2012 Renault Zoe Electric Hatchback Launched [Geneva Auto Show]

Here's an electric car that's affordable and looks sort of cool: the Renault Zoe, which is priced at the pre-tax equivalent of $22,700 in Germany. There are, of course, additional costs: You also have to rent a battery pack, which will set you back at least a hefty (but probably heavily subsidized) $100 dollars each month. The actual price depends on the length of the lease and the miles you put on the car. Renault says the Zoe can go up to 130 miles on one charge, and that recharging takes just half an hour, although you need a 400-volt charging device to accomplish such quick replenishment. The standard model is optimized for extremely low energy consumption, while two upmarket trim levels will offer "multimedia and digital services," as Renault somewhat cryptically promises. The Zoe is sized like a subcompact Renault Clio, but it offers plenty of interior space as a result of its dedicated electric-vehicle architecture. You sit a bit higher, too, as the batteries are located in the floor. The Zoe is positioned close to its sibling, the Nissan Leaf, which should make for an interesting battle within one conglomerate, and one that we're sure the competition is watching closely. If nothing else, it proves how dedicated Renault-Nissan is to electric mobility. from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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