Renault Zoe R135 2021 electric car owner review

Julian Davies drives a Renault Zoe R135 Iconic 52kWh 2021 (standard specification).

This is Julian’s second electric car, he’s owned the Zoe 1-2 years and drives under 5,000 miles annually. The current mileage of the car is between 30,000-40,000 miles and he achieves 200 miles range from an 80% charge.

Why did you choose the Renault Zoe R135?

it is the latest version of the Zoe with the 52kwh battery pack and a range 0f 240 miles on a full charge dropping to 180 miles in the winter months. I chose it because of the extra range, the CCS charging and the upgraded tech.

I previously owned a Gen 1 Zoe 2013 reg which I had for eight and a half years that I purchased second-hand. I liked the car so it was a no brainer to upgrade to the newer model. Also, it was in my favourite colour which is Celadon Blue metallic finish. The interior has had a total upgrade and is a much better layout than the original model. The acceleration and performance of the ZE50 is a total departure from the original model I had owned before.

Positives

I like the car because they have maintained it’s basic design but have made upgrades to it’s appearance that make it far more exciting to look at. Having a much longer range and CCS rapid charging capability makes it an easier, longer distance car than before with many more charging facilities available. It is definitely a pleasure to drive!

Negatives

There is nothing that I dislike about the car at all.

Compared to when you first bought the car, does your battery still charge at the same rate & do you still get the same range?

The car still charges at the same rate and has the same range as previously.

Have you experienced any faults with the car? If so, what have they been?

I have found no faults with the car at all.

What are the standout technological features of the car?

The standout features on the ZE50 are it’s range and it’s CCS charging capability. It also has a huge boot for the size of the car and the in car tech is more than adequate for a small hatchback.

Tell us something people wouldn’t readily know about your Renault Zoe R135

The biggest surprise about the ZE50 is that it is much bigger inside than it looks from the outside.

What’s the biggest or funniest myth you’ve heard about EVs?

The greatest myth I’ve heard about EVs is that it can take 24 hours or more to charge the battery. Well, yes that is true if you use a 3kWh three-pin granny charger plugged into a standard three-pin socket. Which of course, very rarely happens even if you cannot charge at home and use a public 7kWh charger.

What electric car(s) are you interested in next and why?

My next EV could be the Renault 5 or possibly a Tesla Model 3. With the Tesla it is the tech as well as the longer range that interests me. The fact that the car will basically work out where you need to charge on your journey AND prepare the car for charging before you reach the charger is amazing. Also, the fact that it is totally stress free as all you have to do is plug-in and the car does the rest as Tesla knows the car, carries out the charge automatically and bills you accordingly. I would think this should be the goal of all future EVs.

Do you charge your electric car from home?

Do you use public charging networks?

Yes

What public charging networks would you recommend to others and why?

For slow charging I would recommend the 7kW chargers in Tesco supermarkets operated by Pod Point. It’s a good price per kW but you have a maximum charging time of three hours and only while the supermarket is open. My other recommendations are the Rapid chargers at Sainsbury’s and the Gridserve Rapid chargers on the motorway. Also, the Tesla chargers that are open to all EVs (as if you have a monthly Tesla account and you charge regularly), have very good charging prices per kW.

Insurance

Greenways – have never had a problem with them at all including when I had a claim a few years ago. They are the brokers but always find me a good deal.

Please itemise where you’re saving money (or not) owning & running a Renault Zoe

My main savings owning an EV are the running costs. Cheaper to fuel than an ICE car, cheaper servicing costs as well. I still have 0% road tax at the moment until next year when I will be paying £190 a year but even so, it’s not a problem because of the money I save elsewhere with the car.