Renault DeZir: Performance and Style in a Hot Electric Supercar

Renault will begin selling its all-electric Fluence Z.E. sedan and Kangoo Z.E. minivan in Europe and Israel in 2011. It also has shown several concept vehicles that could expand the Z.E. lineup in the future. One of the most exciting is the performance-oriented, two-passenger DeZir coupe that will debut at the 2011 Paris Auto Show. Renault has not said whether the DeZir will go into production.
The DeZir uses the same synchronous electric motor as Renault’s other Z.E. (‘zero emission’) electric vehicles. For the DeZir, the motor has been upgraded to 150 horsepower (110 kW) and drives the rear wheels. In supercar fashion, the electric motor is located mid-ship for optimum front/rear weight distribution. Rated at 167 lb-ft torque, the motor can accelerate the 1830 pound concept car to 60 mph in 5 seconds. Helping here is a Kinetic Energy Recovery System that recoups and stores braking energy that is available for launch assist on demand via a steering wheel button.

The vertically-mounted 24 kWh lithium-ion battery located behind the bench seat provides a range of 100 miles, just like the Renault Z.E. models. This is the same battery used in the Nissan Leaf – not surprising because of the alliance between Renault and Nissan.
The DeZir can be charged in three ways. It takes eight hours for a full charge via a conventional household plug. A fast charge using 400 volt three-phase current charges the battery to 80 percent of its capacity in 20 minutes. The DeZir also has a Quick Drop capability where the vehicle is driven into a battery exchange facility and depleted batteries are swapped for fresh ones in about three minutes. The Renault-Nissan Alliance is in partnership with Better Place to establishing EV recharging infrastructure including battery swap stations, initially in Israel and Denmark.

Vehicle weight is kept down by using Kevlar body panels on a steel tube frame chassis with double wishbones at all four corners. Both the chassis and suspension are based on the Mégane Trophy race car. The DeZir features an aerodynamic and highly efficient body with a drag coefficient of 0.25. The prominent wheel arches accommodate 21-inch wheels.
The interior is particularly interesting and borrows cues from fighter aircraft and endurance racing prototypes. Since there is no rear window, two rear-facing cameras present a panoramic view of what’s behind the car. The one-piece, two-seat bench seat is trimmed in white leather and provides cocoon-like comfort. Entry is via scissor-style doors that open in opposite directions.
Cars like the DeZir, as well as the Audi e-Tron and BMW Concept Vision, show that an electric powered supercar is not an oxymoron.

Source:-http://www.greencar.com/articles/renault-dezir-performance-style-hot-electric-supercar.php

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