Renault postpones Fluence ZE

Renault Australia has indefinitely postponed the release of its first electrified vehicle, the Fluence ZE. The move comes after previously announcing it would hit Australian roads in the second quarter of this year.

There is now no timetable for the local introduction of the small battery-electric sedan, which was to have been launched here this year in conjunction with EV infrastructure provider, Better Place.

In June 2011, Renault and Better Place committed to starting fleet trials of the Fluence ZE in Canberra by mid-2012, before releasing the ground-breaking EV to the public in the fourth quarter of this year. The Fluence ZE is the only Renault production vehicle compatible with Better Place’s battery swap station system.

At the time, Better Place Australia CEO Evan Thornley (who has since replaced founder Shai Agassi as the CEO of the company’s global operations), promised the Fluence ZE would be available to the Australian public with a pricetag similar to that of a comparably sized and specified vehicle, or about $30,000. That price excluded the cost of the battery, which was to have been leased via a range of mobile phone-style subscription plans or “tailored membership packages” from Better Place.

Better Place famously claimed its battery-switch technology would make the Fluence ZE the world’s first “unlimited-range” electric car.

Better Place has opened a small number of EV charge points in Australia but is yet to establish a single battery-swap station here and refuses to outline its timetable for doing so.

“Renault has been working globally with the battery switch partner Better Place to launch the Fluence ZE in Israel, Denmark and then Australia,” said Renault Australia today.

“In order to allow for a later rollout of infrastructure in Australia, the respective global head offices have made the decision to postpone the Australian launch, which was originally planned for late 2012.

“Renault Australia continues to work towards the introduction of zero-emission vehicles. Further announcements will be made in due course.”

When we asked Renault Australia last month about the Fluence ZE’s delay, Renault Australia told motoring.com.au a decision would be made by November 21.

The Fluence ZE is on sale in both Denmark and Israel, where Better Place is based and has established battery-swap stations. After revealing the decision today Renault Australia Corporate Communications Manager Emily Ambrosy said there was now no firm date for the release of the vehicle here.

“It was a recent decision [to indefinitely postpone the Fluence ZE’s Australian release]. We don’t have a [release] date,” she said.

The announcement is embarrassing for both Better Place and Renault, which completed the expensive Australian Design Rule certification process for the Fluence ZE in March.

Renault has advised that a recently revealed facelifted for Europe’s Fluence (which is produced in Turkey), is yet to be confirmed for Australia. Our version is produced by Renault Samsung in Korea.

Locally, Fluence sales are down more than 12 per cent with just 476 examples sold here this year, accounting for just 0.2 per cent of the nation’s mainstream small-car segment.

Unlike many car-makers that have introduced partially electrified hybrid vehicles, the French brand -- along with its Japanese partner Nissan -- is putting all its eggs in the EV basket.

Renault-Nissan has admitted it is disappointed with the slow take-up of EVs globally, but stands by its bold claim that 10 per cent of all new vehicles sold by 2020 will be EVs.

Renault is yet to introduce an EV in Australia. The brand is up an impressive 38 per cent thanks largely to increased sales of its top-selling model, the Koleos SUV. In the absence of the Fluence ZE, it appears the first all-electric Frenchie will be the Zoe city-hatch not due until at least 2014.

In January, Renault will introduce a larger 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine in its mid-size Latitude 2.5 sedan, sales of which are up by 48 per cent this year, with 308 sold to November.

Renault Australia Managing Director Justin Hocevar told motoring.com.au the Fluence ZE’s indefinite delay has not changed his company’s determination to introduce EVs Down Under.

“The delay in the launch of Fluence ZE in Australia is disappointing,” he said.

“However, delays are not uncommon when making significant change in an established market. We still strongly believe in electric vehicles and continue with our plans to commercialise them locally.”

Meantime, Nissan Australia sales are up almost 17 per cent year-to-date, following sales surges by its diesel-only Navara commercials and its Pathfinder, X-TRAIL and Dualis SUVs.

Since deliveries began in June, Nissan has sold 71 examples of the LEAF EV, pricing for which was effectively cut by about $8000 last week to $46,990 drive-away.

Instead of the standard Fluence sedan’s 103kW/195Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine (which consumes 7.8 litres of petrol every 100km and emits 184g/km of CO2) the Fluence ZE bonnet houses a 70kW/226Nm synchronous electric motor that weighs 160kg and emits no CO2.

It is powered by an air-cooled 22kWh lithium-ion battery pack situated behind the rear seats, adding 250kg and leaving boot space of 300 litres. Unladen weight therefore increases to 1543kg and top speed is limited to 135km/h, but the Fluence ZE is claimed to offer a zero-emissions driving range of up to 185km.

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