The Renault 5 E-Tech has a theoretical range of 400 km in its version equipped with a 52 kWh battery. We explain to you why the electric R5 will not be afraid of long highway journeys. To connect, for example, Paris to Marseille. But provided you choose the right version.
The new Renault 5 E-Tech (in which we were able to get on board) has every chance of being the car of the year 2024, and of eclipsing the Renault Scenic E-Tech which has just received this distinction. It must be said that Renault’s proposal is attractive: an affordable price (from 25,000 euros), and a theoretical maximum range which can reach 400 km, coupled with rapid charging.
But be careful, because as we mention in another article, the entry-level version of the electric R5 with the 70 kW (95 hp) engine will completely skip DC (direct current) fast charging. Instead of less than 35 minutes, it will then take around 2.5 hours to recharge the 40 kWh battery from 10 to 80% with 11 kW AC (alternating current) charging.
Fast charging for the highway
The good news is that the other versions of the Renault 5 E-Tech will integrate fast charging with a power of 80 or 100 kW depending on the battery. Whether it is the 90 kW (122 hp) motor with the battery with a capacity of 40 kWh (300 km WLTP range) or 52 kWh (400 km range), but also the 110 kW motor (150 hp) with the 52 kWh battery. And that changes everything.
You may have already read our article on the subject. But 400 km of theoretical autonomy, on an electric car, allows you to cross France without any problem, from Paris to Marseille. Basically, a Tesla Model 3 with a 50 kWh battery requires 1 hour 20 minutes of charging (in four stops) over the 800 km journey. But it recharges in 25 minutes, about 10 minutes faster than the R5.
According to our estimates, with the R5 E-Tech and its 52 kWh battery, you should plan on approximately 25 additional minutes of charging. That’s 1 hour 45 minutes of charging in total with the same number of stops. This is better than an MG4 Standard equipped with an equivalent battery (51 kWh) but which consumes more and recharges a little more slowly, and much better than the Renault Zoé (52 kWh), which takes much longer to recharge. recharge. The reason: its rapid recharging which is not really so because of a power limited to 50 kW.
Be careful to choose the right version
This little theoretical exercise must of course be supplemented by a test in real conditions. But it allows us to realize that autonomy is not the main argument of an electric car for long journeys. The charging speed is much higher. This is what makes it possible to avoid increasing the cost of the car, but also its weight. And therefore to control your consumption.
With optimized consumption, an adequately sized battery and fast charging, the Renault 5 E-Tech remains a compact car. But it is capable of being used as a main car, and making the few annual long journeys on the motorway, for holidays or weekends. As long as you choose the right version, with DC fast charging.