in Germany, a small battery at an affordable price
Renewed last year with a new 52 kWh battery, the Renault star city car is still offered in Germany in a 41 kWh configuration. A more affordable version that could benefit from a longer lifespan.
41 or 52 kWh! If the new Renault ZOE is only offered with its large battery in France and in most of the European countries, it is also available in Germany in a 41 kWh configuration. Called ZE 40, this version is reserved for entry-level finishing (Life) equipped with the R110 engine.
On the German market, it allows Renault to position its electric city car on a more competitive call price. When purchasing with battery rental, the difference is € 2,000 between the two batteries with equivalent finish and motorization. In full rental, the manufacturer communicates on an offer starting from € 149 / month, including battery package.
In autonomy, the new ZOE ZE 40 is necessarily less efficient than that equipped with the ZE 50 pack. Count 317 km in the WLTP cycle, or 25% less than the 385 km announced with the 52 kWh battery.
| ZOE R110 ZE R110 40 Life | ZOE R110 ZE 50 Life | |
| Drums | 41 kWh | 52 kWh |
| WLTP autonomy | 317 km | 385 km |
| Price excluding bonus (with battery rental) | € 21,900 | € 23,900 |
A bridled battery
A bridled batteryOn its website, PushEVS details the characteristics of these new batteries with precision. We learn that these two packs are actually based on a strictly identical technology. Based on NCM 712 chemistry, the cells (LGX E78) are supplied by the Korean LG Chem in both cases.
The design of the two packs is also the same with a total of 196 cells and a nominal capacity of 54.66 kWh. Contrary to what one might think, it is therefore not the 41 kWh pack of the old ZOE which is taken over on the new one.
In the end, the difference between these two batteries is played in the electronic configuration which will further limit the capacity usable by the small pack. One way for Renault to simplify its industrial process and not have to manage two packs with different physical characteristics on its production lines.
While the useful capacity rises to 52 kWh on the ZE 50, it is limited to 41 kWh on the ZE 40. Corresponding to the ratio between useful capacity is nominal, the level of operation of the “large battery” goes up to 95 %. It is considerably higher than that of the small one, limited to 75%. As the discharge rate plays an important role in the lifespan of a battery, it is therefore a safe bet that the degradation of the ZE 40 pack will be more gradual than that of the ZE 50.
Former ZOE ZE 40 | New ZOE ZE 40 | New ZOE ZE 50 | |
| Nominal capacity | 45.61 kWh | 54.66 kWh | 54.66 kWh |
| Useful capacity | 41 kWh | 41 kWh | 52 kWh |
| Max discharge rate | 90% | 75% | 95% |
| Energy density | 157 Wh / kg | 168 Wh / kg | 168 Wh / kg |
| Battery weight | 290 kg | 326 kg | 326 kg |
| Weight of cells | 185.26 kg | 206 kg | 206 kg |
| Nb of cells | 192 | 192 | 192 |
Author’s opinion
One wonders why this new ZOE ZE 40 is reserved for the German market only. 2000 euros difference in purchase, it is not nothing and it would allow the manufacturer to widen the gap with its competitors, Peugeot e-208 in the lead.
And you ? What do you think of this new ZOE ZE 40? Do you find it interesting? Feel free to give your opinion in the comments!
