Renault Release Kangoo Be Bop

Renault announce the release of their new zero emissions vehicle the Kangoo be bop.

The new Renault Kangoo be bop is instantly recognisable from the standard model from its Energy Blue finish and unique interior ambience. It features similar aspects from the ZE concepts shown at Paris 2008 such as LED lamps to reduce energy.

The original Kangoo has been adapted to increase the aerodynamics coefficient and has been lowered by 20 mm. It also rolls on iconic 18 inch full disc wheels. Down the outside features a strip that indicates the amount of charge in the vehicle. When the driver keys are pressed the strip shows you how much juice you have in the vehicle.

The be bop Z.E. is fitted with an all electric motor that can generate 60 hp that revs to 12,000 rpm. The nature of the engine means it is 90% more efficient than an internal combustion engine (ICE) equivalent. The original gearbox you would find in an ICE car has been replaced by a reducer that supplies measured amounts of electricity rather than have a weighty gear box.

The lithium ion batteries have been developed through the Nissan-NEC alliance founded back in 2007. The batteries are expected to retain 80-100% of original function for six years. They will contain enough juice to get the vehicle 100km at the moment but at the time of release Renault expect that to be a real world figure of 160km.

The batteries can be charged in a number of ways. Firstly through the normal three pinned plugs we have in our houses which should take around six hours to complete a full charge. The company are also developing a new type of plug that will allow a 400kW charge to fill it up in 20 minutes.

The car also has Formula 1 style KERS technology to recharge the battery whilst driving (not for an 80 hp boost, sorry).

This is just a start for Renault’s Zero Emissions mass marketed vehicles. They expect an affordable range to be available by 2011.

E. Dooley

12/05/2009