2017 Renault ZOE EV gets 250 mile electric range

The 2017 electric Renault Zoe is getting a bit of a makeover, to be revealed at the Paris Motor Show, including a range of almost 250 miles.

As we noted yesterday, when Mercedes teased an electric EQ concept for Paris, every car maker is now trying to get in on the electric car market. But one car maker who’s been in the game for a long time is Renault, and its Zoe EV is getting a bit of a makeover.

The makeover for the 2017 Zoe appears to be cosmetically trivial but, according to Dutch media, its technical update isn’t, with an official range between charges for Renault’s little Zoe jumping to 250 miles on the official cycle.

That will probably mean around 150-175 miles in the real world, but that’s the sort of real-world range that turns EV haters in to EV advocates.

It’s a big jump in range for the Zoe, and is down to incremental improvements rather than some earth-shattering, disruptive leap in battery technology (something which still doesn’t seem to be on the horizon).

The new battery pack is bigger than the current Zoe’s at 41kWh, but that seems to be coupled with a new electric motor which is lighter and more compact than the current motor, yet delivers the same power whilst using less electricity. Which helps a lot.

All should be confirmed soon as Renault reveals the new Zoe EV in Paris