Hydrogen-powered Renault Embleme surfaces

The 2024 Renault Embleme concept has been shown ahead of its official debut at the Paris motor show later this month as a reaffirmation of the French brand’s commitment to alternative fuel types.

Said to emit 90 per cent less emissions over its lifetime than the current Captur and 80 per cent less than the Megane E-Tech EV, the Embleme features a range-friendly powertrain comprising a 40kWh battery as well as a hydrogen fuel-cell.

Around town operates it as a BEV, with the hydrogen fuel-cell coming into play on the open road – Renault says the Emblem can cover 1000km in the same amount of time as a current combustion car, assuming the driver stops twice for a five-minute fill to its 2.8kg hydrogen tank.

On a near-800km (hypothetical) run from Paris to Marseille, the Embleme’s fuel-cell would provide around 75 per cent of the electricity it needed for the trip.

Despite being a concept, the Embleme is based on the Megane and Scenic E-Tech’s ‘AmpR Medium’ platform (formerly known as CMF-EV), suggesting the concept could evolve into a production model with a more conventional electric powertrain.

A 160kW e-motor pinched from the Megane and Scenic E-Techs drives the rear wheels, however a 100kg weight advantage over the latter sees the concept tip the scales at just 1750kg – a key part of its efficiency.

Boosting efficiency are advanced aerodynamics that include a flat underside, rear-view cameras instead of mirrors and an F1-derived active diffuser, all of which yield a drag coefficient of 0.25Cd.

Renault's EV division, Ampere, said it will unveil the Embleme in full at the end of the October.

For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales' Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au