That the next generation of highly efficient cars will be electric is not in doubt. A lot of work is being done to achieve this with the world’s leading automakers seemingly rushing to commercialize various concepts.
Thirteen months ago, Groupe Renault laid out a six-year strategic plan dubbed Drive The Future. The plan was summarized as the company’s vision to deliver “sustainable mobility for all, today and tomorrow.”
It is one that would see Renault’s average vehicles make use of a petrol engine, two electric motors, and a clutch-less gearbox. The company further said that under this plan, vehicles would be able to recharge when the vehicle is in motion. To see this vision come to live about $20 billion would be invested over a period of 6 years.
A year later, the company has come out to reinforce this ambition stating that plans are underway to have the first EVs come to the market as soon as possible. These will be a breed of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles such as the new Clio “E-Tech hybrid” which will come with a 1.2 kWh battery.
Grégoire Ginet, Deputy Commercial Range Manager for Powertrain/Electrification at Groupe Renault highlights a very specific goal. “Hybrid models make it possible to drive all week in an electric vehicle but also to get away for holidays on very long journeys, thanks to the support of thermal motorization.”
With this forethought approach, the company is ready to steer towards electric vehicles.
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