Renault ZOE (2013-2019) range, battery & charging
The Renault ZOE offers impressive range, but no 50kW rapid charging
| Range | Slow charge | Wallbox charge time | Rapid charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 186 miles | 15hrs (3kW) | 7hrs 25mins (7kW) | 1hr 38mins (22kW) |
The ZOE’s real-world range of 186 miles is impressive (although 150-160 miles is more achievable in our experience), but charging is less ideal because you can’t use 50kW rapid chargers like a Nissan Leaf or Volkswagen e-Golf owner can.
However, the ZOE charges up quickly enough from any other Type 2 public charger: the socket is conveniently placed and the battery is covered by a healthy warranty. Alternatively, it isn’t your problem at all if you lease it.
Renault ZOE range
The first-generation ZOE can, technically, do 250 miles to a full charge. But unless you commute to work in laboratory conditions, that’s not going to happen.
Even the 'realistic' figure of 186 miles is a touch optimistic in our experience, but 160 miles should be achievable in good weather, while winter will see the range drop to around 124 miles, according to Renault itself. That’s still good by current standards and should cover the needs of most motorists very easily.
Charge time
The ZOE has a sizeable battery capacity of 40kWh, hence the decent usable range. The R110 will charge up at a maximum rate of 22kW, which means a 0-80% charge will take over an hour and a half.
At an 11kW public charger that you often find in towns and supermarkets, the ZOE R110 will deliver an 80% charge in about three hours. A domestic 7kW home charging point will do the same in around seven hours. Meanwhile, plugging into a three-pin household socket will see an 80% charge take most of a day.
Battery warranty
A lot of buyers considering an electric car have concerns over how long the battery will last, so the fact Renault will replace any battery it leases, free of charge, if it drops below 75% of its as-new performance, should bring peace of mind. And even if you buy a battery-inclusive ZOE, it’s still warrantied for eight years/100,000 miles and guaranteed to have at least 66% of its original capacity.
Battery lease
How much it costs to lease the ZOE's battery depends on what sort of mileage you want to do. Even the cheapest leasing contract will see you paying £59 a month, with an annual limit of 4,500 miles, and then it’s an extra £10 a month on top of that to get an additional 1,500 miles a year. For £110 a month, you get unlimited mileage.
