Renault has recently announced its intentions of showcasing an ultra-frugal concept at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.
The company is working on a very thrifty Clio-sized concept which could spawn an affordable version, according to the firm’s head of research, advanced studies and materials Remi Bastien. Volkswagens XL1 comes with a price tag of 110,000 EUR and returns an impressive 261 mpg US (313 mpg UK or 0.9 liters / 100 km), while Renault’s concept will be able to do only 117 mpg US (141 mpg UK or 2 liters / 100 km).
The concept will be a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid which will offer just about the same space and comfort as a Clio. If the concept receives positive feedback, a B-segment production version could happen and won’t cost an arm and a leg as it’s the case with the XL1.
While making efforts to reduce CO2 emissions to comply with regulations, Renault says that while for conventional-powered vehicles is more important to reduce weight, for EVs the focus should be more on aerodynamics. The company claims that the weight of an electric vehicle can be used to aid generative braking to harvest more kinetic energy while the car is slowing down.Renault has recently announced its intentions of showcasing an ultra-frugal concept at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.
