The Renault Fluence ZE electric car will be going on sale at the beginning of 2012 at a price of €21,620 plus a monthly leasing charge for the battery of €79. A limit of 15,000 kilometres a year will apply.
In Dublin today, the company admitted that it had done no research into how such a system will be accepted by the Irish motoring public, but that it is a matter of 'education'.
The buyer of the Fluence will not own the battery. Renault has decided to 'own' the technology of the batteries, because it will change rather rapidly, MD Eric Basset told a gathering of Irish motoring journaists today. He suggested that in 5-6 years, the issue of an electric car's range will 'not be talked about'. In the meantime, there will need to be a 'culture' change.
In relation to a Fluence EV owner wanting to sell on the car to a third party, the lease of the battery will then have to be transferred by Renault to the new owner. There will be 'terms and obligations' involved in the lease contract.
He also said that women will push the move towards choosing an electric car in the future. And he added that in many cases they will make that push 'without negotiation', suggesting that their spouses will not have a say.
He said there will have to be a 'marketing revolution' in relation to selling electric cars. This will include changing the attitude of salespeople so that they won't sell an EV to people whose motoring lifestyle doesn't suit the concept.
He envisages Renault dealerships in the future being 'one stop shops' for all aspects for the EV, including the cars, batteries, and 'allied services' which would include such elements as insurance.
