electric car anytime soon, even as a simpler BEV over an ICE, reliability is still an issue. Seriously Renault, you have been making the Zoe for many years now, much longer than BEVs from other mainstream manufacturers and even with a simpler powertrain you can only deliver poor reliability. Moral of the story I think is avoid any Renault if you value reliability.
@@eamonnmcdermott1939 Not at all. No electrical issues since 2008 with new generation. All vehicles also come with 5 year/200,000 km warranty. Not useful to always live in the past
Renault Paarl new and used cars for sale Ironically one needs to look at the history of a car brand when looking for a new or used car. I have never ever seen Renault perform well in reliability or customer satisfaction surveys, EVER. In this case, it could not be more relevant to avoid any kind of junk Renault whether electric or ICE power. If Renault is serious they should provide at least 10 years warranty or 400,000km. Look at how Nissan reliability has suffered because of the alliance with Renault. Unfortunately Mitsubishi is also heading down the slippery slope of poor build quality and even worse reliability because of their unfortunate alliance with Renault. I only ever consider Toyota/Lexus/Mazda/Honda when buying a car because I value my money.
