Monthly Archives: May 2015

Renault Zoe Blog

Renault ZOE Car Seats and Headrests

3 Comments

In answer to some questions about the back seat of the ZOE I did some experimentation on the fitting of car seats and head restraints (‘headrests’).

A large child’s car seat fitted in the rear of our Renault ZOE (Image: T. Larkum)
A large child’s car seat fitted in the rear of our Renault ZOE (Image: T. Larkum)

Our youngest daughter used a tall car seat in the back of the ZOE until she was about 11. I don’t know if it’s generally the case, but the seat we had (a ‘Concord Lift’ about 10 years old) fitted fine so long as the respective headrest was removed from the ZOE’s back rest. Then the seat fitted well, flush with the back of the backseat.

A large child’s car seat fitted in the rear of our Renault ZOE (Image: T. Larkum)
A large child’s car seat fitted in the rear of our Renault ZOE (Image: T. Larkum)

With regard to head restraints the ZOE has two for the outer positions on the back seat. Renault certainly provides the option for a third, central one, for example as part of the Luxe Pack. What is not clear is if this can be a post-delivery or even DIY option.

Today, after attending a customer test drive at a Renault dealership, I called into the parts office and enquired about buying just a head restraint. For that I was quoted £21.36 plus VAT (making £25.63) which seemed like a very reasonable price. Unfortunately there was not one in stock so I couldn’t see what parts were included.

The back seat zips are tucked into the corner as highlighted (Image: T. Larkum)
The back seat zips are tucked into the corner as highlighted (Image: T. Larkum)

At home I was curious to learn more and so took apart the back of the seat. The back is held on with two zips. To make things a bit more difficult – presumably to discourage fiddling – the zips don’t have handles on them, and the loose ends are tucked into the hole formed where the zips come together. With a bit of patience it’s possible to pull out the ends of the zips and open them.

Inside the back seat showing an existing head restraint, left, and the fittings waiting for a central head restraint, right (Image: T. Larkum)
Inside the back seat showing an existing head restraint, left, and the fittings waiting for a central head restraint, right (Image: T. Larkum)

Inside the back of the seat it is clear that there are structural tube supports for a central head restraint so it should be straightforward to fit one, though of course it would be necessary to pierce the fabric on the top edge (which appears seamless otherwise). A bit more investigation is required, however, to find out if all the parts required for DIY fitting are included in the standard part set – for example, the plastic liners to the tube supports (these can be seen for the existing head restraint but are not in place for the central one).

Source: Fuel Included Blog

Renault Zoe News

New Renault ZOE from £145 per month fuel included

8 Comments

We had the latest PCP prices for the Renault ZOE confirmed today and they are looking very good. Renault recently rejigged its prices significantly, effectively reducing the monthly cost of the car while at the same time increasing the cost of the battery rental.

The end result is a substantial reduction in cost overall, particularly for low mileage drivers. Also, the PCP term was previously either 36 or 48 months, but now the term can be 24 months, and this is now the term with the lowest prices. This makes it seem like a particularly attractive and low risk deal.

Our prices are now as follows for a Renault ZOE Dynamique Intens on 2 year PCP:

  • 750 miles per quarter: £75 deposit plus £145 per month, Fuel included*
  • 7500 miles per year: £75 deposit plus £180 per month, Fuel included*

For clarity the monthly figure includes the battery rental (which is actually £45pm and £75pm respectively). Renault will also pay for the installation of a home fast charge point (7kW/30A).

A home 13Amp charge cable isn’t included, though it isn’t required if the charge point is used – it can, however, be taken as an option for £22 per month. Metallic paint is also available and, again, adds about £22 per month.

For comparison, consider the current deal for the Clio Dynamique S Nav TCE 90 for which the deposit is a massive £3571 and the monthly payment is £169. At 60mpg, if you could get it fuel included it would cost an additional £55 per month in fuel for 7000 miles per year. Therefore in total over 24 months it would cost £373 per month compared to the ZOE’s £183.

You could therefore run two ZOE’s for the price of a Clio, and still have some change left over. And being electric the ZOE is much nicer to drive, and can be run from a renewable energy supply.

It’s worth noting that you get a lot of car for your money. The ZOE Intens is a very high specification including satnav with traffic control, bluetooth, MP3, auto-lights, auto-wipers, electric mirrors and windows, reversing camera, cruise control, speed limiter, traction control, keyless entry, alloy wheels, satnav with traffic control, bluetooth, MP3, auto-lights, auto-wipers, electric mirrors and windows, reversing camera, cruise control, speed limiter, traction control, keyless entry, alloy wheels, air conditioning, etc. And being electric you can monitor the battery charge and remaining range, and control the heating or air conditioning, from your smartphone.etc. And being electric you can monitor the battery charge and remaining range, and control the heating or air conditioning, from your smartphone.

*Fuel Included

The following are included on a fuel included deal:

  1. Fuel (electricity) for the given mileage
  2. Registration and access cards for the biggest charging networks: Ecotricity and Chargemaster/Polar
  3. Registration for London congestion charge exemption
  4. Out of hours telephone and email support for the first 6 months
  5. Office hours telephone and email support for the duration of the contract

It’s the ultimate in predictable, fixed-cost motoring.

Source: Fuel Included Blog

Renault Zoe Blog

A Long Journey Easier with an Electric Car than a Conventional One

4 Comments

It doesn’t happen often, but we recently took a long trip in my ZOE that was easier than if we had taken a petrol or diesel car. We needed to travel to Peterborough Passport Office to renew my daughter’s passport at short notice.

Plan A was very straightforward – drive to Peterborough and slow charger there for the return journey. The beauty of this was that, with a bit of advance research, I found out that there was an electric car charging point and parking space on the same road as the Passport Office and very close to it.

Ecotricity Rapid Chargers at Haddon Services (Image: T. Larkum)
Ecotricity Rapid Chargers at Haddon Services (Image: T. Larkum)

As ever, I had a Plan B, a contingency in case of problems. That was to charge at Haddon Services on the A1(M) just outside Peterborough. Therefore on the way to Peterborough we called in at Haddon. However, the AC rapid charge point wasn’t working so we just headed straight on to Peterborough.

In fact, we needn’t have worried. We found the parking space and charger by the Passport Office very easily and it was operating fine. It worked first time – we then headed into the Office to do the necessary paperwork. We then headed around Peterborough, visiting the various shops and restaurants to kill the requisite four hours until the passport was ready.

Slow Charging near Peterborough Passport Office (Image: T. Larkum)
Slow Charging near Peterborough Passport Office (Image: T. Larkum)

Afterwards we unplugged and headed home. As the EV parking area was very close to the Passport Office and was neither occupied nor blocked (and, if memory serves me right we didn’t have to pay for parking), it turned out to be a long trip that was easier with an EV than if we had had a conventional car.

Source: Fuel Included Blog