Renault Fluence ZE: Fluence is the UK's cheapest electric car

Renault Fluence ZE - the cheapest electric car in the UK. For a reason.

Renault reveals that the Renault Fluence ZE – Nissan’s latest electric car – will come at a bargain price. But there’s a sting in the tail.

Renault – and its Japanese other self, Nissan – think electric cars are the future. They’re wrong, but they’re busy pushing ahead with the plan to give buyers an inferior product for more money with an apparent zeal.

The Renault Fluence Z.E. (stands for Zero Emissions – should be the Renault Fluence ZEATPOU) is the latest Renault/Nissan product to go from concept to production, and we’re pleased to see it’s arriving with a UK price that is a bit more sensible than that of most electric cars. Sort of.

Renault are keen to point out that the Fluence ZE is £22,850 which is, believe it or not, a bargain price compared to just about every other electric car on the market.

Maybe that ‘bargain’ price has something to do with the fact that the Fluence is a car which Renault don’t deem fit for major European markets. Based on the Megane, the Fluence is sold only in Russia, Turkey and Romania.

When Renault launched the Fluence we did ask why it was a Renault and not a Dacia. It now seems clear that if Renault hadn’t been planning to stick an electric motor in it, that’s exactly what the Fluence would have been.

The Fluence ZE offers something around 95 horses from its 70kW electric motor with a range of 115 miles. But that’s an ‘ideal conditions’ range, so probably best never to stray more than 35-40 miles from home.

The Fluence ZE is coming to the UK with just one trim level – Prime Time – which offers Climate, Cruise, 16″ alloys, TomTom SatNav and a charging socket on both wings.

The sting in the tail of this ‘Bargain’ price for the Fluence ZE is that you don’t get any batteries in the price. You have to cough up £23k (minus, it’s only fair to say, the £5k electric car subsidy. Which – even though it’s only for 8,000 cars – shows no sign of running out) but you have to lease the batteries.

Which means that, having relieved you of the sort of money that still buys a 3-Series – Renault will then require you to sign up to a 3-year lease deal for batteries at £75 a month. Just as long as you don’t do more than 16 miles a day, otherwise it’ll be more.

Yet another electric pretend car. It’s just this one has a pretend bargain price too.