Renault ends battery leasing in Spain

Renault is slowly removing the option to lease the battery from its electric cars. First it was the UK, now it’s time to remove this option in Spain.

Without the battery lease option, these are now the advertised starting prices for the ZOE before subsidies.

• Renault ZOE Life R110 with ZE 40 battery: 29.128 euros
• Renault ZOE Intens R110 with ZE 50 battery: 31.212 euros
• Renault ZOE Intens R135 with ZE 50 battery: 31.665 euros
• Renault ZOE Zen R135 with ZE 50 battery: 32.888 euros

The battery of the new generation Renault ZOE is made with NCM 712 cells from LG Chem and the cost at the battery pack level is already below 100 euros per kWh. When compared to Clio, its ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) counterpart, the ZOE looks extremely overpriced.

• Renault Clio Life 53 kW: 10.267 euros
• Renault Clio Intens 53 kW: 12.167 euros
• Renault Clio Intens E-TECH (hybrid) 104 kW: 18.562 euros
• Renault Clio Zen 74 kW: 14.767 euros
• Renault Clio Zen E-TECH (hybrid) 104 kW: 19.582 euros

A regular person that is browsing Renault’s website after looking at those advertised prices immediately loses interest in the electric car…

Anyway, I have always seen battery leasing as having more disadvantages than advantages. First, it reinforces the myth that batteries are fragile, and second, it removes one of the biggest benefits of electric cars, the low running costs. It’s good to see Renault walking away from it.