You probably remember seeing the Renault 5 electric concept—which debuted in early 2021 as a modern interpretation of the original Renault 5 hatchback (1972-1996). Well, the company has now shared some more information—ahead of the car’s global debut sometime in 2024.
That’s right, the Renault 5 electric concept is gonna be promoted into a series-production model; it’ll be built around the Alliance’s new CMF-B EV platform. For those scratching their heads, ‘CMF’ stands for Common Module Family, ‘B’ for B-segment, and of course, ‘EV’ for Electric vehicles. The Renault 5 is gonna be the first model to use this new platform, and according to reports, this new model is gonna replace the Zoe—which I think has achieved a good amount of success in its 10+ year production run.
Renault discloses the obvious that 70% of the parts of this CMF-B EV platform have been taken from the regular CMF-B platform that underpins the 5th-gen Clio and 2nd-gen Captur, thus making the CMF-B EV platform 30% cheaper to manufacture. This should ideally offer purchase price benefits to the end users, but it remains to be seen. Thanks to adjustable tracks and wheelbase, the new modular platform will enable Renault to build different body types and styles. The chassis allows for a multi-link rear axle and a lower centre of gravity with batteries installed lower on the floor, ensuring greater driving dynamics, the company said.
The electrically excited synchronous motor that powers the upcoming Renault 5 is gonna be the same one that is currently employed in the Zoe and the Megane E-Tech electric, due to a couple of good reasons: it apparently offers better output than a permanent-magnet motor and also requires no rare-earth metals.
The motor package combines three main components:
- DC/DC converter that converts the battery’s 400-volts into 12-volts
- Battery charger
- Accessory box that manages power distribution
As a result, the package is smaller and lighter; it is claimed to be ~20 kg (44 lbs) lighter than the one used in the Zoe.
The new battery pack switches from Zoe’s 12-module layout to 4 large modules for a supposed simpler architecture. It is also claimed to be 15 kg (33 lbs) lighter.
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