In 2023, the new electric vehicles (EVs) are rather beautiful. But not everyone want to drive a brand-new vehicle. Some folks have a car they’ve had for a long time and want to drive an EV but don’t want to give up their loyal companion who has accompanied them on all their travels and commutes to work.
Renault seems to understand this, and is doing something about it. Together, R-FIT1 the company has introduced exceptional electric retrofit kits in France that are made especially for the cherished Renault 4, 5, and original Twingo models. The Renault 5 EV conversion kit will be available for purchase by French consumers beginning in September 2023. Later, the Twingo version of the identical kit will be available in shops. Starting February 1st, these kits will be available online for €11,900 (including VAT and installation).
The kit basically replaces the ICE engine with a brushless synchronous motor. The pack is 105 volts, so it’s very likely a DC system. The battery pack is built with LiFePo4 (aka LFP) battery cells, making for great durability and safety.
Capacity is 10.7 kWh. The approximate driving range is only 80 km (50 miles), so that’s going to be a downside to anybody who wants to go on long adventures with the car.
Charging time on a typical European wall outlet (16 amps, 220 volts) is 3 hours and 30 minutes, so it will definitely work well for commuting and other applications where you can charge while you sleep or work. The fact that the vehicle’s handling qualities and weight distribution are unaffected by the tiny battery pack is a significant benefit.
You receive all of the certification documentation after the kit is installed, which is another benefit. As a result, you may register the car as an electric vehicle and benefit from all of its benefits.
Finally, it has a two-year warranty, so it’s guaranteed to run 😉 we need one for India too…Is anyone listening?
Reference- Renault Online Newsroom, PR Newswire, R-FIT1 website, Interesting Engineering