The Frankfurt Motor Show this year has hosted a slew of hybrid and all-electric vehicles. Renault has caused quite a bit of buzz by introducing not one, but four all-electric concept vehicles: the Twizy ZE, Zoe ZE, Fluence ZE and Kangoo ZE The Twizy is actually more like half a car. The 1+1 city car is only 2.3 meters long and just over one meter wide, barely larger than a scooter. It maxes out at 47 mph with its 15kW motor. The Zoe is a compact car with a 100-mile range and a 70kW motor. It's front and rear feature polyurethane gel bumpers. You can also personalize your own avatar to deliver driving information and it comes with mood lighting and "hydrate, detox and active scent" climate control settings - uh, cool? The Fluence is their version of an all-electric family vehicle. It's a four-door, five-person sedan with a 100-mile range. The Kangoo is an electric commercial fleet vehicle, also with a 70 kW motor and solar roof panels. All four models will have three options for recharging: standard charge that takes four - eight hours at any charging spot, quick charge that takes 20 minutes at special charging points and "Quickdrop" battery exchange, all of which the company has paired up with Better Place to facilitate. Renault expects to start releasing these vehicles in 2011.
