The Renault Rafale E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid SUV: The Complete Guide For The UK

Renault Rafale E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid
Price: £45,695
Type of electric vehicle: Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Body type: SUV
Battery size: 22 kWh
Electric range (WLTP): 65 miles
Tailpipe emissions: 12-15g (CO2/km)


Overview


Groupe Renault (Renault Group/ Renault S.A.), is a leading player in the global automotive sector. The company was established in 1899 and has over the course of its history, manufactured varied vehicles, to include: trucks, tractors, buses and even tanks! Renault has been part of the global Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance since 1999 (previously, Renault-Nissan Alliance). The partnership makes the partnership the 3rd largest automotive group in the world after Volkswagen and Toyota.

Renault is headquartered in France and the French state owns a 15% stake in the company. The company manufacturers across a number of global locations, to include: Romania, Morocco, Türkiye, Spain, South Korea, Argentina and others! Renault has also been involved with motor sport, both, Formula 1 and Formula E. Renault offers both, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) for passenger cars and commercial electric vehicles. The portfolio includes:



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The Renault Rafale E-TECH PHEV SUV


For those keen to migrate to electric vehicles (EVs), but undecided between an all-electric car (pure electric car) or a plug-in hybrid electric car, we at e-zoomed encourage opting for an all-electric car. The availability of pure electric cars across all segments and budgets is excellent, offering style, technology, versatility, practicality, fun and more than adequate real-world zero-tailpipe emission electric range. Though there are many reasons to chose a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) over a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), the two key reasons are, lower life-cycle ownership costs and lower life-cycle environmental impact.

Contrary to what is usually suggested, BEVs, also known as all-electric cars/ pure electric cars, are cheaper to own, operate, charge (refill) and maintain over the life of the vehicle, compared to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) petrol and diesel cars. In stark contrast, conventional petrol and diesel vehicles have the highest cost of ownership of a vehicle.

Moreover, on a life-cycle emission basis, BEVs have far lower emissions compared to PHEVs or conventional petrol and diesel vehicles. BEVs life-cycle emissions are potentially 50% lower compared to a conventional petrol or diesel vehicle! And do keep in mind a BEV does not have a tailpipe i.e. zero-tailpipe emissions (improving local air quality). So owning a BEV is both, good for the environment and the household wallet!

Of course, for those still keen on a plug-in electric car, the choice and availability has also increased significantly over the recent years, with PHEVs capable of delivering practical real-world zero-tailpipe emission electric range. The earlier generation of PHEVs had a small (less than 10 kWh) onboard EV battery, with a real-world range less than 20 miles. Though the electric range (65 miles) for the Renault Rafale EV is an improvement from the earlier PHEVs, some of the latest-generation of PHEVs offer a range up to 100 miles on a single charge.

The Renault Rafale E-TECH PHEV has a 22 kWh (400V Lithium-ion) onboard EV battery with a claimed WLTP range up to 65 miles. Adjusting for real-world driving conditions, expect a zero-tailpipe emission electric range closer to 50 miles. In comparison, an all-electric car can deliver a range up to 300 miles on a single charge, if not more! It is worth noting that most day-to-day driving needs are short distances (less than 20 miles) i.e. to the local grocery store, gym, school runs etc. Therefore a 50 miles e-range is certainly more than adequate! To leverage the benefits of driving a plug-in hybrid electric car, it is imperative that the electric mode/ electric range is leveraged. Owning a PHEV and not driving on the electric mode, is similar to driving a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) car.

The Rafale family coupé-SUV does not offer DC charging capability, but not surprising, given the size of the onboard EV battery. The EV incorporates a 7.2 kW onboard AC charger. The EV can be charged from 0%-100% in 2 hours and 55 minutes via a dedicated smart residential EV charger. We encourage the use of a solar compatible smart EV charger, like myenergi zappi, along with an on-site PV system and energy storage system.

It is the best way to further lower the costs of driving an electric car, and further reducing the vehicles life-cycle emissions footprint. At e-zoomed we offer very attractive home solar & home battery storage bundle offers of varying sizes and budgets. Of course, solar and battery storage can also power your home and further reduce the household energy bills and emissions footprint! Enquire today for a hassle-free quotation!

The all-wheel drive (AWD) mid-sized Renault Rafale PHEV crossover SUV has a 3-cylinder, 1.2 L turbocharged petrol engine with 300 HP maximum power, and 230Nm + 205Nm torque (not cumulative). The PHEV can achieve 0-62 mph in 6.4 seconds. The top speed of the EV is 111 mph. The manufacturer claims a fuel economy up to 564.9 mpg. Of course, to achieve anyway close to this claimed economy the PHEV will need to be driven a lot on the e-mode! If the e-SUV is driven primarily using the petrol engine, expect a fuel economy closer to 60 mpg. The PHEV has 4 driving modes (eco, comfort, sport and personal). For maximising electric range, the eco mode is best!

The coupé styled PHEV is available in two trims: techno esprit Alpine and atelier Alpine. The manufacturer includes the following as standard: 12.3-inch driver information display, 9.3-inch head-up display, 12-inch OpenR Link screen Arkamys 6-speaker audio with DAB and built-in Google, wireless phone charger, emergency brake assist, blind spot warning, distance warning alert, lane departure warning, sound for pedestrians (1 to 19 mph), rear cross traffic/pedestrian alert, driver attention alert and more! The Rafale PHEV has been awarded a Five-Star NCAP Rating.

The higher trim (atelier Alpine), also includes as standard: intelligent predictive variable damping, electric power hands-free tailgate opening, hands-free parking, 360° around view 3D camera and Solarbay opacifying panoramic sunroof. The five-door five-seat PHEV does not have a frunk, but of course, for good reason i.e. the frunk in a pure electric car is where an internal combustion engine is placed. In a PHEV a frunk is not possible. The five-seat Rafale offers a spacious (legroom/ headroom) and practical interior with a 539 L boot. The interior is also good quality!

The PHEV has been developed using the Renault-Nissan CMF-CD platform. The e-car derives it name from the C.460 Rafale monoplane introduced in 1934. Interestingly, the name is also used by the latest-generation fighter jet, the Dassault Rafale. The Rafale PHEV (D-Segment) is 4.71m long and 1.61m tall. The EV has an attractive exterior styling! By way of comparison, the all-electric Polestar 4 SUV is 4.84m long and 1.53m tall. The Polestar 4 also has a coupé roofline!

The Renault Rafale E-TECH plug-in electric SUV has tailpipe emission up to 15g CO2/km. Company-car drivers can take advantage of the lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax charge for electric cars. Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet. You can lease electric vehicles (EVs), to include, Salary Sacrifice, via e-zoomed at very competitive prices!



PROS CONS
Attractive coupé exterior styling Zero-tailpipe emission electric range not as good as some of the latest PHEVs
Practical electric range for day-to-day needs/ all-wheel drive (AWD)Interior quality not as premium
Decent level of onboard technology/ equipment Limited rear-view

Gallery


The Renault Rafale E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid SUV (credit: Renault)


At A Glance
EV Type:Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Body Type:SUV
Plug-In Car Grant (PiCG):Not Available
Engine:Petrol/ Electric
Available In UK:Yes

Variants (2 Options)
Renault Rafale E-TECH techno esprit Alpine (from £45,695)
Renault Rafale E-TECH atelier Alpine (from £49,695)

EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:Available in one battery size: 22 kWh (166 kg)
Charging:DC charging not available. Onboard AC charger: 7.2 kW AC (0%-100%: 2 hrs 20 mins)
Charge Port:Type 2
EV Cable Type: Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:12-15g (CO2/km)
EV Battery Warranty:8 years or 100,000 miles

Average Cost Of Residential Charging
Battery net capacity : 8.8 kWh £1.27
Battery net capacity : 11.6 kWh£1.67
Battery net capacity : 12.0 kWh£1.73
Battery net capacity : 13.10 kWh£1.89
Battery net capacity : 14.10 kWh£2.03
  • Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in the UK varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for the UK is 14.40 p/kWh.
  • Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.

Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
  • Note 1: SoC: state of charge

Dimensions
Height (mm):1613
Width (mm):1866
Length (mm):4710
Wheelbase (mm):2738
Turning Circle (m):10.4
Boot Space (L):539
Frunk (L):N/A

E-Tech 4×4 300hp plug-in hybrid
EV Battery Capacity:22 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):59 – 65 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km):N/A
Fuel Consumption (mpg):403.5 – 564.9
Charging: DC charging not available. Onboard AC charger: 7.2 kW AC (0%-100%: 2 hrs 20 mins)
Top Speed:111 mph
0-62 mph:6.4 seconds
Drive: All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):220
Horsepower (HP):300
Torque (Nm): 230 + 205 (not cumulative)
Transmission:Automatic
Seats:5
Doors:5
Kerb Weight (kg):1,934 – 1,980
Towing Capacity (Braked/Unbraked)/ (kg):1,500/ 750
Colours:4
NCAP Safety Rating:Five-Star

While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.


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Author

Ashvin Suri

Ashvin has been involved with the renewables, energy efficiency and infrastructure sectors since 2006. He is passionate about the transition to a low-carbon economy and electric transportation. Ashvin commenced his career in 1994, working with US investment banks in New York. Post his MBA from the London Business School (1996-1998), he continued to work in investment banking at Flemings (London) and JPMorgan (London). His roles included corporate finance advisory, M&A and capital raising. He has been involved across diverse industry sectors, to include engineering, aerospace, oil & gas, airports and automotive across Asia and Europe. In 2010, he co-founded a solar development platform, for large scale ground and roof solar projects to include, the UK, Italy, Germany and France. He has also advised on various renewable energy (wind and solar) utility scale projects working with global institutional investors and independent power producers (IPP’s) in the renewable energy sector. He has also advised in key international markets like India, to include advising large-scale industrial and automotive group in India. Ashvin has also advised Indian Energy, an IPP backed by Guggenheim (a US$ 165 billion fund). He has also advised a US$ 2 billion, Singapore based group. Ashvin has also worked in the real estate and infrastructure sector, to including working with the Matrix Group (a US$ 4 billion property group in the UK) to launch one of the first few institutional real estate funds for the Indian real estate market. The fund was successfully launched with significant institutional support from the UK/ European markets. He has also advised on water infrastructure, to include advising a Swedish clean technology company in the water sector. He has also been involved with a number of early stage ventures.

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