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Automotive

Renault ZOE claims 24-hour distance record for a production EV

By Darren Quick
June 14, 2012
Renault ZOE claims 24-hour distance record for a production EV
A ZOE EV going round the speed ring in Normandy on the record-breaking attemot
A ZOE EV going round the speed ring in Normandy on the record-breaking attemot
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The team responsible for the ZOE's world record-breaking effort
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The team responsible for the ZOE's world record-breaking effort
A ZOE EV going round the speed ring in Normandy on the record-breaking attemot
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A ZOE EV going round the speed ring in Normandy on the record-breaking attemot
Two Renault ZOE's took part on the record-breaking attempt
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Two Renault ZOE's took part on the record-breaking attempt
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With the age of production electric vehicles still in its relative infancy, it’s not surprising to see new records being claimed on a fairly regular basis. The latest company putting its EV on the world record podium is Renault, which is claiming the world record for the longest distance traveled in 24 hours by a production EV.

The record-breaking drive took place on June 1, 2012, on the speed ring at the Aubevoye technical centre (CTA) in Normandy with two of the French automaker’s ZOE electric vehicles setting out at 4:00 pm local time. Over the next 24 hours, fifteen drivers took turns at the respective wheels, recharging the vehicles as necessary.

The team responsible for the ZOE's world record-breaking effort
The team responsible for the ZOE's world record-breaking effort

When the clock ticked over to 4:00 pm on June 2, one vehicle had traveled 1,506 km (935.78 miles), while the other completed 363 laps of the speed ring to achieve a total distance of 1,618 km (1,005.37 miles), bettering the previous record of 1,280 km (795.35 miles) by some 25 percent. An official was on hand and Guinness Book of Records homologation is pending.

Over the 24 hour period, the ZOE setting the new record was fast charged 18 times. Fast charging allows the vehicle to regain 80 percent on its battery capacity in under 30 minutes and makes use of Renault’s patented Caméléon charger that is compatible with any power socket up to 43 kW.

Source: Renault

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AutomotiveRenaultElectric VehiclesRecord-breaking
9 comments
Darren Quick
Darren Quick
Darren's love of technology started in primary school with a Nintendo Game & Watch Donkey Kong (still functioning) and a Commodore VIC 20 computer (not still functioning). In high school he upgraded to a 286 PC, and he's been following Moore's law ever since. This love of technology continues as Managing Editor of New Atlas.

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9 comments
mrhuckfin
O.K. I thought this was pretty cool till that last bit? I cry foul! How far will they go on ONE charge? :-)
agulesin
@mrhuckfin - tried dividing 1,618 km by 18? gives 89km which sounds a bit low...
Saw one of these in the local dealer but we need a Hybrid!
MimarSinan
Well, if you pour petrol in it, it's not an EV. Hybrid is expensive in every sense, you have two engines instead of one plus the inconveniences of fossils which we desperately trying to get rid of.
Most of us shouldn't have a problem with 100 km between charges, besides if they have quickdropped depleted batteries in less than a minute that would be much more conveying (as they do with Taxis in Tokyo, all day and night long).
Chris Keane
still rubbish.18 charges,more stops than a coach load of incontinent pensioners.also,were they stripped for weight reduction,i bet they were really modified,electric cars still have a really really long way to go. 89 km,total crap.ok for citys,park and leave,long distance,useless,hybrids work but look at the cost,boot taken up with battery,two technologies to go wrong,when age sets in,massive repair diagnosis bills,not there yet.
Dave Andrews
It will be awesome once they can quick-charge a Tesla S. Even at only 80% charge, that's 240 miles per charge. If it could be recharged in less than 30 minutes, that would allow you to drive 240 miles, take a short break and get a bite to eat and keep going. At normal highway speeds, that's roughly 3.25 to 3.5 hours between charges. I get stiff driving that long anyway, so I don't mind a stretch every few hours.
It'll be a while before we have the proper infrastructure though, with charging stations all over the place.
Ric Alien
that's about 55miles per charge if you do the math 1005 miles + 18 charges.
Marc 1
Chris, Where does it say the vehicles were stripped or modified? The class of record these vehicles competed in was PRODUCTION, so they would have been standard.
Weight reduction would have done bugger all anyway - weight only plays a part when you accellerate - they only have to do that once every 89km.
Rather than the glass half empty approach of the nay sayers, I see this as being an advance. There would not be many people who commute more than 89km to and from work every day. Conceivably you could drive in, plug in then drive home - even if your shift at work only lasted 30 minutes. Or, as an idea on a standard 8 hour workday, one charger could charge 16 cars. Sounds like a good way to share the cost of an office charger.
EV's aren't the answer to everybodies prayers, but they could answer the needs of many.
Slowburn
So an electric car can now travel about 55% of the distance in 24 hours of an ICE car traveling at 75 MPH.
pointyup
Bit silly. Need distance on one charge. I will look very carefully befor buying a Renault. I am still waiting for an EV that can cover 300km on one charge and recharge in 5 hours.